Evershed & Vignoles Battery Megger Testers


 

BM6manual

Cat No 40022 (BM6) Serial No 1922490

Evershed & Vignoles Battery Megger tester complete with leads, instruction leaflet, leather case and strap. Click on leaflet image to download PDF. This is one of the earliest versions of battery operated portable combined continuity and insulation testers made by E&V. The concept of this instrument is  similar to this one in my collection dating from about 1962 although it does not include the facility to measure voltages. Both incorporate features of GB patent 956913 of 1962. I am guessing that this one dates from 1966/7 which is about the time that ACY21 transistors became available. Later versions of this model designated BM6 made in the Dover factory have a blue label for the switch markings like the BM7 and BM8 models which have conventional single taut band suspension moving coil meter movements. The move to the Dover factory was in 1986 though I believe some instruments were assembled there prior to this.


 These MEGGER testers are suitable for single voltage insulation resistance and continuity testing on domestic wiring systems and equipment, transformers, motors and generators. The BM6, BM7-500 and BMV7 mk2 are suitable for testing that 240V installations comply with British IEE Wiring Regulations. The BM7-250 model is suitable for 120V installations. The BMV7 also measures a.c. voltage up to 500V.

 BM6 (cat 40022)
 This instrument operates over three ranges, 0-2OOMΩ for insulation testing at 500V d.c., 0- 5000kΩ for resistance and continuity testing at 8,5V d.c., and low voltage continuity testing at 5,5V d.c. over the range 0-200Ω. The 500V test voltage is derived from a transistor oscillator, powered by six, 1,5V HP7 dry cells. The Evershed cross-coils movement requires no setting-up or adjusting, and is individually calibrated.


BM7-250 and BM7-500 (cat 40051 and cat 40050)
 The BM7-250 is intended for low voltage tests, operating at a test voltage of 250V. The BM7-500 tests at 500V. The test voltages are generated only when the test button is pressed and there is a built-in battery check position. The instrument is housed in a lightweight, rugged case, and has a taut band suspension, moving coil movement. The BM7 models probably date from the early 1970s.

BM8 (cat 40060)
This is a later model intended to be more versatile and having test voltages more suitable for telecommunication and electronics testing. The BM8 models probably date from the early 1980s. The BM8 Mk2 is a much later version dating from the late 1990s.

BM10
Test voltages available include 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 V DC. Measurement range to 100 Gigaohm. Continuity range 0.1 to 200 ohms. AC/DC voltage range 500 V. This instrument has a conventional moving coil metyer movement. Battery 4x1.5V cells (type C).

Service Manual can be downloaded here

bm6


bm6bm6

The instrument has a 500 V DC two transistor (ACY21) inverter which can be seen on the right of the vertical section of the component boards. It is powered by six 1.5 Volt size AA cells and incorporates a two coil meter movement similar to that used for many years in their continuity testers

This instrument (Cat 4022) and the cat 40050/40051 are externally different to the BM6, BM7 and subsequent models made by Evershed and Vignoles at the Megger Instruments Division in Dover illustrated here. The BM7 models probably date from the early 1970s.The same outward construction was also used for the LT3 mains powered ohmmeter used for determining the line-earth resistance of mains power supplies see here


bm6 40050 bm7


Left to Right BM6, cat 40050, BM7 and PO19C (made for  British Telecom)

bm7mk2

BMV7 Mk2 (cat 40075) and BM8 Mk2


bm10

BM10 dates from about 1990

An intrinsically safe version of the battery Megger tester utilising a crossed coil meter movement was also manufactured (cat 40044) during the mid 1960s.

40044

How does the two coil instrument work?

 The moving system consists of two coils, the "control coil" and the "deflecting coil" rigidly mounted at an angle to one another and connected, in parallel across a DC voltage supply, with polarities such that the torques produced by them are in opposition. The coils move in the air gap of a permanent magnet. The control coil is in series with a fixed control circuit; the deflecting coil is connected in series with a fixed deflecting circuit resistance and the resistance under test. If this last is infinitely high no current flows in the deflecting coil and the control coil sets itself perpendicular to the magnetic axis, the pointer indicating "Infinity." A lower test resistance allows current to flow in the deflecting coil and turns the movement clockwise. The control torque produces a restoring torque which progressively increases with the angular deflection, and the equilibrium position of the movement is attained when the two opposing torques balance. The main advantage of insulation testers using this type of movement is the insulation resistance indicated will be correct even if the the applied voltage is incorrect.

 The control coil is actually in two parts, in series, the outer part being a compensating coil. The two parts are arranged with numbers of turns and radii of action such that, for external magnetic fields of uniform intensity, their torques cancel one another thus giving an astatic combination.

Other insulation testers work on the same principle though the voltage required may be obtained from a hand or a motor driven generator. see this example. For more information on Evershed and Vignoles early insulation testing equipment see: here.

Evershed & Vignoles Ltd of Acton Lane Works,Chiswick were taken over by AVO Ltd. Avocet House, 92-96 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1. AVO was a member of the Metal Industries Group of companies. Though known for their Avometer general purpose multimeter (see below), they made a wide range of test gear including valve testers. The Acton Lane works closed down at about that time - around 1986. The current range of products can bee seen at: http://www.megger.com

The firm Megger Ltd is now based at: Archcliffe Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9EN, United Kingdom.

For hand driven generators, Meggers and other insulation testers click here