I have been reading 61010-2-033:2012.
Part 2-033: Particular requirements for HAND-HELD MULTIMETERS
and other METERS, for domestic and professional use,
capable of measuring MAINS voltage
I assume this is what they mean when they test to when the refer to 1010. It is very interesting.
Setup a simple experiment to create the 8/20 waveform. I did not have the parts needed, but came up with something more like an 4/8, up to 4KV. Only makes about 500A with a 2 ohm source. Really not talking about a lot of energy. I didn't want to get too crazy with it, so left off the mains and just hit the BK with the spike alone to see if the meter would handle it. I assume if the generator is on a 50A service, with 220 mains, all hell's going to break loose if the meter has any sort of internal breakdown.
So I started out just using 2KV with the meter in DC volts. Meter is CAT II. Wasn't expecting much with such a short pulse and low voltage. Picture shows damage after one hit in the positive direction. Sorry, I did not make a video of it.
Would have been fun to see what would have happened on a real setup.
This meter was marked CAT II. I expected it to take handle this little test with ease. Really curious now about other meters. After this experiment, if I actually ever needed to check something on a CAT III or IV setup, I would need to see the mfg's test report before I would even consider it.. Then I would take out an insurance policy.... There is no way I would just trust any meter, even if it has a lot of marks on it and it costs X that it would not flash over.
So explode when abused, sure.
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