Simpson 228 User Manual

Model 228

Current Leakage Tester

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

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About this Manual

To the best of our knowledge and at the time written, the information contained in
this document is technically correct and the procedures accurate and adequate

to operate this instrument in compliance with its original advertised specifica­tions.

Notes and Safety Information

This Operator’s Manual contains warning headings which alert the user to check
for hazardous conditions. These appear throughout this manual where appli­cable and are defined below. To ensure the saf ety of operating performance of
this instrument, these instructions must be adhered to.

Warning, refer to accompanying documents.

!

Caution, risk of electric shock.

Technical Assistance

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY off ers assistance Monday through Friday
7:30 am to 5:00 pm Central Time by contacting Technical Support or

Customer Service at [phone].
Internet: http://www.simpsonelectric.com

Warranty and Returns

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY warrants each instrument and other articles
manufactured by it to be free from defects in material and workmanship under

normal use and service, its obligation under this warranty being limited to making
good at its factory or other article of equipment which shall within one (1) year
after delivery of such instrument or other article of equipment to the original
purchaser be returned intact to it, or to one of its authorized service centers, with

transportation charges prepaid, and which its examination shall disclose to its
satisfaction to have been thus defective; this warranty being expressly in lieu of
all other warranties expressed or implied and of all other obligations or liabilities
on its part, and SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY neither assumes nor autho­rizes any other persons to assume for it any other liability in connection with the

sales of its products.
This warranty shall not apply to any instrument or other article of equipment

which shall have been repaired or altered outside the SIMPSON ELECTRIC
COMPANY factor y or authorized ser vice centers, nor which has been subject to

misuse, negligence or accident, incorrect wiring by others, or installation or use
not in accord with instructions furnished by the man ufacturer.

This manual represents your meter as manufactured at the time of publication. It
assumes standard software. Special versions of software may be fitted, in which

case you will be provided with additional details.
The apparatus has been designed and tested in accordance with EN 61010-1,

“Safety Requirments for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and Labo­ratory Use.” This operationg guide contains information and warnings that must

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be followed by the user to ensure safe operation and to maintain the apparatus in
a safe condition.

We reserve the right to make changes and improvements to the product without
obligation to incorporate these changes and improvements into units previously
shipped.

High Voltage Terminal: Use extreme care when making high voltage
measurements; do not touch terminals or probe ends.

Limit voltage, with respect to earth g round, to 600VDC/VAC maximum.

A terminal connected to earth ground.

!

This Instrument is designed to prevent accidental shock to the operator when
properly used. However, no engineer ing design can render safe an instrument
which is used carelessly. Therefore, this manual must be read carefully and com-

pletely before making any measurements. Failure to follow directions can result
in a serious or fatal accident.

SHOCK HAZARD: As defined in IEC-1010-2,

& Electronic Measurement, Control and Laboratory Use,

considered to exist at any part involving a potential in excess of 30 volts RMS
(sine wave) or 42.4 volts DC or peak and where a leakage current from that part
to ground exceeds 0.5 MIU (Measurement Indication Units) when measured
with an appropriate measuring instrument defined in Section 6.3.1.2 annex A of
IEC-1010-1.

NOTE: UL-1244 calls for the same voltage and measurement limits as IEC-1010­1:1990 but UL-1244 specifies a slightly different test network. Simpson Electric manu­factures test equipment to measure shock hazard as set forth by both specifica­tions. The Simpson Model 228 uses the networks specified by IEC-1010-1 and is

suitable for measuring shock hazard as defined in that document. The Simpson
229-2 uses the measurement networks specified in UL-1244 and is suitable for
measuring shock hazard as defined in that document.

Instruments such as the Model 228 are intended for use in relatively low power 120/
240 VAC or dry battery operated circuits. Never use this Instrument for measure-

ments in high-energy or high-power circuitry such as power substations, distribution
centers, RF induction heaters, broadcast transmitters and X-ray equipment. The
Safety Precautions in this manual aler t you to such hazards and the protective
measures necessary to avoid injury or equipment damage. The dangers in high power
circuits are serious. Please observe all safety precautions!

