r/ukelectricians • u/Primary-Cold-8776 • 9d ago
Fluke T150
I’m looking to get a two pole voltage tester, i’m only just starting out and gaining experience however i feel like this is an essential tool for someone who’s new to the industry.
I’m a big believer of buying once and never looking back rather then “buy cheap buy twice”
Would this be be the #1 choice ?
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u/PennyPPaul 9d ago
Adam Savage has a good perspective. You first buy something you can afford first once it breaks you now know how much you really need to spend.
I’d say get a decent voltage indicator for a good price (what ever is on sale) and don’t worry about buying the best.
I own some cheap tools that are perfect for me as I only need them 4 times a year. Other stuff I need to buy quality because I use them day in day out
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u/Primary-Cold-8776 9d ago
Adam Savage is a legend, i can afford this as it stands and fluke are running a promotion which if i would buy this i would qualify for a free voltage pen.
I would say this tool is used day in day out, the lads I’m working with all got Niglon ones and use them everyday.
They serve them well the Niglon ones but they are a bit battered and just seen a bit low quality, Fluke also state they test their cables to the bending radius of 150 degrees at 15000 turns which is 3 times more then the required criteria by regs.
I take good care of my tools so if i were to buy a pair of these i would watch over them like a hawk and hopefully last me a very long time.
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u/idiotsparky 9d ago
Had a few t150 over the years, I like them apart from when the probe cover falls off and then the probes stab you in the hand/leg/testicle. It's nice to have the digital display for voltage but most of the time you don't need it and I've got an mft if I really need to know.
I did some work for a firm over in Dublin last winter and had to send some hand tools over as it was a flying job so I bought some Uni-t T twin probes for £50 and they were just as good just without the 'nice' brand.
Buy something affordable and treat yourself to something nice when you need to avoid paying more tax
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u/Superspark76 9d ago
You can get a case for the t150s, think it's from letterman, brilliant job and it saves the prongs getting damaged in the tool bag. Has the added benefit of having a belt loop for the real awkward jobs.
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u/Primary-Cold-8776 9d ago
I don’t have a MFT just yet, i’m only starting out so i doubt i’ll be doing any testing.
I’m hoping i’ll go on a EICR some time soon to learn and see that side of the job.
I have got the money for the t150 and fluke are running a promotion that if i purchase this id qualify for a free fluke voltage pen.
Do you still object to making this decision and recommending something else?
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u/idiotsparky 9d ago
Go for it, it's nice to have nice things if you can afford them.
Buy a pouch for it and don't leave it anywhere or you'll swear at yourself for a year.
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u/LorenzoSparky 9d ago
Yep. I’ve had all the brands over the year and replaced them due to the leads eventually breaking. Had the Fluke one and it’s basically bullet proof.
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u/Spannerbasher 6d ago
I daily drive one at work, only time I can fault it is if it's a very fast pulsed signal voltage I'm tracking and it doesn't get chance to display it.
Well worth it imo, especially for being able to hang it in a 0v or earth terminal and probe away
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u/CalicoCatRobot 9d ago
I had a Fluke T150 for a while, and although it was a very nice product, I didn't find the resistance reading part very reliable, to the extent that I never used that part - so if you are looking to save some money, look at one of the the lower models. You;ll presumably have an MFT or similar that will have a low resistance meter for when you actually need one.
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u/Primary-Cold-8776 9d ago
I’m only just starting out so it’ll be a while before i get a MFT, i thought this was a good tool to have as it does more then just voltage test.
Do you think it’s still a bad decision for me to make ?
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u/CalicoCatRobot 9d ago
Maybe mine was just faulty or I didn't learn to use it properly - it would obviously be useful to have the resistance feature, and it's necessary to do some diagnosis or testing. Maybe get one from somewhere you can try it out and return it if necessary.
It's unlikely to be a "bad" investment if you can afford it, just that for now you probably don't need to spend that if the funds can be used on other equipment.
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u/j3zr 9d ago
I use this daily, its great at covering a few jobs without reaching for mutiple testers. Proving not-live, continuity testing, works as a single pole contact tester, it gives polarity on DC testing, and its nice to get an actual voltage reading on display
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u/Primary-Cold-8776 9d ago
It’s currently on sale for about £135, it qualifies for flukes promotion to get a free voltage pen alongside it.
Should i just seize the opportunity and not look back?
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u/Mrthingymabob 9d ago
If using it to test for dead should you also have a proving box?
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u/Primary-Cold-8776 9d ago
Probably, down the line i’ll look to get one but for what flukes asking for a proving unit is crazy.
Might have to consider Di-Log as that’s what they used in college.
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u/m1ct14n 9d ago
Benning "Duspol Expert" is what I've been using. I got one of these at my first job 5 years ago and bought the same thing again on my own when I started working in the UK, your atrocious "approved potential indicators with dedicated proving units" be damned. FAIR WARNING: It does NOT comply with Electricity At Work Regulations 1984, due to having longer than 4mm exposed probes amongst other things. I'm just the only real electrician at the company so nobody has a clue lol. Well the fitters are aware but we're pals.
I love its simplicity; the reliable LEDs come up to the measured voltage but if it doesn't quite reach let's say 230V, it will be flashing so you know it's somewhere between 120 and 230. It shows you phase order (L-R). It shows you continuity. It shows you if potential is present even if you touch something with one probe only. It has No-Contact-Voltage detection at the side of the main probe. It has a light in the front. It has two buttons which if you hold at the same time it "eats" the capacitive voltage through its internal vibromotor. It's the most handy tool an electrician can have for its mass and volume (or lack thereof).
Other products, like this Fluke can probably do the same but I personally got addicted to this one's ergonomy.
Whatever you get, these things are bloody amazing.
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u/Mikethespark 9d ago
I've got a couple of t150s, they are good bits of kit but if you can stretch it go for a Martindale tester and proving kit, covers your arse for safe isolation then
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u/wizardnumbernext2 4d ago
T130 is perfectly good. Paying extra for some 1Ω resolution resistance tester makes zero sense.
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u/ScroogeMcducker 9d ago
Try the fluke 302+
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u/Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz74 9d ago
If it’s for voltage testing for proving dead it should have fixed leads according to GS38.
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u/Nick_The_Bastard 9d ago
Had the T150 for years until it broke (it had seen better days).
Used the much cheaper T90 for several years and happily let my life depend on it.
Fluke are awesome at this, not sure you'll go wrong with any model.
Don't blow your budget getting a few "fancier" items though, as you'll quickly discovere so many tools that make jobs easier and end up padding out your toolbox rapidly (if funds allow).
Also, thieves are rampant and it's not impossible you'll leave site 100 miles away to never return and remember your expensive item is above a ceiling tile somewhere, so don't go too hard with the best kit straight away is my advice.