The most probable cause is the incorrect setup of the Communications Port in the Downloader Software.  When the Pro Logger is connected to the PC via a USB port, the PC will allocate a Comms Port to the connection.  This port will only be available while the PC and the Pro Logger are connected.  If you are not sure what port number has been allocated then use the PC’s Device Manager to look at what Com & LPT Ports are available under Ports (Com & LPT).

If you suspect the port is not there or there is a yellow Question Mark against a Comms Ports or Universal Serial Controller Folder then see the next FAQ regarding the installation of the Pro Logger’s USB Port’s Software.

The USB driver for the USB to Serial Comms Port has not loaded correctly.  The USB Driver will have to be updated via the Device Manager.  If you have the latest CD supplied with the STC Pro Logger II (Version 2.3 or above), then the drivers are on the CD.  If you don’t have this CD then go to the TRIO Smartcal Website and download them here.  Note: Drivers downloaded from the website will need to be unzipped before they can be installed.

To open the Device Manager: right click on My Computer, go to the Hardware Tab then Click on Device Manager (Alternatively open the Device Manager via Control Panel).  There should be a question mark over one of the devices.  Right click on this and choose Update Driver; follow the wizard from this point remembering to choose Browse to the driver and don’t let the wizard search for it.  The driver will be on the CD if you have it or in the folder were you have unzipped the downloaded files from TRIO’s website.

After the driver is successfully installed and the Comms Port setting in the Setup Tab of the Downloader Software is refreshed, you will be able to select the correct port to communicate to the STC Pro Logger II.

If problems persist with loading the driver or you find that you do not have the correct permissions to access above PC locations please your IT Manager

The manuals are bundled with the Downloader Software.  Once loaded on your PC, go to the Help Menu for the Downloader; all manuals are accessible from there.

To check the Comm Port number in the Downloader application on the PC, follow the steps below.

1. Start the STC Downloader Application on the PC without the STC connected to the PC;
2. Check the Comm Port numbers available from the drop down in the Setup Tab (Fig 1);
3. Plug in the STC to any of the PC’s USB ports (ensure the STC is turned on);
4. In the Downloader’s setup tab, click on Refresh for the Comm Port Selector (Fig 2);
5. Again check the Comm Port numbers available from the drop down in the Setup Tab (Fig 3);
6. There should be one more port available; this is the one to select.

If there is not a new port number, as described above, then the USB to Serial driver for the STC’s interface has not loaded correctly.  In this case, check the above FAQs for instructions as to how to fix this.

(Fig 1)

(Fig 2)

(Fig 3)

In TRIO Smartcal’s opinion, No (should be referred to a qualified electrician).

Some Fixed RCDs (SRCD – Socket Outlet RCD), that are usually fixed to a wall or the floor, are actually modified for use as portable RCDs (PRCD – Portable Residual Current Device).  There are different electrical specifications and regulations covering these two devices, even though they may share the same 30mA electrical specification.

Generally the modified Fixed RCD will fail as a Portable RCD due to a very high pull in current (current required to arm the device).  This can be up to 2 Amps peak, which is more than the Pro Logger II can supply.  Generally it is the Fixed RCDs that require this magnitude of current before they are armed e.g. the power outlets mounted on the floor beside an office desk.  To overcome this problem one can test the RCD as a fixed RCD via an external 150VA isolation transformer.

RCD's are generally armed via a relay.  The magnetic core of these relays, has a large air gap when the contacts are open (meaning a very low inductance).  To close the contacts in these relays, the energising current needs to be large to overcome the mechanical tension and the low inductance of the coil.  Once the relay is closed, the air gap is at a minimum (almost nil), the inductance is very much higher and the hold in current is much lower.

In the STC Pro Logger II, when testing Portable RCDs, there is a 60VA isolation transformer introduced into the circuit.  Generally this is more than adequate for most Portable RCDs on the market today, however there are some types that require 140 VA to arm the RCD.  Clearly the Pro Logger will not arm these devices.

The only known Portable RCD that the Pro Logger II will not test, is the Click brand from China; i.e. This is a PORTABLE RCD that will not pass the Portable RCD Test on the Pro Logger II but may still be fit for service.

