Looking to get some feedback if anyone has used the newer Megger SPI 4000 and or the SPI 500 for primary injection on LV Circuit breakers. My shop has an ETI PI-6000 (bitch to move around the city) an ETI PI-1600 ( which likes to sit in the shop and break out in the field) and 2 Megger SPI225’s I’ve started looking at possibly getting a Megger CB-845 to free up the 1600 but I figured id explore all options if its worth it.
The only Megger PI unit have experience with an SPI225 and that thing is very glitchy and will ruin your day if you don’t PDF your test sheet when your done.
Are the new units worth there salt? is it just a bigger glitchier version of the 225?
We ended up renting one a couple months ago. It is not a terrible test set, especially when brand new (Like the one we got). However its got a learning curve, and requires a computer to operate (No manual vernier like the ETI test sets). My biggest issue with it isnt how good it is (it feels great), its actually when shipping it to a job. If someone straps it in wrong, or the strap fails, I’m worried that the connections will break, rendering it a very expensive paper weight until repaired.
End of the day, put a tech who is quick to learn on it, and its just as efficient as the 6000, with less weight and less space, but without the durability imo.
I’ve been using one (two, three) for the past six months. They are great when they work coupled with a touch screen laptop where you do not have to find your mouse and move it to the test point. These are great for a one man job if you do not have to get up and down too much. You can save test parameters and pull up the ones you need, so you don’t have to insert the data all the time. I’ve been testing switchgear with it and as I said it works great for one person. You don’t have the wheel to turn, buttons to push, change taps etc…I’m able to sit right by the breakers and close them myself and test. The downside is that the laptop loses connection at times if the breaker isn’t closed and you try and test, you just have a couple of clicks and it reconnects. Also, we’ve had issues with a patch cord inside failing and it will not work at all. Some of the guys I work with have used them from the beginning when there were “a lot” of issues, so they don’t like them. I’m a fan though even with the issues.
Strapping is an issue. It can flip over if you don’t catch all four top rings. Also, the pneumatic wheels are really bad for the weight. Megger has a harder rubber wheel that you can lock in place or have all four swivel. The swivel is nice because you can roll it sideways. It’s like a $700 dollar option, but I am sure they can be found cheaper. Colson is the brand.
