Megger Detex Operating Manual

The Measure of Excellence in
Electrical Testing…

The industry leader since 1895, Megger offers a comprehensive line of
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use in the field to fully-integrated systems for high voltage systems testing.
Megger fulfills a range of requirements found in electric utility, large
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applications worldwide.

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Megger’s extensive product line includes its well known portable field test
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Testers for installing and maintaining grounding systems; and equipment
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Megger is a leading supplier of equipment and systems for High Voltage
Systems testing applications, from rigorous QC testing of manufactured
power cable to demanding R&D requirements in the Aerospace industry.
This range of products includes fully-integrated systems for detecting
minute levels of partial discharge to HV power supplies and DC dielectric,
transformer turn ratio and capacitance/dissipation factor test sets for use in
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No matter whether it’s a hand-held Megger® Insulation Tester or a 750kV
Partial Discharge Detection Systems, Megger backs it up with a full range
of support services:

ii

Application Assistance

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requirements.

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Contact one of Megger’s Customer Service Representatives for quick
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about any of Megger’s products and services, contact us at:

Megger
P.O. Box 9007
Valley Forge, PA 19485-1007
1-800-723-2861 ext. 8578
610-676-8578

Shipping Address:
Valley Forge Corporate Center
2621 Van Buren Avenue
Norristown, PA 19403

AVTM51J4

Rev. F
October 2002

Instruction Manual

for

Detex® Voltage Detectors and Phasing Testers

Catalog Numbers 514242, 514360, 514440,

514500, 510836 Series and Accessories

High-Voltage Equipment

Read the entire manual before operating.

Aparato de Alto Voltaje

Antes de operar este producto lea este manual enteramente.

iv

Copyright 2001 by Megger. All rights reserved.

The information presented in this manual is believed to be adequate for the
intended use of the product. If the product or its individual instruments are
used for purposes other than those specified herein, confirmation of their
validity and suitability must be obtained from Megger. Specifications are
subject to change without notice.

Megger
Valley Forge Corporate Center
P.O. Box 9007
Valley Forge, PA 19485-1007
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

www.megger.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section 1 Introduction................................................................................................... 1

RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS.................................................................................1

GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................1

Section 2 Safety ...............................................................................................................3

Section 3 Equipment Tabulation and Specifications............................................7

VOLTAGE DETECTORS.........................................................................................7

PHASING TESTERS ................................................................................................7

ACCESSORIES...........................................................................................................8

Section 4 Description and Operation of the Detex® Voltage

Detectors.....................................................................................................................9

PRECAUTION ...........................................................................................................9

ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE DETECTORS...............................................................9

LED VOLTAGE DETECTOR ................................................................................11

OPERATING CONDITIONS...................................................................................13

Section 5 Description and Operation of the Detex® Phasing

Testers....................................................................................................................... 15

PRECAUTION .........................................................................................................15

ANALOG-TYPE KILOVOLT PHASING TESTERS..............................................15

LED PHASING TESTER ........................................................................................20

Section 6 Description and Operation of the Piezo Verifier ..............................25

DESCRIPTION.........................................................................................................25

OPERATION ............................................................................................................25

Section 7 Troubleshooting and Repair...................................................................27

TROUBLESHOOTING.............................................................................................27

REPAIR ....................................................................................................................30

PREPARATION FOR SHIPMENT AND STORAGE............................................30

Section 8 Technical Data on Phasing Testers...................................................... 31

Test 1 RESISTOR ELEMENT (REMOVABLE ROD)...........................................31

Test 2 INSULATION OF THE CONNECTING CABLE......................................32

Test 3 POLE INSULATION....................................................................................33

Test 4 OPERATING CURRENT.............................................................................33

Test 5 MAXIMUM FAULT CURRENT CALCULATIONS...................................34

Test 6 VOLTAGE-ADJUSTING KNOB .................................................................34

WARRANTY.................................................................................................................37

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List of Illustrations

Figure 1 Dextex® Electronic Voltage Detectors.........................10

Figure 2 Dextex® LED Voltage Detector....................................11

Figure 3 Dextex® Analog-Type Kilovolt Phasing Tester.............16

Figure 4 Dextex® LED Phasing Tester.......................................20

Figure 5 Using the Piezo Verifier to Check LED Detector.........26

Figure 6 Using the Piezo Verifier to Check LED Phasing Tester...26

Figure 7 Test Setup Using Ohmmeter .......................................31

Figure 8 Connecting Cable Insulation Test Setup....................32

Figure 9 Pole Insulation Test Setup..........................................33

Figure 10 Operating Current Test Setup....................................33

Figure 11 Conditions for Maximum Fault Current .....................34

Section 1

Introduction

RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS

Check the equipment received against the packing list to ensure that all
materials are present. Notify Megger of any shortage. Telephone [phone]
or 610-676-8578.