Any appliance (no matter what its normal supply voltage) can be Insulation Tested using the SafeTcheck however, these same appliances must not be Leakage (or Run) Tested.  Leakage Testing with the SafeTcheck will apply an incorrect mains voltage of 240V AC to the appliance.

No, there is a discharge path present (post test) between the appliance's:

1. Active and Neutral circuits (470R TO 560R); and
2. A-N to EARTH (the time to discharge varies depending on the capacitance present between A-N to EARTH e.g. 10nF discharges in 1.5 seconds).

All products must have this requirement as it is mandatory in AS3000.

Yes and No, Insulation Tests can be performed with no modification or re-calibration of the Pro Logger at all.  Of course the mains plug and sockets on the Pro Logger would have to be adapted to suit the 110V appliances.

In order to perform Run Tests, the Pro Logger would have to be re-calibrated.  Currently it is calibrated for a mains supply voltage variation between 200 – 264V AC.

The testing of 110V RCDs would not be possible without some hardware modification.

Note: If the mains supply to the Pro Logger is 110V AC (this is outside of the normal 240V +/-10%), a display prompt will appear indicating the mains supply is out of tolerance.  Once this warning message has been acknowledged, the operator can proceed with the test.

Yes, both the Insulation and Leakage (Run) Tests are capable of testing 15A Appliances.  In the case of the Run Test, the STC Pro Logger II is capable of supplying 15A for the duration of that test.

No, when testing appliances to ensure they comply with AS/NZS 3760, the test current must be between 100 and 200mA.  Using a higher current is not required.

For some applications where a company is considered the manufacturer of the Appliances being tested then higher current tests may be required.  These are a 10A Routine Test and a 25A Type Test.  The STC Pro Logger II has an Earth Bond (EB) Option to do this.

Some PATs state that the Earth Test is conducted at 10A however the 10A is only present for a fraction of the total test time (in some cases only a fraction of one full AC Cycle).  In reality this will add little or no value to the test.

An Earth Test conducted by the STC Pro Logger II, supplies the stated current via a Constant Current Supply for the duration of that test; the current will be 200mA by default, or 200mA, 10A or 25A when fitted with the EB Option.

Yes, for safety reasons the Run Test Socket is wired to comply with AS 3000 wiring rules in relation to Prescribed Items.  The Insulation Test Socket does not comply with these wiring rules if used to supply mains power to an appliance.

It is important to note that currently PATs are not considered Prescribed Items however in the interests of Safety, we design and manufacture the Pro Logger II as if it was.

Yes. The STC Pro Logger can be used with Probe Test.

Click here for more information regarding Probe Test.

No, the Pro Logger’s RCD Testing Option includes an integrated Isolation Transformer to prevent this happening.  Tripping the RCD in a building’s Main Supply can be at best inconvenient and at worst disastrous for those affected.

Other Portable Appliance Testers (PAT), that do not include this form of isolation, will need to have an Isolation Transformer connected in series with its mains supply. 

The STC Pro Logger II is currently the only PAT on the Australian market with this feature.  It represents a considerable cost saving when purchasing a PAT and means an operator does not need to remember to include the transformer in circuit prior to testing Portable RCDs.

The Australian Standard (AS/NZS 3760) is design to detect electrical problems in a real world environment.  If a multimeter is used to measure the resistance in an Earth Circuit, then the normal Earth Circuit for any appliance under test is disturbed.   This disturbance may arise because the current applied by a multimeter is only microamperes and not between 100mA to 10A as stated in the Standard.  Also, the multimeter’s probe (a point source) may displace surface oxidisation, oil, grease, dirt and/or corrosion on the Earth Pin of the appliance’s mains plug, causing the resistance reading to be less than it would be under normal working conditions.  In short this means that a test using a multimeter may not be compliant with the Standard.

When using a PAT the appliance under test’s mains plug is inserted into a mains socket on the PAT (as it would be in a normal working environment).  Also the current in the test circuit will be at least 100-200mA.  These conditions should return a test result that is much closer to what could be expected if the appliance was in normal use.

Points to remember when testing Earthed Appliances:

1. Ensure that the Earth Pin on the appliance under test is clean and free from any surface oxidisation, oil, grease, dirt and/or corrosion.  If there is corrosion present, wipe the Earth Pin with steel wool or rub it with an ordinary pencil eraser until the original metal surface is exposed; and
   
2. Ensure that the Return/Earth Lead from the PAT is connected to a good clean earth point on the appliance under test.  It should be noted that not all surfaces on an Earthed Appliance are always good earths.

