Hello

I need to get an electrical safety tester, but which one would you recommended? They are all around the €6000 mark.

The Metron QA-90?
The Fluke/Biotek 601 ProXL Series?
or the Rigel 277?
or is there a better one?

Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Andrew

I have mainly use the Biotek 601 ProXL machine. I find it the easiest to use out all that I have tried.

Ultramedical also have a fairly quick turn around when it is sent away for its yearly calibration.

A.M

Hi
I have used the 601 Pro XL and the Rigel Testers.
I trialled the Rigel for a week, didn't like anything about it. The technicians that have been lumbered with one here, hate it.
The 601 is quick, efficient and very straight forward to use and test results are well laid out on the printouts.

Hi,
As previous messages I have also used most of the testers on the market. I currently work at the Capital Medical Training centre in Kidderminster. Most of the students on the courses express a prefference for the Rigel 277. This is mostly due to its ease of use. I have to agree with them.

We use the Metron Qa-90,
As a stand alone unit the Biotek 601 pro was probably better but as soon as you connect the Pro soft software to the QA-90 it leaps ahead.
Our mobile QA-90 is connected to a laptop and test files are sync'ed when it returns back to the workshop.This makes record keeping easy and paper free.
a little logical thinking is required but we found by entering the classes of appliances E.g.Class 1 10 lead CF
into the sequence field instead of types of machine, the unit becomes vitually fool proof
p.s. the files are stored under Equipment code (our asset no.)
these increase automatically by adding the attachment(001)to the end of the test results.
therfore the original set up is never changed.
the only draw back appears to be the new vertion of software Ansur does not appear to comunicate with the older Pro-Soft software.
The new Ansur software appears to tie in testing from other test equipment E.G Qa-40.
but we haven't gone down that route yet.

Repair and calibration services are good even though we are across the water down here in the English Channel

A cautious recommendation. We have 6 Rigel 266. Great portable machine and a good price too. Reports from the techs are generally good however we have had a few technical failures and failed calibrations and Seaward, who manufacture Rigels, arent too good at supplying service manuals for the machines.

We have a Metron and have recently bought the Rigel 277. The Rigel takes a lot of getting used to, its biggest advantage is using the "brain cells", which store all the equipment info and previous Test on a small "chip the size of a 50p coin. Just wave the "scanner" over the brain cell which is attatched to the equpment and the machine automatically sets itself up for the correct test.

We've got two Rigel 277 machines. Before that we had Rigel 266's and before those the old manual 244's (which we still use some times - but keep that quiet !)

As a stand alone tester the 277 is good - once you've mastered the menus and the set-up. It's versatile and quick for an automatic unit and the manual function is very easy to use.

If you want a unit to use with a computer all the time, then the Quados QA90 with the ProSoft programme looks very good. It's not so good as a stand alone unit though - very complex to set up and very easy to run tests which are only intended for stress testing sample units on a production line - not a good idea !

Seward also sell a small, very portable unit which seems to do all the basic, essential tests without all the bells and whistles - but I can't remember the model number - sorry !

OK then, Andrew. Which one did you go for (and why)?

Andrew,

Barwick Systems have recently completed an Automated PAT Test Module with the following features:-

• PAT tests may be completed with minimal user interaction, and the results may be viewed via service history entries.
• A sequence of tests may be assigned to specific models or to generic templates.
• Pauses may be included with user defined messages. Modules, equipment class and test limits may be configured.
• PAT tests may be performed from within E-MAT OR remotely in situ on a laptop (with data synchronisation).
• Test results are attached to a service history if a job exists. If not, a new service history entry is automatically completed.
• The above functionality currently interfaces to the Metron QA 90.

A short Flash enabled slideshow is available here:
http://www.barwicksystems.co.uk/products/automated_pat_tests/automated_pat_tests.html

Kind regards

Paul Stockton
Barwick Systems
http://www.barwicksystems.co.uk
ISO 9001 Registered Firm

I have quite a lot of experience with the 3 main manufacturers. Biotek, Metron & Rigel.

We have just replaced an original series Biotek 601 with the Rigel 277. 2nd choice would be the new 601 & last would be the Metron.

In reverse order.
The Metron is overly complicated, especially when using the additional software. User installed testing profiles are easily corrupted and the unit is quite slow.
The Biotek (Fluke-biomedical) is a good machine with no particular vices.
The Rigel wins for use because of its' grouping of tests to reduce power up / down cycles. Custom test procedures can also be saved. As quick, if not quicker than the 601.

We have the three Metron QA90 and did struggle until we connected a PC using the Pro soft, now we only ever use it with the PC. Its very easy and adaptable. It too will do custom tests and is easy to program up for 'odd balls'!!

They also do a hand held tester, but I have not had chance to use one.

How about an update of this thread ... anybody?

I know I might sound biased but I cant help to post this.
The Rigel 288 has been considered by many of your colleagues as a worthy replacement of the QA90/80's 601 pro's and what have you. Its full / semi automatic test capability combined with large database memory and hand-held enclosure have provided several biomed departments with an easy to use and versatile tester. The 288 combines IEC 60601 leakage with the new IEC 62353 standard and is able to meet the MDA DB9801 and 2006 requirements. If anyone is interested in a product demo (no obligation) please email johnb@seaward.co.uk
alternatively we can provide a pdf datasheet (same email address)

We also have the Metron QA90 and with the software it is very easy to use. You have the option to load procedures and diagrams for custom tests very handy when you are testing and forget what goes where. Without the pc the unit can be quite difficult to set-up.