Examine the instrument for damage received in transit. If any damage is
discovered, file a claim with the carrier at once and notify Megger or its
nearest authorized sales representative, giving a detailed description of the
damage.

Detex® Voltage Detectors and Phasing Testers have been thoroughly tested
and inspected to rigid specifications before being shipped and are ready for
use upon receipt. Batteries are not installed prior to shipment in the
electronic voltage detectors and in the analog-type kilovolt phasing testers.
Refer to Section 7 of this manual for battery installation instructions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This manual describes Detex® Voltage Detectors and Phasing Testers. The
detectors and testers are contact-type devices which indicate the presence
of phase-to-ground voltages. Refer to Section 2 of this manual for safety
information.

Specifications for the various instruments are delineated in Section 3.
Section 4 describes the operation of the detectors and Section 5 describes
the operation of the testers. The use of the Piezo Verifier, an accessory for
verifying the correct operation of detectors and testers that do not have a
self-testing capability, is described in Section 6. Section 7 contains
simplified troubleshooting procedures including instructions for battery
installation. Refer to Section 8 for additional technical data on phasing
testers.

1

2

Section 2

Safety

Safety is the responsibility of the user.

The purpose of the detectors and testers is limited to use as described in
this manual. Do not use the detectors or testers with any device other than
specifically described.

The following warning and caution notices are used in this manual where
applicable. These notices precede the specific instruction where the hazard
is likely to be encountered.

WARNING

Warning, as used in this manual, is defined as a
condition or practice which could result in
personal injury or loss of life.

CAUTION

Caution, as used in this manual, is defined as a
condition or practice which could result in
damage to or destruction of the equipment or
apparatus under test.

§ Use with extreme care. If in doubt, stop.

§ Check detectors and testers for correct operation before and after use.

§ Ground the circuit under test before working on it.

§ These detectors and testers should be used only by personnel familiar

with safe methods of approach to live equipment and conversant with
safety precautions in performing live line operations.

§ Follow all applicable safety rules.

These voltage detectors and phasing testers are intended to be connected to
sources of high-voltage electrical energy and all persons making or assisting
in the tests must use all practical safety precautions to prevent contact with
energized parts of the test equipment and related circuits. If the detectors
and testers are operated properly, test personnel need not wear rubber
gloves. As a routine safety procedure, however, some users require that

3

4

rubber gloves be worn when making connections to high-voltage
equipment. Megger considers this an excellent safety practice.

Users of high-voltage equipment should note that high-voltage discharges
and other sources of strong electric or magnetic field may interfere with the
proper functioning of heart pacemakers. Personnel with heart pacemakers
should obtain expert advice on the possible risks before operating this
equipment or being close to the equipment during operation.

Attention is drawn to the safety warnings marked on the body of the
detectors. In particular, the detectors must be held below the line marking
the safe limit for handling when applying to live apparatus, telescopic pole
models extended correctly, and detector head models must be attached to a
hot line pole, as required by the voltage of the apparatus under test.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

The detectors and testers are contact devices; they are not proximity
devices. Therefore, their fork or hook terminals must actually touch the

bare conductor being tested for at least 3 seconds to work properly.

Voltage detectors are designed to operate only on systems referenced to
ground. Erroneous indications will occur when testing ungrounded delta or
wye systems. Correct indications by the instruments depend on their being
used with the correct system.

Cat. No. 514360-2, 514360-3, 514360-4, 514242-1, 514242-2, 514500-3,
514500-4 instruments (those supplied without integral poles) are
showerproof. They are not waterproof and could be rendered inoperative if
immersed. When using these detectors and testers in rain or snow, care
must be taken to follow all safety precautions as suggested by the
manufacturer of the hot line pole being used. In particular, make sure that
the hot line pole used has a wet rating at least equal to the voltage of the
system under test. Also make sure that it is clean and free from
imperfections, such as cracks and chips.

5

Cat. No. 514440-2, 514360-1, 514500-1, 514500-2, and 510836-1 instruments
(those supplied with integral poles) should not be used in rain or snow.
They do not have a wet rating.

When checking for the absence of voltage, detectors and testers should be
tested both before and after use to make sure they are operating properly. It
is best to make this test on a live portion of the same circuit being tested.
This will ensure that the sensitivity of the detector is satisfactory for the
particular application. As an alternative, make the tests on another circuit of
similar rating and in similar lighting conditions.

Before touching or working near de-energized circuits or apparatus, make
sure that they are grounded using appropriate safe grounding techniques.
Conductors and cables used for grounding must be capable of handling the
maximum possible current.

Make sure that the nominal voltage of the apparatus under test is within the
voltage range specified on the instrument.