The STC Downloader makes it possible to add the Frequency of Test (FoT) in months to each appliance tested and logged with the STC Pro Logger II. The FoT is used, together with the recorded test Date, to calculate the Next Due Test Date.

Click here to download the latest version of the STC Downloader Software

To add the FoT to an appliance’s test results, one of the three codes FoTx, FoTNx & FoTD must be imbedded into the STC Pro Logger’s Comment Field:

1. FoTx will set the current appliance’s FoT to x months (x maybe an integer between 0 and 999);
2. FoTD will set the FoT for the appliance to the default time in months as entered in the Downloader’s Setup Panel. The default values will be inserted for this appliance and all that follow until another FoTx or FoTNx code is encountered. The default value may be different for Class I & Class II appliances; and
3. FoTNx will set all the following appliance’s FoT to x months until the next FoTD or FoTx is encountered.

Examples:

• FoT3 anywhere in the comment field will be interpreted as a 3 month period for the Frequency of Test. The code FoT3 will be stripped out by the Downloader software, 3 months will added to the FoT column, the Next Due Date will be calculated and the code FoT3 will be added to the FoT Code Column. This will be the case for this appliance only.
• FoTN6 anywhere in the comment field will be interpreted as a 6 month period for the Frequency of Test. The code FoTN6 will be stripped out by the Downloader software, 6 months will added to the FoT column, the Next Due Date will be calculated and the code FoTN6 will be added to the FoT Code Column. This will be the case for this appliance and all that follow until another FoTx, FoTNx or FoTD code is encountered.
• Where no FoT code is used in a comment field and there has been no FoTNx preceding it, the default values will be used for that Appliance’s Frequency of Test.

Any of the FoT codes may be used in conjunction with a Comment* e.g. the comment “MovedFoT3” will return a comment “Moved”. In this case the code FoT3 will be stripped out by the Downloader software, 3 months will added to the FoT column, the Next Due Date will be calculated and the code FoT3 will be added to the FoT Code Column. This will be the case for this appliance only.

*If using the Scanner with auto return to enter FoT codes an accompanying comment must be typed first using the keyboard

Many appliances such as EPODs & Portable RCDs have multiple outlets.  With these types of appliances, each outlet has to be tested separately.  The following are suggested methods to test and record results for these appliances, using the STC Pro Logger:

A. Test with data logging turned off:

1. Test all sockets without data logging turned on;
2. If any outlet fails - switch on data logging and record that failure, add in the comment field “Outlet 3 failed”;
3. If all outlets pass - switch on data logging, test and record the last socket;
4. The description in any case (Failure or Pass) could record the number of outlets e.g. EPOD 4 way or 30mA RCD 4 way.

B. Test with data logging turned on:

1. Test all sockets with data logging turned on;
2. Record the Tag# and/or App# each time (this will be the same in each case);
3. If any outlet fails - add in the comment field which outlet failed e.g. “Outlet 2 failed”;
4. The description for each test could change to record the number of the outlet e.g. EPOD outlet 1 or 30mA RCD outlet 4.

Regulations (state the authority and what these regs are) state that a mains powered appliance operating with water such as a mains powered Carpet Cleaner, Wet Cutter, etc... must have an RCD hard wired into the mains lead.  In order to check the operation of these appliances, the RCD must be checked along with all other mandatory electrical tests as stated in the Australian Standard for in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (AS/NZS 3760).

The appliance itself can be tested in accordance with the standard, as any other appliance i.e. conduct an Insulation or Leakage Test, whichever is applicable to the particular appliance under test.  The RCD in its mains lead however, will need to be tested as a separate component.

To test the RCD in the mains lead, a simple onboard test may be conducted by using the built in test button on the RCD itself, however this test is not thorough nor compliant with the standard.  The only way to fully test it would require modifications to the appliance e.g. adding a mains socket (IP66) on the Load Side of the RCD (See Fig 1).  The addition of the mains socket would enable the RCD tester (or PAT with an RCD test option) to load and so test its trip time when the specified trip current is suddenly applied to the circuit.

(Fig 1)
IP66 Socket to be fitted on Load Side of the RCD.