Chauvin arnoux C.A 6410, C.A 6415R, C.A 6415, C.A 6412 User Manual

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■ PINCE DE TERRE

■■

■■

■ GROUND TESTER

■■

■■

■ ERDUNGSPRÜFZANGE

■■

■■

■ PINZA DI TERRA

■■

■■

■ PINZA DE TIERRA

■■

C.A 6410
C.A 6412
C.A 6415
C.A 6415R

FRANCAIS
ENGLISH
DEUTSCH
ITALIANO
ESPANOL

Notice de fonctionnement
User's Manual
Bedienungsanleitung
Libretto d'Istruzioni
Manual de Instrucciones

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5

ENGLISH

Meaning of the ! symbol
Warning ! Please refer to the User’s Manual before using the instrument.

In this User’s Manual, the instructions preceded by the above symbol, should they
not be carried out as shown, can result in a physical accident or dammage the
instrument and the installations.

Meaning of the symbol

This device is protected by a double insulation or by a reinforced insulation. No
linking is required from the protection earth terminal to ensure the electrical security.

You have just acquired a ground tester and we thank you for your confidence.
To get the best service from your instrument:

- read carefully this User manual

- respect the operating precautions detailed within.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

■ Do not use the clamp on cables where the voltage exceeds 150 V RMS or DC in
relation to the earth in category III Pollution 2.
Category III meets with the strict requirements concerning reliability and
environmental constraints, corresponding to permanent use on fixed industrial
installations, as defined in the IEC 664-1.

Note: The label that you stick to the back of your instrument reminds you of the values
that must not be exceeded, the measurement ranges, and briefly, the operation of the
clamp.

■ Avoid any shock to the measurement head, especially to the jaw faces.

■ Keep the surfaces of the jaw faces clean. Even slight soiling may cause malfunction

of the clamp.

■ Avoid the immediate proximity of metallic masses (see distortion parameters).

■ With the recorded or programmed values saved, it is advisable to switch OFF the

instrument between each measurement, to increase the service life of the clamp.

■ Do not exceed the permissible overloads of loop current (see general specifications).

■ Do not leave the battery in the instrument in case of prolonged non-use.

■ Opening of covers or removal of elements (apart from those that can be

manipulatedby hand) risks giving access to parts that are dangerous to touch. The
instrument must be disconnected from any source of power supply before being
opened for any adjustment, replacement, maintenance or repair.

■ When risk-free operation is no longer possible, the instrument must be taken out
of service and protected from any untimely operation.

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SUMMARY

Page

WARRANTY .................................................................................................... 28

TO ORDER .................................................................................................... 28

PRESENTATION ............................................................................................... 29

DESCRIPTION (diagrams at end of user’s manual)......................................... 29

Instrument .............................................................................................. 29

Display .................................................................................................... 30

"How to use" labels................................................................................. 31

PRINCIPLE OF MEASUREMENT ..................................................................... 32

OPERATION .......................................................................................................................................................... 33

ON/OFF Function ................................................................................... 33

Choice of the measurement unit............................................................ 33

Hold digital value on the display............................................................. 33

Alarms (C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R only) ................................................ 34

Operation of the alarm ................................................................ 34

Setting the alarm threshold......................................................... 3 4

Memory (C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R only) .............................................. 35

Zero reset of memory ................................................................. 35

Recording a measurement ......................................................... 35

Reading recorded measurements .............................................. 36

Special functions .................................................................................... 36

Auto ON/OFF .............................................................................. 36

Buzzer ON/OFF (C.A 6412, C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R) ............ 3 6

Special symbols ...................................................................................... 37

SUMMARY OF FUNCTIONS ............................................................................ 3 8

EXAMPLES OF DISPLAYS............................................................................... 39

EXAMPLES OF USE ......................................................................................... 40

Testing a loop connected to an extended earth .................................... 40

Testing the equipotential of grounding systems .................................... 41

SPECIFICATIONS............................................................................................. 42

General specifications ............................................................................ 42

Metrological specifications ..................................................................... 43

MAINTENANCE................................................................................................. 46

Cleaning.................................................................................................. 46

Calibration .............................................................................................. 46

Changing the battery.............................................................................. 46

Calibration check .................................................................................... 47

Repair .................................................................................................... 47

APPENDIX (operation of buzzer) ...................................................................... 48

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WARRANTY

Our guarantee is applicable for twelve months after the date on which the equipment
is made available (extract from our General Conditions of Sale, available on request).

TO ORDER

Reference

GROUND TESTER C.A 6410

GROUND TESTER C.A 6412....................................................................................... P01.1220.12

GROUND TESTER C.A 6415 ....................................................................................... P01.1220.13

GROUND TESTER C.A 6415R..................................................................................... P01.1220.14

Comes in carry case with a 9 V battery,
a set of 5 "How to use" labels (5 languages)
and a User's Manual.