NOTE

The voltage specified on voltage detectors
refers to nominal system line voltage. The
actual operating voltage range of the detector is
the voltage specified, divided by 1.73.

6

Section 3

Equipment Tabulation and Specifications

VOLTAGE DETECTORS

(For ac use only, grounded circuits only)

Operating

Cat. No Type

514242-1 Electronic 69 to 230 Spline Fitting 1.5 (0.67)
514242-2 Electronic 230 to 500 Spline Fitting 1.5 (0.67)
514360-1 Electronic 2.4 to 6.9

514360-2 Electronic 4.16 to 13.8 Spline Fitting 1.1 (0.50)
514360-3 Electronic 12 to 34.5 Spline Fitting 1.1 (0.50)
514360-4 Electronic 24.9 to 69 Spline Fitting 1.1 (0.50)
514440-2 LED 4.16 to 34.5

Range

(kV) ph-ph

Style

Telescopic Pole

34 to 51 in.

(86 to 129 cm)

Telescopic Pole

34 to 49.5 in.

(86 to 126 cm)

Weight

lb (kg)

2.2 (0.99)

2.1 (0.95)

Detectors are supplied with vinyl carrying cases.

PHASING TESTERS

(For ac use only, grounded or ungrounded circuits)

Cat. No Type

Operating

Range (kV)

Style Weight

lb (kg)

514500-1 Meter 1 to 7 Two Pole 4.0 (1.8)
514500-2 Meter 4 to 36 Two Pole 4.7 (2.1)
514500-3 Meter 13 to 80 Spline Fitting 4.3 (1.9)
514500-4 Meter 4 to 36 Spline Fitting 4.3 (1.9)
510836-1 LED 2.1 to 36 Two Pole 3.0 (1.4)

Testers are supplied with metal carrying cases.

7

8

ACCESSORIES

Cat. No. 512117 Pneumatic Rubber Glove Tester
Size: 5-1/2 in. (14 cm) high; 5 in. (12.7 cm) diameter
Weight: 1-1/2 lb (0.7 kg)

Cat. No. 510005 Piezo Verifier
Size: 7 in. (18 cm)

Weight: 3/4 lb (0.34 kg)

Section 4

Description and Operation

of the

Detex® Voltage Detectors

PRECAUTION

Be sure to read and understand Section 2, Safety, of this manual before
operating the voltage detector. Even after determining that a circuit is
de-energized by use of the detector, it may still carry an induced voltage, a
capacitively coupled voltage, or an applied voltage lower than the operating
range of the detector. The circuit under test must be grounded before being
touched.

ELECTRONIC VOLTAGE DETECTORS

These single-pole voltage detectors are used to verify the absence of voltage
in the detector's range on a line or terminal of any grounded ac electrical
system. The presence of ac voltage is detected with respect to ground by
making contact between the detector and the live equipment. The
three-step procedure of testing the detector, testing for absence of high
voltage, and testing the detector again should be strictly observed.

Cat. No. 514360 and 514242 series detectors, see Figure 1, use an electronic
detection circuit powered by batteries enclosed in the assembly. The
presence of voltage is indicated by an audible signal sounding and by a red
light-emitting diode (LED) flashing. Absence of these signals indicates that
the conductor or termination under test is free of voltage above the low
voltage limit of the detector.

To activate the detector test system, briefly press the red TEST button. The
audible signal sounds and the red LED flashes for a short time. The green
LED lights for approximately two minutes indicating that the detector is
operational and ready for use. The green LED extinguishes when the
presence of voltage is detected as indicated by the audible signal sounding
and by the red LED flashing. Note that the Cat. No. 514242 series
detectors have four red LED's for ease of visibility.

Except for the Cat. No. 514360-1 detector, which is equipped with a
telescopic pole, detectors with spline fittings must be attached to a universal

9

10

connection on the end of the proper length hot line pole rated for the
voltage of the system being tested.

SOUND
INDICATOR

TEST
BUTTON

RED
LEDs

GREEN

LED

SOUND
INDICATOR

ROD
ATTACHMENT
FITTING

Figure 1: Detex® Electronic Voltage Detectors

GREEN
LED

RED
LED

TEST
BUTTON

11

LED VOLTAGE DETECTOR

The Cat. No. 514440-2 LED voltage detector shown in Figure 2 uses a lamp
as the detecting device, with the lamp connected on one side to the contact
terminal and on the other side to an external conducting electrode. A small
gap is incorporated in series with the lamp. The extremely sensitive lamp is
illuminated by a very small current resulting from the capacitive effect
between the internal electrode and ground. This detector operates only on
grounded ac systems.