Safety Requirements for Electrical

a shock hazard shall be

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Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 5

1.1 General Description ...............................................................................5

1.2 What Is Leakage Current? .....................................................................5

1.3 Human Response to Electrical Shock ................................................... 6

1.4 Shock Hazard ......................................................................................... 7

1.5 Burn Hazard ........................................................................................... 7

1.6 Inspection of Instrument .........................................................................7

1.7 Components and Accessories ............................................................... 7

2. SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................................8

3. CONTROLS AND FUNCTIONS .........................................................9

4. INTERPRETING THE METER DIAL SCALES................................. 10

5. READING THE METER DIAL SCALES ........................................... 11

6. SAFETY PRECA UTIONS................................................................ 11

7. MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES...................................................12

7.1 General ................................................................................................12

7.2 Preparation ..........................................................................................13

7.3 Voltage Measurement ..........................................................................13

7.4 Burn Hazard Measurement .................................................................. 1 4

7.5 Shock Hazard Measurement ...............................................................15

7.6 Polar ity Revers al .................................................................................. 1 5

8. MAINTENANCE AND CARE........................................................... 16

8.1 Service .................................................................................................16

8.2 Battery Replacement ...........................................................................16

8.3 Fuse Replacement ...............................................................................1 7

9. CA RE OF INSTRUMENT................................................................. 17

10. RMS VS. PEAK............................................................................... 18

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Description

The Simpson Model 228 is a special purpose AC/DC milliammeter that mea­sures potentially hazardous leakage current on electrical and electronic equip­ment. This Instrument meets the guidelines published in IEC 990, “Methods of

Measurement of Touch Current and Protective Conductor Current.” Most stan­dards agencies in the United States — including ANSI, ISA and UL are in the
process of implementing the networks from IEC 990 into their specifications.

NOTE: For specification information call:

ANSI at [phone] or
UL in Northbrook, IL at [phone].

The Model 228 tests equipment operating at 120-220 volts AC or DC power line
circuits only. Instru ment features include:

• Separate leakage current networks for measuring the following electrical
shock response levels:

Perception/reaction (shock hazard)
Let-go (shock hazard)
Burn hazard

• 0-300 volt scale for measuring open circuit voltage between accessible parts
and ground.

• An RMS reading meter with scales that read shock hazard up to 10 Measure­ment Indication Units (MIU), burn hazard up to 100 mA and peak indicating
RMS shock hazard. (Refer to Section 7, Measurement Procedures) for more
information.

• Output connections for an external peak reading Instrument (required for
measuring peak readings on non-sinusoidal waveforms).

• Convenient battery test function.

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The 228 is battery operated. In some applications, the lead attached to the “Ground”
input may not be attached to earth ground. As a result, the output jacks may be
“floating.” To prevent a shock hazard, do not connect any connectors or equip­ment with accessible conductive surfaces.

1.2 What Is Leakage Current?

“Leakage Current” is a generic term applied to many forms of unwanted currents.
“Leakage Current” (or more accurately, “Touch Current”) as it relates to electrical

shock hazards, is the current that flows to ground through the human body due to
inadequate insulation or improper grounding between internal supplies and ac­cessible conductive parts.

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In properly designed and installed equipment, leakage current can usually be ignored
because it is limited to safe levels. Excessive leakage current can appear in equipment as

a result of:

• A defective component

• Poor equipment design or installation

• A build up of foreign matter

• Old or deteriorated insulation

The presence of leakage current on any acces­sible conductive part poses a potential shock
hazard to anyone touching that part (see Figure

1). Severe electrical shocks from leakage cur-

rent can cause burns, serious injury and in some
cases, death. Even when leakage currents are

not high enough to directly injure a person, the
current can be high enough to cause a violent
muscle contraction resulting in accident or
injury.

Leakage current measurement ensures the safety of electrical equipment — not
only for the user but for anyone who comes in contact with the equipment. Leak­age current measurements should be performed whenever equipment is installed
or repaired.

Electrical shock due to
excess leakage current
(touch current)

Figure 1.

1.3 Human Response to Electrical Shock

The human body’s reaction to electrical shock depends upon the magnitude of
the current involved and many other variables, including sex, weight, age and
point of contact. Reaction to a shock can range from a harmless tingling sensa-

tion to a more serious response such as violent muscle contractions, massive
burns or death due to heart failure.

Although most electrical or electronic equipment is energized by 60Hz (50Hz)
power circuits, some have solid state control circuits or power conversion circuits
which generate higher frequency currents. This high-frequency current may be a

significant part of the total leakage current. The human body becomes less sensi­tive to leakage current as the frequency is increased. The 228 takes the frequency
of the leakage current into account when making measurements and displays a
reading that correctly reflects the potential hazard from the leakage current. Be­cause of this frequency correction, leakage currents are measured in Measure-

ment Indications Units (MIU).
The IEC and other safety agencies have defined four (two are combined) levels

of human body response to electrical shock:

• Perception/Reaction (tingling sensation and invo luntary muscle contraction)

• Let-go (the loss of the ability to control muscles and release)

• Electric burns

The 228 includes a separate measurement “network” for each of these response
levels.

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