For this review, Len Lilley gets the opportunity to try the Chauvin Arnoux CA 6424 earth tester for size.
I have to confess that the Chavin Arnoux brand was not one that I was overly familiar with before I had the opportunity to try out the CA 6424 earth tester.
That said, I jumped at the chance to take the unit for a trial run, especially as I’d recently been asked to install power to a caravan park and outbuildings. This would provide the ideal chance to put it through its paces.
First impressions count
Rugged and waterproof, the CA 6424 earth tester can be used for 2P and 3P earth measurements in total safety, arriving in a robust heavy-duty canvas bag and supplied with lots of accessories and pieces of equipment to use.
First impressions do count, and this great looking piece of equipment offers a light yet sturdy unit that’s surrounded by a bright yellow rubber casing that’s visually easy on the eye.
The tester came complete with batteries housed in an easy to access rear cover which again was protected by a rubber guard. Once I started to use it, the battery level was great and at no point did I ever run out of power.
The buttons also follow the overall design lead and are clearly coated in rubber, making them perfect for outdoor use. The screen is a nice size and when I switched it on it had a bright blue back light and clear indicators of battery level and various other bits of information.
Another nice touch is the adjustable strap to hang the tester from so it’s comfortable when standing up to use. I also love the fact it has a couple of pull-out props on the rear so you can put it down and work with it tilted, giving you a great view of the screen when performing its functions.
There’s also a nice case for the tester to be housed, along with a club hammer to help with banging in the rods. These rods are very strong and have a big target/striking area on the top for the individual to bury them into the ground.
Additionally, you’re provided with three lots of cables to take your measurements which are easy to reel off and re-wind. These are all colour-coded and have strong, robust clamps for clamping around the rods when carrying out measuring.
How did it perform?
In use out in the field (literally), this unit did everything required of it and more. It’s a brilliant tester for earth resistance measurement, voltage measurement, resistance measurement and average earth measurement (@ 52, 62 and 72%), providing results on the clear screen through the simple push of a button.
I found said measurements to be accurate and precise every time, with the added bonus that they can all be stored in the unit. It also provides clear error messages if/when you depart from the measurement range and can be utilised as a hazardous voltage presence indicator.
Overall I’ve been really impressed with this unit. It’s very easy to use and understand, even for less experienced professionals, and the colour-coding ensures easy identification and simplicity.
I’ve had great use already from the CA 6424 and would highly recommend the Chauvin Arnoux brand to any professionals looking for some quality test equipment.
Visit the Chauvin Arnoux CA 6424 Earth Tester product information page online here
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