The detector has a strong molded thermoplastic housing and a built-in
TEST button. On recent models (identified by a green label sticker), the
TEST button applies a piezo voltage to check both the lamp and the
adjustment of the main spark gap. On earlier models (with a red label
sticker) this test only checks the neon lamp.

Complete LED Type Detector

with Telescopic Pole

LED Type Detector Head

Figure 2: Dextex® LED Voltage Detector

12

The overall operation of the detector must be checked by at least one of the
following procedures:

Press the TEST button or use an external verifier. The lamps must
flash.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

Adjust the pole length to correspond to the system line-line
voltage. Touch the forked tip on a known live conductor at the
same voltage for at least 3 seconds. The lamps must flash.

A three-step procedure should be strictly observed when testing circuits:

1. Test the detector operation as described in the preceding
paragraph.

2. Test the unknown line for absence of voltage.

3. Test the detector again as described in the preceding paragraph.

In step 2, during a routine test on grounded systems, the presence of high
voltage in the detector's range causes the lamp to illuminate.

The LED detector is equipped with a telescopic pole which is marked with
a series of rings graduated in kilovolts, indicating the minimum safe length
required for each voltage range. These demarcations assist the user in
adjusting the pole to the exact length required by operating conditions.

13

OPERATING CONDITIONS

WARNING

Keep your hands behind the guards on the
poles. Follow all safety precautions for high­voltage equipment. Ground circuit before
touching using a safe grounding method.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

The forked terminal must touch the bare conductor under test for proper
operation of the detector for at least 3 seconds.

The operating parts of the detector are enclosed in an insulated and
watertight assembly which protects them from external damage and the
effects of humidity. If the detector gets wet, all external surfaces should be
dried before normal operations are resumed.

Electronic voltage detectors with Cat. No. 514360-2, 514360-3, 514360-4,
514242-1, and 514242-2 are showerproof. They are not waterproof and
could be rendered inoperative if immersed. When using the detectors in
rain or snow, follow all safety precautions as directed by the manufacturer
of the hot line pole being used. In particular, make sure that the hot line
pole used has a wet rating at least equal to the voltage of the system under
test. Also, make sure that it is clean and free from imperfections, such as
cracks and chips.

Do not use the electronic voltage detector equipped with the telescopic
pole (Cat. No. 514360-1) or the LED voltage detector (Cat. No. 514440-2)
in rain or snow. They do not have a wet rating.

NOTE

Cat. No. 514440-2 is not approved for use on
reactors manufactured by Trench Limited.

14

Section 5

Description and Operation

of the

Detex® Phasing Testers

PRECAUTION

Be sure to read and understand Section 2, Safety, of this manual before
operating the phasing tester.

ANALOG-TYPE KILOVOLT PHASING TESTERS

Description

These analog-type kilovolt phasing testers (Cat. No. 514500-1, 514500-2,
514500-3, and 514500-4) consist of two insulated poles each equipped with
a removable contact antenna and a flexible insulated cable connecting the
two poles. See Figure 3.

The antennas include protection resistors and must be screwed onto the
pole ends before use. The antennas are not interchangeable. The detection
rod and its corresponding antenna each have a red identification dot. Make
sure that the antenna with the red dot is screwed onto the pole with the red
dot.

NOTE

This type of phasing detector cannot be used
for single pole voltage detection.

15

16

Figure 3: Detex® Analog – Type Kilovolt Phasing Tester

Hand guards are standard on phasing testers with Cat. No. 514500-1, and
514500-2. Cat. No. 514500-3 and 514500-4 testers have universal spline
fittings for attachment to hot line poles.

These phasing testers are designed for outdoor testing of grounded and
ungrounded systems. Applications for these instruments include checking
high-voltage fuses, testing for correct phase connections, and testing for
absence of high voltage on de-energized lines or apparatus. Note that the
movement of the pointer over the calibrated scale is only an indication of
the presence of voltage in the range indicated. Phasing testers are not to be
used for determining the exact voltage on the line or apparatus being tested.

The accuracy of the kilovolt indication is such that the nominal system
voltage shown by the indicator needle can be identified (either phase to
phase or phase to ground). The bandwidth covers the approximate spread
of system voltages in that range. Under most circumstances the needle will
fall within the appropriate band for the system under test; however, an
indication outside of the bands should not necessarily be construed as a
false reading. The difference between a phase-to-phase and a phase-to-ground
indication is easily discernible.

17

Operating Conditions - Detex® Analog Voltage Detectors

WARNING

Keep your hands behind the guards on the
poles.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

CAUTION

Phasing testers are constructed for intermittent
use and should not be left operating on closed
circuits beyond the time necessary for the
tests, since the protective resistances may be
damaged by prolonged operation.

