
APPLICATIONS
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS
The BM80/2 series, designed for flexibility and versatility, has a wide variety of applications and is ideal for testing
electrical installations to the British and International Wiring Regulations. Each instrument in the series conforms to
the requirements of Table 71 A in BS 7671, and to VDE 0413 parts 1 and 4, HD384 and IEC364.
The BM80/2 series can be used in both the domestic and industrial contracting environments. Test voltages of
250 V, 500 V and 1000 V d.c. are available. A 250 V insulation test voltage is necessary to test low voltage circuits
supplied by an isolating transformer. 500 V d.c. is the most commonly required voltage, since it is used to test all
circuits except low voltage circuits with a nominal voltage up to and including 500 V. The 1000 V d.c. test voltage is
used on circuits with a nominal voltage greater than 500 V and less than 1000 V.
The continuity ranges can be used to test the continuity of protective and ring final circuit conductors, and the
polarity of the conductors.
The BM80/2 series instruments can also be used for insulation and continuity tests on transformers, motors,
generators, domestic appliances, power tools, such as electric drills, and many other pieces of electrical equipment.
On high energy systems it is recommended that test leads with fused prods are used when measuring voltage.
These are available as an optional accessory.
SERVICE ORGANISATIONS
The BM80/2 series is ideal for use by Service Organisations due to the wide range of parameters which can be
measured with the instrument and its associated optional accessories.
The insulation test ranges are available for establishing the integrity of the insulation of internal parts such as
motors and transformers, as well as other equipment, and the continuity ranges can be used for circuit tracing and
operational checking of switches, etc.
With the resistance range measuring up to 100 k
on the digital display, and 10 M
on the analogue scale, basic
components such as resistors, capacitors and diodes can be tested for functionality.
Two voltage ranges (1-50,0 V and 0-600 V a.c./d.c.) enable internal mains voltages and power supply rail levels to be
measured, and with the addition of the MCC10 optional Current Clamp, appliance current consumptions can be
measured and compared to the rating plate.
These unique features offer measurement ranges and facilities not normally found in an Insulation Tester and could
therefore reduce the number of test instruments required by the Service Engineer.
ADVANCED APPLICATIONS
The addition of the DLB1 RS232 communication base will enable the BM80/2 family to produce a continuous output
of information corresponding to the value which is shown on the instrument display. The DLB1 is supplied complete
with AVODATA software which will enable the test information to be transferred to an IBM compatible computer.
This opens up applications for continuous monitoring of insulation resistance for the advanced user who may wish
to use the results for calculating Dielectric Absorption Ratios including Polarisation Index. The Polarisation Index
Ratio is defined as the ratio between insulation resistance values measured after 1 minute and 10 minutes; it is
useful for determining insulation quality without the need for temperature compensation or necessary referral to
historical test information.
The DLB1 when used in conjunction with the SP1 can also facilitate limited remote operation of the BM80/2 series
for applications where the product may need to be permanently installed in or near a piece of equipment.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS
In addition to the Installation Testing capabilities of the 1000 V, 500 V and 250 V insulation test ranges the BM80/2
series incorporates 100 V and 50 V testing facilities. These low voltage insulation tests enable the instrument to be
used for checking delicate components and equipment which would otherwise be damaged by higher voltages.
The instruments are designed to perform insulation tests on systems with up to 55 V of electrical interference, or
crosstalk, without the accuracy or reliability of results being effected and with no damage to the instrument.
A wide resistance measuring capability across the ranges enables a degree of cable fault pre-location to be
performed by using resistance to fault methods, and the wide voltage measuring capability allow accurate
measurement of line and battery voltages.