Why 2-pole voltage testers have their own standard

Glottertal, Germany. The new HDT instrument 3610 looks like a fork meter but is call a current-voltage-tester. Why is that? Claudius Disch, responsible for Quality and the electrical test lab at HDT, explains why:

“A fork meter is normally tested against the international standard 61010, like clamp meters or multimeters. In regards to safety testing the 61010 requires that the user must not be harmed if the line delivers surge pulses during measuring. The device itself though can be destroyed internally, no need that it works afterwards. This is because a fork meter, clamp meter or multimeter first of all are instruments to measure.”

Further Mr. Disch explains: “A voltage tester is a different animal though. First of all it is an instrument to check if the line or device an electrician wants to work on is de-energized. This is why a voltage tester always needs to work 100% reliable – otherwise the life of the electrician is at risk. The special standard 61243 was created for voltage testers because of this. A product that fulfill this standard e.g. with CAT III 1000V need to withstand a minimum of 20 surge pulses of 8 kV and afterwards still work. On top of that a voltage tester which fulfills the 61243 needs to indicate dangerous voltage above 50V AC even with empty or without batteries. This safety philosophy and concept we also followed when designing the HDT 3610. The idea even was continued further: when the user for example is measuring resistance or current but the test tips detect voltage the instrument automatically switches the audible, tactile and visible voltage indication.”

Further information to our new current-voltage-tester, the Swiss Pocket Knife for the electrician, you find at: https://www.hdt-electronic.com/en/products/current-voltage-tester/professional-voltage-tester-with-led-chain-lcd-and-current-fork-fork-meter/

Further information on our voltage tester portfolio according to the standard 61243 you find at: https://www.hdt-electronic.com/en/products/2-pole-voltage-testers/