The forked terminal must touch the bare conductor under test for proper
operation of the phasing tester for at least 3 seconds. Cat. No. 514500-1

and 514500-2 testers should not be used in rain or snow. They do not have
a wet rating.

Cat. No. 514500-3 and 514500-4 testers are showerproof. They are not
waterproof and could be rendered inoperative if immersed. When using the
phasing testers in rain or snow, care must be taken to follow all safety
precautions as suggested by the manufacturer of the hot line pole being
used. In particular, make sure that the hot line pole used has a wet rating at
least equal to the voltage of the system under test. Also make sure that it is
clean and free from imperfections such as cracks and chips. Follow all
other appropriate safety precautions.

Check operation of the testers before and after each test on a live portion
of the circuit under test. Ground circuit before touching using a safe
grounding method. Operation of the Cat. No. 514500-1, 514500-2, and
514500-4 testers can be checked using the self-test system. To activate the
system, touch the two contact forks together and press the test button. The
meter pointer must deflect to the BATTERY TEST position. Refer to
Section 7, Troubleshooting and Repair, for complete details.

18

Voltage Detection - Detex® Analog Voltage Detectors

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

Touch for at least 3 seconds the contact forks or hooks of the detector
element pole and the auxiliary element pole to two conductors or parts to
be tested. The meter will respond to the voltage between the two parts. In
cases where both the detector and auxiliary element poles are touching
different phase conductors of grounded or ungrounded systems, the meter
response will be phase-to-phase voltage. If the detector element pole is
touched to a conductor and the auxiliary element pole touched to the
ground bus of grounded systems, the meter responds to the phase-to­ground voltage. Phase-to-ground voltage is the result of phase-to-phase
voltage divided by 1.732 (the square root of 3).

For example,

34,500 V phase-to-phase/1.732 = 19,919 V phase-to-ground.

Testing Phase Connections - Detex® Analog Voltage Detectors

After having checked, by the previously described detection methods, the
presence of voltage on each of the conductors of each of the two circuits,
use the following method to identify conductors of the same phase.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

CAUTION

Do not attempt to check phasing between two
circuits when either or both circuits are
ungrounded systems unless both circuits
originate from the same supply transformer
winding. Meter indication is unpredictable.

19

First, touch for at least 3 seconds the detector element pole to one of the
conductors of the first circuit. While maintaining this contact, successively
touch the auxiliary element pole to each of the conductors of the second
circuit. The conductor, which is at the same phase as the conductor being
touched on the first circuit is identified by having no pointer response on
the meter, while in the case of the two other phases the meter responds
with the phase-to-phase voltage. Use this same procedure on the other
conductors to identify them by pairs.

20

®

LED PHASING TESTER

Description

The Cat. No. 510836-1 LED phasing tester is designed for use on
grounded and ungrounded systems. It consists of two 43 in. long poles with
a flexible insulated cable connecting them. Hand guards are provided for
safety. The indicator lamp is easily visible in testing situations with poor
lighting. Applications include detection using one or two poles, checking
high-voltage fuses, testing for correct phase connections, and testing for
absence of high voltage on de-energized lines or apparatus. The LED
phasing tester is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Detex

LED Phasing T ester

21

Operating Conditions – LED Phasing Tester

WARNING

Keep your hands behind the guards on the
poles.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

CAUTION

Do not attempt to check phasing between two
circuits when either or both circuits are
ungrounded systems unless both circuits
originate from the same supply transformer
winding because results are unpredictable.

Check operation of the tester before and after each test on a live portion of
the circuit under test. Ground circuit before touching using a safe
grounding method. The forked terminals must touch the bare conductors

under test for at least 3 seconds for proper operation of the tester. Do not
use the LED phasing tester in rain or snow.

Remember that for correct operation, when testing for the presence or
absence of voltage using the single-pole technique or with the auxiliary
element touching ground, the system being tested must be referenced to
ground. Ungrounded delta or wye systems will give erroneous results.

Voltage-Adjusting Knob – LED Phasing Tester

The correct adjustment of the voltage-adjusting knob is essential to ensure
proper operation and particularly to obtain extinction of the lamp when
there is contact with two conductors of the same phase or potential. If the
adjustment is made for too high a voltage, the lamp may not light. If it is
adjusted to a voltage that is too low, there is a risk that it will remain lit due
to the capacitance effect, even if the two connectors are at the same
potential.

22

WARNING

The voltage-adjusting knob must not be
operated during a voltage test.

Set the voltage-adjusting knob in accordance with the following:

1. For single-pole detection, with the auxiliary element held clear, set
the adjusting knob at the system line to the expected ground
voltage.