Accessory

Calibration loop CL1 ............................................................................................................ P01.1223.01

Spare

Carry case MLT 100 ............................................................................................................. P01.2980.11

....................................................................................... P01.1220.11

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PRESENTATION

The Earth Tester is designed for testing the resistances of any system of conductors
which is a conductive loop.

In particular, it enables measurements of earth resistances if it is in series in a loop
with its continuity conductor and different earths (extended earth produced for
example by means of a guard wire linking electricity pylons together, for energy
transportation or telecommunications; earths connected to one ground only).

DESCRIPTION

(diagrams at end of user’s manual)

INSTRUMENT

All models

1 : Display
2 : Trigger used for opening the measurement head
3 : Measurement head
4 : HOLD button

-Allows the user to freeze the displayed values and different functional symbols

- Used in combination with the ON/OFF button (secondary function), allows the
user to switch off the Auto Off.

5 : ON/OFF button

- To switch ON/OFF the instrument.

-In combination with another pushbutton gives access to the secondary functions.
(models C.A 6412 and C.A 6415 only)

Models C.A 6412, C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R only

ΩΩ

6 :

Ω pushbutton

ΩΩ

-Allows the user to return to the loop resistance measurement function, after this
function has been exited.

- In combination with the ON/OFF pushbutton (secondary function), switches the
buzzer On or Off.

7 : A pushbutton

- Allows the user to switch to current measurement function.

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Models C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R exclusively

▼

Ω Ω

6 :

Ω pushbutton

Ω Ω

- On alarm reset mode, raises the alarm threshold.*

-On read memory mode, displays the next recording.*

▼

7 : A

pushbutton

- In combination with the ON button (secondary function), switches On or Off the
measurement recording mode.

-In reset alarm mode, lowers the alarm threshold.*

- In read memory mode, displays the preceding recording.*

8 : AL pushbutton

- Switches the alarm function On or Off.

-In combination with the ON button (secondary function), switches to reset alarm
threshold mode.

9 : MEM pushbutton

-

Records the measured value in Ω (resistance), or A (current).

- In combination with the ON button (secondary function), switches to read
memory mode when you want to reread the recorded values. Also allows you
to reset the memory to zero, by holding the sequence ON + MEM.

* if buttons Ω or A are pressed down and held, the values scroll at a rate of 3 per
second, then 10 per second after they have been pressed for 5 seconds.

DISPLAY

All models

10 :4 digit LCD digital display
11 :buzzer on
12 :HOLD symbol for display of the last measurement
13 :symbol showing the presence of interference currents in the loop such that the

resistance measurement can not be guaranteed.

14 : symbol showing that the clamp is not correctly closed, so measurement can not,

in this case, be made.

15 : indicates a resistance less than 0.1 Ω, limit below which the accuracy of the

measurement is not guaranteed.
17 : resistance measurement unit
18 :decimal points
19 :service life of the battery as a % of the max. service life
20 :LCD digital display of the battery service life (0 to 100)
21 :low battery symbol
22 : permanent operation (Auto Off cancelled)

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Note: When switching on the clamp, if the ON button is held down for more than
1 second, a quick automatic test is carried out on the entire display. All the available
segments are displayed for this short time. In your User's Manual, only the segments
exclusive to your clamp are shown.

Models C.A 6412, C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R only

16 : current measurement unit

Model C.A 6415 and C.A 6415R exclusively

20 : 2½ digit LCD digital display of alarm threshold.
23 : unit reminding you that the alarm is linked to the resistance measurement.
24 : set alarm threshold or alarm function mode.
25 : symbol showing that alarm threshold has been triggered by a low value.
26 : symbol showing that alarm threshold has been triggered by a high value.
27 : 2 digit LCD of number of current memory.
28 : re-read memory mode.
29 : record in memory mode.

"HOW TO USE" LABELS

Five adhesive stickers are supplied with your earth tester. They are condensed
versions of the user’s manual in 5 languages. Choose your label and stick it to the back
of your instrument. This label will always remind you of the basic information which is
essential for using your clamp.

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PRINCIPLE OF MEASUREMENT

The diagram below of the principle of measurement illustrates the general case of
measurement of a loop resistance consisting of:

- the ground rod Rx

- the Earth

- n ground rods

- a guard wire looping together all these earths

- The generating winding of the clamp develops an AC voltage with a constant

level E.

- The current measurement winding in the clamp has the value I = E/R

Knowing E set by the generator and I measured, we can deduce R
(value displayed on the clamp).

loop

loop

- More generally, this principle makes it possible to find defective earths. In fact, the

loop resistance is composed of:
R

(value to be found)

x

R

(value normally very low less than 1 Ω).

earth

R

// R2 ...// Rn (negligeable value: case for multiple parallel earths).

1

R
R
By approximation, R
If this value is very high, an inspection of this earth rod is strongly recommended.

(value normally very low, less than 1 Ω).

guard wire

= Rx + R

loop

I

+ (R1 // R2 ...// Rn) + R

earth

▼

Rx

▼

E

R earth

loop

= Rx.

Guard wire

guard wire

R1 R2 Rn

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