How Do You Test A Megohmmeter?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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To test insulation, meggers

use a high-voltage, low-current DC charge that measures the resistance within wires and windings to identify current leakage and faulty or damaged insulation

. This is known as a meggering test.

How do I test a megohmmeter wire?


Clamp the alligator clip on one

of the megger probes to the wire or cable, touch the other probe to the exposed conductor and press the test button. The megger will generate a current between the probes, and the meter will record the resistance of the jacket to the flow of the current.

How do you test a motor with a megohmmeter?

  1. Turn off the power supply to the motor, usually accomplished by switching the circuit breaker. …
  2. Place one megger probe to the any mounting bolt on the breaker box to test for grounding continuity, then touch the other probe to a motor terminal.
  3. Crank the handle for about a minute, and notice the resistance reading.

How do I test a megohmmeter compressor?

To test insulation, meggers use

a high-voltage, low-current DC charge that measures the resistance within wires and motor windings

to identify current leakage and faulty or damaged insulation. This is known as a meggering test.

How do I know if my megger is working?


Select 500 volts DC or 1000 volts DC

as the test voltage on your Megger, depending on the model you are using. Check whether your model has an integrated voltage tester for live circuits. If it doesn't, check the circuits to be tested with a voltage tester to make sure they are not live.

What could cause the insulation of a motor to fail?

Around 55% of insulating failures in motors occur due

to overheating

. Overheating can be caused by poor power quality, or a high temperature operating environment. For every 10oc that the temperature of a motor rises, the insulation life reduced by 50%.

How do you test an insulation resistance on a motor?

The measurement of insulation resistance is carried out by means of

a megohmmeter – high resistance range ohmmeter

. This is how the test works: DC voltage of 500 or 1000 V is applied between the windings and the ground of the motor.

What is a bad Meg reading?

What is a bad reading on a Megger test? If the

megger reads a resistance under 1 (1,000 ohms) on your meter after the initial 60-second interval

, the cable has failed and the cable should be removed. If the megger reads a resistance between 1-1.25 on your meter, then the cable passes.

How do you test an insulation resistance on a compressor?


Switch meter

to insulation test position and select 500 VDC test voltage. Touch test probe to shunted compressor terminals. Depress test button on test probe (or on meter) for test duration period (60 seconds). Record resistance value and terminal temperature.

How do you test an electrical compressor?

  1. Disconnect power.
  2. Remove the top of the outdoor condensing unit.
  3. Unplug the 3-prong plug on the compressor.
  4. Set your multimeter to ohms.
  5. Measure and record the resistance (ohms) measurement of each winding.

What is a bad insulation resistance reading?

The purpose of the IR test is to check for damaged insulation, this can be mechanical damage or damage by heat, (overloaded cables), readings

less than 2 Mohm indicate

damaged insulation, readings of 2-50 Mohm are indicative of long circuit lengths, moisture and contamination and do not indicate the insulation quality, …

What is a good Megger reading?

Turn on and read the meter. Anything reading

between 2 megohms and 1000 megohms

is usually considered a good reading, unless other problems have been noted. Anything less than 2 megohms indicates an insulation problem.

What does increasing insulation resistance with time indicate?

Insulation resistance values that are consistent over time indicate

that the equipment's insulation properties are good

. If the resistance values are decreasing, it indicates that potential issues can occur sometime in the future and more thorough preventive maintenance should be scheduled soon.

What are two ways that a motor could fail?

  • Dirt accumulation.
  • Missing balance weights.
  • Manufacturing variations.
  • Uneven mass in motor windings and other wear-related factors.

How do you check a motor short circuit?

To test your motor for short to ground, you'll need to

set the multimeter to ohms and disconnect the motor from its power source

. Then inspect each wire and look for infinite readings. Alternatively, if you get a reading of 0, you might have a cable issue.

How does a motor burn out?

Some motors burn out

after years of overuse

, especially if they operate at too high a voltage. The excess flow during winding causes them to break down. Here are some of the most common reasons why your motor stopped working: A short circuit can occur in the winding.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.