Megger BM80/2 Series User manual

M
BM80/2 Series
Multi-Voltage Insulation and Continuity Tester
User Guide
Guide de l’utilisateur
Gebrauchsanleitung
Guía del usuario

Contents
Safety Warnings 2
Notes 3
General Description 4-5
Operation
Testing is automatically inhibited if... 6
Voltage testing on high energy systems 6
Auto-shut Off 6
Insulation Tests (MΩ)7
Polarization Index Testing 7
Continuity Testing (Ω) 8
Continuity Bleeper ( ) 8
Zeroing of Test Lead Resistance 8
Resistance Tests (kΩ)9
Voltage Tests (V)9
Live Circuit Warning 9
Battery Check ( )10
Battery Replacement 10
Fuse Checking and Replacement 10
Application Notes
Preventive Maintenance 11
Insulation Testing Concepts 12-13
Specification 14-17
Typical Terminal Voltage Characteristics 18
Accessories 19
Repair and Warranty 20
Mode d’emploi 22 - 43
Betriebsanleitung 44 - 65
Instrucionnes de Uso 66 - 87
1

2
SAFETY WARNINGS
•Safety Warnings and Precautions must be read and understood before
the instrument is used. They must be observed during use.
• The circuit under test mustbe de-energized and isolated before
connections are made except for voltage measurement.
• Circuit connections must not be touched during a test.
• After insulation tests, capacitive circuits must be allowed to discharge
before disconnecting the test leads.
• The Live Circuit Warning and Automatic Discharge are additional safety
features and should not be regarded as a substitute for normal safe
working practice.
• Replacement fuses must be of the correct type and rating.
• Test leads, including crocodile clips, must be in good order, clean and
have no broken or cracked insulation.
• U.K. Safety Authorities recommend the use of fused test leads when
measuring voltage on high energy systems.
NOTE
THIS INSTRUMENT MUST ONLY BE USED BY SUITABLY TRAINED AND COMPETENT PERSONS.

Notes
BEFORE USING THE INSTRUMENT,follow
the separate instructions provided to fit either
the locking or non-locking test button. Megger
Limited recommend the fitting of the non-
locking test button. Hands free operation is
provided on all ranges except the insulation
ranges. If the locking button is fitted, extra care
must be taken.
Symbols used on the instrument:
Risk of electric shock.
Refer to User Guide.
Equipment protected throughout by
Double Insulation (Class II).
Equipment complies with current EU
Directives.
3
NOTE
Users of this equipment and or their employers are reminded that Health and Safety Legislation require them
to carry out valid risk assessments of all electrical work so as to identify potential sources of electrical danger
and risk of electrical injury such as from inadvertent short circuits. Where the assessments show that the risk
is significant then the use of fused test leads constructed in accordance with the HSE guidance note GS38
‘Electrical Test Equipment for use by Electricians’ should be used.Users of this equipment and or their
employers are reminded that Health and Safety Legislation require them to carry out valid risk assessments
of all electrical work so as to identify potential sources of electrical danger and risk of electrical injury such as
from inadvertent short circuits. Where the assessments show that the risk is significant then the use of fused
test leads constructed in accordance with the HSE guidance note GS38 ‘Electrical Test Equipment for use by
Electricians’ should be used.