2. For two-pole detection:

a. When checking for the presence or absence of voltage with the

auxiliary element touching ground, set the adjusting knob at the
system line to the expected ground voltage.

b. When checking fuses in accordance with the procedure outlined in

this section, set the adjusting knob at the system line to the
expected ground voltage.

c. When testing phase connections in accordance with the procedure

outlined in this section, set the adjusting knob at the expected system
line to line voltage.

The tester is not a voltage-measuring device, it is only intended to indicate
the presence or absence of voltage by methods as described in this section.
The use of the voltage-adjusting knob to determine system voltage is not
recommended because of the difficulty in interpreting the results.

Single-Pole Detection – LED Phasing Tester

By using the detector element alone, single-pole detection may be carried
out by holding the auxiliary element clear. A definite flash rate is obtained
with voltages of 3 kV and above. This use is only of limited interest and a
higher flash rate is obtained by two-pole detection as well as detection on
voltages down to 2 kV with the auxiliary element on the ground bus of
grounded systems.

Two-Pole Detection – LED Phasing Tester

Simultaneously touch the contact pieces to the two conductors or parts to
be tested. One of them may be a conductor which is connected to earth,

23

and in this case it is simply a matter of finding out which parts are live.
Illumination is obtained for voltages from approximately 2 kV.

Checking High-Voltage Fuses – LED Phasing Tester

This operation is a typical example of the application of the phasing tester.
First, while holding the auxiliary element clear, touch the detector element
to the live side of each cutout; the flashing of the lamp indicates that
voltage is present on the input side of the equipment. Then touch the
auxiliary element on the secondary side of the fuse. The extinction of the
lamp indicates that the two terminals are at the same potential and that the
fuse is intact. If the lamp flashes, then the fuse is defective.

Testing Phase Connections – LED Phasing Tester

After having checked, by simple detection methods, the presence of a
voltage on each of the conductors, use the following method to identify
conductors of the same phase. First, while holding the auxiliary element
clear, touch the detector element to one of the conductors of the first
circuit. The lamp lights confirming the presence of a voltage.

While maintaining this contact, successively touch the auxiliary element to
each of the conductors of the second circuit. The one which is at the same
phase as the conductor being touched on the first circuit is identified
because the lamp goes out, while in the case of the two other phases, there
is considerable increase in the rate of flash. Use this same procedure on the
other conductors to identify them by pairs.

CAUTION

Capacitive effects due to interaction with
nearby grounds may give erroneous results. To
avoid this, proceed as follows:

Interchange the positions of the auxiliary and display elements and retest all
phases. Again, the lamp must go out for each of the same pairs that were
previously identified as being in phase. If not, then the system is incorrectly
hooked-up and further testing should be done using an analog-type kilovolt
phasing tester (Cat. No. 514500-1 or 514500-2, as appropriate) to identify the
problem.

24

NOTE

Since the flash rate increases as the voltage
increases, different flash rates are clues to the
voltage levels that are present. Therefore, a
careful observation of the flash rate serves as
an additional check for the presence of
improper voltages due to incorrect system
connections.

Testing for Absence of Voltage Before Starting Work –
LED Phasing Tester

Frequently, when a line is separated from the source of supply but not yet
grounded there is a relatively high voltage present on the line, resulting
from induction due to neighboring lines which are still live. A single-pole
voltage detector used under these conditions will give a positive indication
which may give the impression that the circuit has not been broken.

Using the voltage-adjusting knob on the LED phasing tester resolves this
difficulty. Because there is a large difference between the normal service
voltage and the induced voltage, when the tester is set to the service
voltage, it will only light when the line is effectively connected to the source
of supply. This check having been made, it is then possible, by adjusting the
voltage-regulating switch to minimum, to find out if the circuits are live at
an induced voltage (down to the threshold of sensitivity of the indicator,
approximately 2000 V).

Section 6

Description and Operation

of the

Piezo Verifier

DESCRIPTION

The Piezo Verifier, Cat. No. 510005, consists of a piezo electric generator
of very small dimensions enclosed in a case of insulating material. It is used
to verify the correct operation of voltage detectors and phasing testers that
do not have a self-testing capability.

On the base of the verifier is a small metal contact designed to be
connected to the object under test. A socket on the side is provided for
making a connection to ground or for testing a closed circuit with the test
lead supplied. The mechanism is operated by squeezing the molded handle.
The output is approximately 1800 V when the handle is squeezed at the
prescribed rate of three times a second.

WARNING

Although the output of the verifier is not lethal,
the jolt that could be received is sufficient to
cause an involuntary muscle spasm. Care must
be taken to avoid contact with the output
terminal, particularly when working on ladders
or in a situation where such a reaction could be
dangerous.

It is important that the verifier be used in the same lighting conditions as
those at the actual test site. A carrying case is provided for protection of the
instrument and for storage of the test lead.

