Which is the most affordable VDE-701/702 Testmeter, that is actually useful? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2025, 10:07:07 am
content: Hi everyone,I'm currently looking into getting a meter to test the electrical safety of movable devices. Unfortunately most of those are pretty expensive (couple thousand bucks, likethis oneorthis onefrom Gossen orthis one from Flukefor instance. After a while of searching around I found theBenning ST 725to be the most affordable so far. Does anyone have experience with any of those, or similar devices and can maybe recommend another alternative, that is not super expensive yet useful?Update: Just foundthis Voltcraftbranded device that looks a bit like a copy of the Benning ST 725. As far as I can tell it does the same thing at a ~60% price tag. The only downside seems that some people complain about software/communication problems when trying to transfer data to the PC.

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2025, 08:23:48 pm
content: The cheapest real PAT meter I'm aware of is the Benning ST710 (starting at about 500€).However, if you want this for personal use or a Repair Cafe you may want to consider a cheap Megohmmeter and maybe a sensitive clamp-meter plus a homemade adapter, instead.I have a UT505A that is available for 150€ in Germany. It can measure insulation resistance and has a 200mA low resistance mode for PE-resistance measurements. The Vici VC4060AT is even cheaper at about 50€ but lacks the 200mA resistance mode. For leakage current you can either use your multimeter or (better) a cheap leakage current clamp meter (I have a UT251A that was about 125€ from Aliexpress).I have a few posts about that approach on my blog (e.g.https://techbotch.org/blog/isolation-transformer/index.htm) – sorry only in German but thats not a a problem for you.If you need it for professional work, spend the money on a brand name tester.Edit: correction of model name (UT505a), fix link

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2025, 09:51:05 pm
content: Hi,If used condition is not a problem, there are testers like sand on the beach, e.g. on “Kleinanzeigen”:https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/chauvin-arnoux-c-a-6108-geraetetester-vde-norm-0701-0702/3158773680-168-18634

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 07:11:25 am
content: Hi everyone,@thephilthank you for the recommendations. I couldn't find the UT550A, I assume a typo and you probably mean the UT505A. The Vici would be a steal if it had the >=200mA resistance Mode. The link to you posted just showed an Error 404, however omitting the "index.html" at the end fixed it.@Martin72: The chauvin arnoux is a great find, I had a quick look around "Kleinanzeigen" mostly through the Benning stuff because those seemed to be the cheapest ones avaliable. However even used they mostly go for 500+ € (at least the ST 725)

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 07:16:31 am
content: Quote from: Traceless on August 11, 2025, 07:11:25 am

author: daisizhou
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 07:53:44 am
content: Do you need a multimeter or an electrical safety analyzer? These are two types of instruments.Electrical safety analyzers are often associated with safety certification,For example, in the medical field, the highest standard is IEC60601-1,The corresponding models are ESA620, ESA609, ESA615......

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 08:05:03 am
content: Hi daisizhou,I do need an electricaly safety analyzer, I already have too many multimeters. In Germany the regulations for non critical environments (i.e., non-medical) are part of "DGUV Vorschrift 3" and the associated testing Procedures are part of VDE 701/702. If the tester can test to higher standards that is a nice bonus, however since I'm aiming for the lower end of the price range I don't expect to find anything in that category. If you know anything I'm curious to hear about it though. IEC 61557-16 should come close to what the VDE testers I'm looking for are supposed to do.Edit: For a quick reference on how those work you could also take a look at theBenning ST 725 manual. The manual is multilingual, the english version starts right after the german instructions on page 30 in the PDF.

author: Aldo22
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 08:30:15 am
content: Quote from: thephil on August 10, 2025, 08:23:48 pmZoyi now offers something similar, if I understand correctly (DAR + PI).https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005009513182731.html

author: thephil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 09:04:01 am
content: Quote from: Aldo22 on August 11, 2025, 08:30:15 amYes, they do! I don't have one but on paper it looks pretty usable. And there are a few others I found when looking for low-cost alternatives:https://techbotch.org/blog/vici-vc4060at-insulation-tester/index.html

author: Aldo22
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 10:03:17 am
content: Quote from: thephil on August 11, 2025, 09:04:01 amThere are test videos. This one seems quite comprehensive to me:https://youtu.be/3ubJXJCbCnk?t=1030

author: RogerG
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 10:09:05 am
content: I didn't find the UT testers very reliable. I had a RCD tester and the measured results were rather like a finger in the wind. Especially Uc was completely wrong. I ended with a Benning IT115 which works perfect for my tasks.Benning is a reliable and reputable brand for such tasks as VDE 0701/0702. I know about one repair cafe in South Hessen using the Benning ST710 for more than 5 years without any problem. Don't forget to make proper documentation of the measured values. Benning has a nice PDF on their website for this purpose.RegardsRoger

author: daisizhou
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 11:27:38 am
content: Quote from: Traceless on August 11, 2025, 08:05:03 amI have a Metron QA-ST. I have used Fluke ESA620 ESA615。(I work in the medical equipment maintenance industry)To be frank, personal users rarely need to use electrical safety analyzers.Industrial users need to use electrical safety analyzers only when they need to perform PM routine operations on professional instrumentsSimply put, these electrical safety analyzers are usually combined with certification standards.In other words, the safety certification standards are implemented through engineering instruments.For example, the safety analyzer can be used to perform batch tests on contact resistance, disconnection of live wires, neutral wires, and ground wires, and measurement of casing leakage current...many detailed measurement methodsThere are many relay combinations inside the host, which can be turned on and off through programming to achieve various test purposes.Frankly speaking, it was made to obtain PM data.In my opinion you can artificially simulate the test, if the number is small.If you have a lot of volume, then you can only buy a safety analyzer.I have repaired ESA620, and the failure rate is usually very high. Common damages are relays and motherboards, etc., and the socket is not reliable.If you are interested, you can consider Dni Nevada 232d 234A or medtester 5000, 5000c, 1000,Bio-Tek 501Pro、505pro、mode370.........They are cheap, although they are old safety testers.As long as they meet the certification standards you recognize, they can be used, or you can try to modify them(At least it is much better than Chinese made ones like Zoyi)

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 11:32:49 am
content: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their feedback and suggestions. Originally I was consifering the Chauvin Arnoux suggested bei Martin72, however the seller wanted payment via Paypal Family and friends, which I generally don't do unless I know people very well. So I finally pulled the trigger on the Voltcraft GT6000 I linked above in my original post. It's a nice device an gets the job done. It cost quite a bit more than the used Chauvin Arnoux, but doesn't need any/refurbishing repairs (the chauvin had a row missing on its display) and comes with a 3 year warranty.