General Description
The BM80/2 Series instruments are battery
powered Insulation and Continuity testers, with a
measurement capability from 0,01 ΩContinuity
to 200 GΩInsulation.
Offering multi-voltage facilities, the instruments
take full advantage of microprocessor
technology and feature a large liquid crystal
display combining digital and analogue
readings. The analogue display has the benefit
of indicating trends and fluctuations in
readings, while the digital readout gives direct
accurate results.
The BM80/2 Series instruments have the
unique option of either a locking or non-locking
button which is user selected. The chosen test
button is easily pushed into the instrument
casing without the use of a tool. The procedure
for inserting the test button is provided on the
separate instruction sheet included with the
test buttons.
Acustomized connector on the top of the
instrument enables the optional Megger SP6F
Switched probe to be used for two handed
probe operation.
The TEST button is used to initiate the
insulation tests, for operating the null facility
and for adjusting the auto shut-off time. Grey
markings on the range label denotes when the
use of the TEST button is necessary. All other
tests (Voltage, Continuity and Resistance)
have the advantage of hands free operation
and are activated when the probes make
contact.
The 250 V, 500 V and 1000 V ranges can be
used to test electrical installations in
compliance with BS7671 (16th Edition IEE
Wiring Regulations) IEC364 and HD384, since
each range has a 1 mA minimum test current
at the minimum pass values of insulation
specified in these documents. The 100 V
range is ideal for testing telecommunications
equipment which would be damaged by higher
voltages. The 50 V range is useful for testing
sensitive equipment, such as electronic
components, and computer peripherals.
Available as an optional accessory, the
Megger DLB Downloading Base can be fitted
for realtime downloading of measured test
4

General Description
results to a Palmtop, Laptop or Personal
computer via an RS232 serial lead. The
optional miniature clip-on current transducer
MCC10 enables the instrument to measure
a.c. currents from 1 A to 10 A.
Instrument power is supplied by six 1,5 V
alkaline battery cells, which are constantly
monitored. When battery power is nearly
exhausted, the symbol appears on the
display. Remaining battery life can be
monitored at any time using the battery check
switch position. This is beneficial before going
on-site, to ensure enough battery power for the
day’s work.
Designed to IEC1010-1 the BM80/2 Series
are protected against connection to a 440 V
Category III supply. The instruments have a
basic accuracy of ± 2% at 20 °C.
The instruments are waterproof and dustproof
to IP54. This helps maintain accuracy and
ensures maximum reliability in harsh
environments.
5

Operation
Testing is automatically inhibited if......
•An external voltage >55 V is present when
switched to any Insulation position above
50 V.
•An external voltage >25 V is present on all
other ranges (excluding Voltmeter
position).
The external voltage is indicated on the display
and the bleeper sounds intermittently.
Voltage Testing on High Energy Systems
Use extreme care when using or measuring
voltages above 30 V, particularly in high
energy systems. Fused test leads are available
as optional accessories. These are strongly
recommended for use when making voltage
tests. (GS38 H.S.E document).
Auto-shut Off
To conserve battery life, Auto-shut Off
(preceded by a series of bleeps) operates after
12 minutes of instrument inactivity in all
insulation test switch positions, and after 5
minutes of instrument inactivity in all other
switch positions. If desired, the 5 minute shut-
off can be changed to 60 minutes (non
insulation test switch positions). To do this, first
perform a battery check, then press the TEST
button twice to show (➔60).
If an insulation test, or OFF is subsequently
selected, the shut-off time reverts to the default
times. It is therefore not possible to generate
dangerous voltages for more than 12 minutes,
even with a locking test button.
To restore operation after Auto-shut Off, select
OFF followed by the required switch position.
Note: Auto-shut Off has a small power
consumption and it is recommended that the
instrument is switched to OFF when not in use.
This is particularly important at the end of the
working day, since no battery power is used in
the OFF position.
6
The circuit under test must be completely de-energized
and isolated before test connections are made.