OPERATION

To Check LED Voltage Detectors

To check a LED voltage detector, the contact point on the verifier should
be contacted either to the test terminal on the side of the detector head or
to the forked tip of the detector, as shown in Figure 5. The LED voltage

25

26

Figure 5: Using the Piezo Verifier to Check an LED Detector

detector should be held as shown and the verifier operated with the other
hand.

It is extremely important to use the Piezo Verifier to check that the LED
voltage detector is operating correctly if it is being used to detect the
absence of voltage on a conductor, unless other means of checking are
used. Refer to Section 2.

To Check LED Phasing Testers

The Detex® Phasing Tester, Cat. No. 510836-1 is checked by connecting a
wire from the magneto on the verifier to the other pole of the LED
phasing tester which is not in direct contact with the verifier. See Figure 6.
Otherwise, the procedure is the same as that for LED voltage detectors.
Before each verification, the voltage-adjustment knob of the LED phasing
tester must be brought back to zero.

Figure 6: Using the Piezo Verifier to Check an LED Phasing Tester

Section 7

Troubleshooting and Repair

TROUBLESHOOTING

Voltage Detectors

Check operation of the voltage detector on a live portion of the same
circuit under test. If there is no indication on the detector, check the
following:

1. Using a light shield if necessary, confirm that the LED detector is

not illuminating.

In strong daylight, it is sometimes very difficult to determine if the
unit is operating properly and extra light shielding may be required
or an electronic detector must be used.

2. Voltage detectors will not work properly on ungrounded circuits

since they operate on the very small capacitance current running
from the line under test to ground. If ungrounded circuits have to
be tested, it will be necessary to use a two-pole phasing tester.

3. Make sure there is sufficient line voltage for operation. For

example, the minimum operating voltage for the LED voltage
detector is 2100 V to ground such as can be found on a 2400/4160
V grounded wire system. This instrument will not operate properly
on a 2400 V delta system even though this system is grounded
through a grounding transformer since such a system would have a
phase voltage to ground considerably below 2000 V.

4. If the preceding checks have been made and the LED detector still

does not illuminate properly, the LED indicator may be faulty,
although this is rare. In such cases, it is recommended that the
instrument be returned to the factory for repair.

5. With electronic voltage detectors, replace batteries and recheck. If

the detector still does not operate properly, consult the factory.

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28

To install batteries in electronic voltage detectors:

For Cat. No. 514242 series detectors:

1. Unscrew the black front ring of the housing.

2. Remove the body of the indicator from the housing.

3. Snap on the battery connection and place the battery in its
compartment. Replace only with 9-V Duracell alkaline battery
MN1604 (6LR61) because of confined space in the meter housing.

4. Reassemble the body and ring into the housing.

5. Press the TEST button to check instrument is working correctly.

For Cat. No. 514360 series detectors:

1. Remove front probe (if attached), unscrew rear retainer ring, and
carefully withdraw the sensor/detector section from its housing.

2. Remove the battery holder from its compartment and install four
"AA" alkaline batteries in accordance with polarity indicators.

3. Replace battery holder in its compartment.

4. Slide the sensor/detector section back into its housing being
careful to align the orange color keyed tab with its mating slot on
the housing. The section should settle in and the forward hex
portion should seat in its recess.

5. Replace the rear retainer ring.

LED Phasing Tester

1. For illumination failure of the LED phasing tester, steps 1, 2, and 3
of the procedure for voltage detectors generally also apply when
using the phasing tester in the single-pole mode of operation,
keeping in mind that the threshold voltage of the detector in this
mode, is 3000 V to ground. When the two-pole mode of operation
is used, this threshold voltage is reduced to 2000 V and it is not
necessary that the system be grounded.

29

2. Make sure that the adjusting knob is properly set to the voltage of

the system. The indicator lamp will flash brightest when this knob
is set properly so do not set to a voltage either appreciably greater
or less than the circuit voltage.

3. Inspect the extension rods for good physical contact at their

mating ends.

4. If the tester still does not illuminate properly, the indicator lamp is

probably defective and the tester should be returned to the factory
for repair.

Analog-Type Kilovolt Phasing Testers

Cat. No. 514500-1, 514500-2, and 514500-4 phasing testers are powered by
a 9-V battery located in the meter housing. The total instrument can be
checked in the following manner.

1. Install the antenna ends of both poles.

2. Touch the forked terminals together.

3. Press the red button at the back of the meter housing; recent

models have the button on the dial side of the meter.

4. The pointer should deflect to the BATTERY TEST position. If

the deflection is insufficient, replace the battery and retry. If the
deflection is still not correct, consult the factory.

