HV Testing (was:Re: Newbie's got a dead 386) - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

19 Nov 1998

...
 >I'd recommend:
>
>1.  Get one of those rubber holsters for the meter and allow only the
>holster to touch the equipment.
>
>2.  Make some test leads out of EHT wire.  The sort of stuff that's used
>for the anodes of CRTs and things.  Maplin used to sell it (haven't checked
...
 >recently), rated at 25 kV, and I'm sure other
suppliers do too. [...]

...
  I agree but that adds weight and bulk to an already
overstuffed and heavy
 tool / parts case that I will not check through airline baggage.  It is
 something that I have to do only a couple times a year so I realize I am
 taking chances and after the bite of 8Kv I tend to be even more careful. I
...
  have some 40KV rated test lead which would work but it
is bulky for use on
...
  the road.
 Keep in mind that I used to be in 2 to 4 cities a week.  99% of the time
 with airline flights between each city.  Weight and bulk is a BIG
 consideration then. OK, point taken.  EHT wire is lighter and no more bulky than
test lead
wire, though, unless you want to measure currents bigger than about an amp.

FWIW my Fluke only comes out of its rubber holster when I need to change
the batteries (seldom) or the ammeter fuse (far too often!)

Besides, if I can fly all the way from Birmingham UK to San Jose CA with a
Tektronix 4052 (80 lb) in my baggage...

...
  The most important thing I was trying to point out
with the first item in
 that post is NEVER assume the meter is correct.  It will bite you. Agreed 100% (as
Tony would say).  In the electricity industry, safety
procedures require you to test an EHT meter on a known good source before
_and after_ the measurement.  While that's impractical if you're flying
around with no more test equipment than you can fit in a briefcase, a
useful principle to follow.

Philip.