Operation
Insulation Tests (MΩ)
Insulation tests operate only when the TEST
button is pressed. (See the separate
instructions for fitting the TEST button). These
tests produce high voltages at the terminals
and are initiated when the TEST button is
pressed. When the TEST button is released,
the reading will be held for a few seconds, the
item under test will automatically be
discharged, and the capacitive charge decay
shown on the Live Circuit Warning voltmeter.
When the 1 kV range has been selected
(BM80/2 &BM82/2 only) and the TEST
button pressed, there will be a safety delay of
3seconds and ‘1000 V’will flash before the
test voltage is applied. This delay only occurs
as a warning the first time that the button is
pressed after the range has been selected.
The delay will not occur on subsequent tests.
1. Set the selector switch to the test
voltage required.
2. Connect the test leads, first to the
instrument, and then to the isolated
item under test.
3. Press the TEST button to activate the test
voltage.
4. Release the TEST button at the end of the
test. The reading will hold for a few
seconds.
5. Any capacitive circuits charged during a
test will automatically discharge. If
significant voltage remains the voltage
warning will occur.
6. Remove the test leads only when no
voltage is indicated.
Polarization Index Testing
Polarization Index (PI)is the term applied to
the Dielectric Absorption Ratio when
resistance values are measured after 1 minute
and again after 10 minutes. Polarization Index
is then the resistance value after 10 minutes
divided by the resistance value after 1 minute.
The test can be run at any voltage.
More detailed information on PI Testing and
value assessment can be found in Megger
Limited publications listed in the Accessories
page.
7

Continuity Testing (Ω)
(BM80/2 &BM81/2 only)
The continuity tests are activated when the
probes make contact. The test operates
without the need to press the TEST button.
When the test leads are removed the reading
will hold for a few seconds and then reset.
This range is not suitable for diode testing
since the automatic contact detector will not be
activated when connected to a diode. The kΩ
range can be used for diode testing.
1. Set the selector switch to Ω.
2. Connect the test leads. The pointer will
appear when connection to <10 MΩis
made.
3. The test will activate automatically.
4. After the test probes are disconnected, the
reading will be held for a few seconds.
Continuity Bleeper ( )
(BM80/2 &BM81/2 only)
The continuity bleeper sounds continuously
when less than 5 Ωis detected. Short bleeps
will sound for resistances lower than a few kΩ
and above 5 Ω.If contact to less than 5 Ωis
maintained for five seconds, the bleeper stops,
and the display shows the measured
resistance.
1. Set the selector switch to .
2. Connect the test leads.
Zeroing of Test Lead Resistance
(BM80/2 &BM81/2 only)
The resistance of the test leads can be nulled
on the continuity ranges. To zero the
resistance (up to 9,99 Ω), short the test leads
together, wait for a stable reading, and press
the TEST button. The symbol will appear to
indicate the zero has been adjusted.
1. Select either Continuity range.
2. Short the test leads across a known good
conductor.
3. When the reading has stabilized, press the
TEST button. A short ‘bleep’ will sound
and the zero offset symbol will appear.
4. To release the zero offset press the test
button again or switch the instrument off.
8

Operation
Resistance Tests (kΩ)
This is a low voltage (5 V) low current (20 µA)
test for sensitive electronic equipment. It
operates in the same way as the continuity
ranges. This range can be used for diode
testing.
1. Set the selector switch to kΩ.
2. Connect the test leads.
3. The test will activate automatically.
Voltage Tests (V)
The measured a.c. or d.c. voltage is indicated
on the display. The analogue scale display can
be toggled between the default range of 0 to
500 V (1 V resolution) or the 1 to 50 V (0,1 V
resolution) range by pressing the TEST button.
When a.c. volts are detected the ----- symbol
will appear next to the 'V'. The presence of
negative d.c. is indicated by '-dc'on the
display, but no reading is given.
If the voltmeter operation is in question, test the
voltmeter on a known source.
1. Set the selector switch to V.
2. Connect the test leads.
3. After a short settle time,the reading will be
displayed automatically.
Live Circuit Warning
When more than 25 V is applied to the
terminals, the instrument defaults to a
voltmeter on all switch positions except OFF
and Battery Check. In addition, the audible
bleeper will sound on all switch positions
except OFF and V.All selected tests will be
inhibited except for Insulation tests of 100 V
and above, which will remain available until the
voltage exceeds 55 V.
Note: If the 500 mA fuse has ruptured, the
voltmeter will continue to operate for voltages
greater than 100 V at 50 Hz.
9