To install battery in analog-type kilovolt phasing testers:

1. Unscrew the front ring nut from the meter housing.

2. Remove the body of the meter from its housing.

3. Snap on the battery connection and place the battery in its

compartment. Replace only with 9-V Duracell alkaline battery
MN1604 (6LR61) because of confined space in the meter housing.

4. Replace the body of the meter in its housing.

5. Replace the front ring nut.

30

REPAIR

Megger offers a complete repair service and recommends that its customers
take advantage of this service in the event of any equipment malfunction.
When returning an instrument to the factory for repair, please indicate all
pertinent information, including problem symptoms and attempted repairs.
Equipment returned for repair must be shipped prepaid and insured and
marked for the attention of the Repair Department Manager.

PREPARATION FOR SHIP MENT AND STORAGE

Remove batteries from battery powered detectors or testers before
shipment or before long-term storage. Place the detector or tester in its
carrying case and pack in a carton (original shipping carton if available) with
adequate dunnage in accordance with best commercial practice. Seal the
container with waterproof tape.

Section 8

Technical Data on Phasing Testers

This section describes factory tests and calculations. They are presented for
better understanding and as an aid to users who wish to set up their own
test program. Megger will assist users who require technical assistance
concerning specific test methods.

TEST 1 RESISTOR ELEMENT (REMOVABLE ROD)

The following tabulation gives the values of the resistance in megohms for
each phasing tester. Resistive tolerance is ±5 percent.

Resistance ((MΩ)

Phasing Tester

Cat. No.

514500-1 3.76 2.82
514500-2 21.6 14.4
514500-3 37.7 33.8
514500-4 21.6 14.4
510836-1 25 25

Detector

Element Pole

Auxiliary

Element Pole

Figure 7 shows the test setup for measuring the value of protection
resistance of the phasing tester antenna element using an ohmmeter.

Ω

Figure 7: Test Setup Using Ohmmeter

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32

WARNING

Tests 2, 3, and 4 involve dangerous high
voltages. These tests must be set up and
performed only by qualified personnel in
accordance with all safety precautions.

WARNING

The test equipment must be held on the power
line for a minimum of 3 seconds.

TEST 2 INSULATION OF THE CONNECTING CABLE

Figure 8 shows the test setup for testing the insulation of the connecting
cable using an ac milliammeter with suitable scale. Test voltage is 1.2 times
maximum nominal phase to ground voltage for 1 minute; leakage current is
less than 500 µA.
For example, test voltage for the Cat. No. 514500-2 tester is:

250002.136000 VV =×

3

A

Figure 8: Connecting Cable Insulation Test Setup

33

TEST 3 POLE INSULATION

A

Figure 9 shows the test setup for checking pole insulation using earthed
poles. Test voltage is 1.2 times maximum nominal phase to ground voltage
for 1 minute; leakage current is less than 125 µA. This test should not be
performed on Cat. No. 514500-3 and 514500-4 testers.

A

Figure 9: Pole Insulation Test Setup

TEST 4 OPERATING CURRENT

Figure 10 shows the operating current test setup. At maximum nominal
voltage, current through the phasing tester is approximately 1 mA.

A

Figure 10: Operating Current Test Setup

34

voltage

nominal

maximum

TEST

TEST 5 MAXIMUM FAULT CURRENT CALCULATIONS

Figure 11 shows the conditions for calculating maximum fault current
which could flow accidentally at Test Point A with a faulty cable. The
maximum fault current would be:

×

resistanceelement auxiliary 3

POINT

A

Figure 11: Conditions for Maximum Fault Current

TEST 6 VOLTAGE- ADJUSTING KNOB

To check the correct operation of the voltage-adjusting knob on the LED
phasing tester, the following procedure should be performed for at least
four different settings over the full range of adjustment.

a. Set the voltage-adjusting knob to the desired setting.

b. Touch the detector element to a variable source of high voltage

(the auxiliary element being held clear).

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c. Raise the voltage to a value equal to the knob setting. Observe the

lamp, it should be flashing at its maximum rate.

d. Touch the auxiliary element simultaneously to the same electrode

as the detector element. The lamp should extinguish. A faint flash
may still be observed but the difference between this faint flash
and maximum intensity flash is considerable and easily discernible.

Refer to Section 7, Troubleshooting, if the tester fails these checks.

36

WARRANTY

Products supplied by Megger are warranted against defects in material and
workmanship for a period of one year following shipment. Our liability is
specifically limited to replacing or repairing, at our option, defective
equipment. Equipment returned to the factory for repair must be shipped
prepaid and insured. This warranty does not include batteries, lamps or
similar items, where the original manufacturer's warranty shall apply. We
make no other warranty. The warranty is void in the event of abuse (failure
to follow recommended operating procedures) or failure by the customer to
perform specific maintenance as indicated in this manual.

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38

NOTES