Megger makes a lot of test equipment, and the right tool depends on what you are trying to find out. This guide covers the Megger testers we carry for utility work and what Megger says each one is built for.
Start with the job, then use the sections below for the details.
| Job | Tester | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Find a fault on a metallic cable pair | TDR500/3 or TDR1000/3P | Handheld TDRs that show distance to the fault |
| Locate a fault on underground LV cable | EZ-Thump 4kV | Hi-pot, TDR, pre-location and surge pinpointing in one unit |
| Check insulation above 1,000 V | MIT2500 | Handheld insulation and continuity tester, 50 V to 2,500 V |
| Check insulation up to 1,000 V | MIT420/2 or MIT430/2 | CAT IV insulation and continuity testers |
| Test transformer turns ratio | TTRU3 | Three-phase turns ratio, polarity and excitation current |
| Check battery health | BITE5 or BITE5 Advanced | Impedance, voltage and temperature on battery cells |
| Find a ground fault on a live battery system | MGFL100 | Clamp-on locator, no shutdown needed |
| Measure real battery capacity | TORKEL 910 | Battery load unit for discharge tests |
A TDR sends a pulse down the cable and shows where it reflects, which tells you the distance to the fault. A thumper adds a high voltage surge so you can pinpoint the fault on the ground.
| TDR500/3 | TDR1000/3P | EZ-Thump (V3, 3 kV and 4 kV) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built for | Metallic cable pairs | Metallic cable pairs | Underground LV cables, shielded and unshielded |
| Method | Time domain reflectometry | Time domain reflectometry | Hi-pot, TDR, pre-location and pinpointing (surge) |
| Range | 5 km (15,000 ft), depending on velocity factor and cable type | Same | Not listed by Megger |
| Resolution | 0.1 m minimum | 0.1 m minimum | n/a |
| Output | 5 V peak-to-peak, selectable 25, 50, 75 or 100 Ω | Same | n/a |
| Notable features | Ultra-fast pulse for near-end faults, auto gain and pulse width, operator-controlled cursor, trace hold, IP54 | Ultra-fast pulse, auto selection, dual cursors, trace hold, built-in blocking filters and fused test leads, IP54 | E-Tray guided testing with Quick-step and Expert modes, Multi-Shot Technology, F-OHM safety check, 7 in color screen |
| Power | Up to 14 hours battery life (typical) | Up to 14 hours battery life (typical) | Rechargeable battery or AC, about 30 to 60 minutes of surge operation per charge |
Megger says the EZ-Thump also suits street light and buried solar cable. For MV underground cable, Megger makes the EZ-Thump 12 kV. Contact Powertech Associates if you need that.
Insulation testers apply a test voltage and measure the resistance of the insulation. Pick by the voltage you need to test at.
| MIT2500 | MIT400/2 series | |
|---|---|---|
| Test voltages | 50 V to 2,500 V, fixed or variable | Up to 1,000 V, fixed steps by model |
| Insulation range | Up to 200 GΩ | See the model's datasheet |
| Continuity | 0.01 Ω to 1 MΩ | 0.01 Ω to 1 MΩ, auto-ranging |
| Safety rating | CAT IV 600 V, IP54 | CAT IV 600 V, IP54 |
| Also | Guard terminal, PI and DAR, Bluetooth, stabilised voltage within 2% | Stabilised voltage, 600 V true RMS AC and DC measurement, live circuit detection |
Megger says PI and DAR, result storage and Bluetooth download vary by model in the MIT400/2 series, so tell us what you need and we will confirm the right one. We carry the MIT400/2, MIT410/2, MIT420/2 and MIT430/2.
The TTRU3 is Megger's three-phase turns ratio tester. It tests all three phases at once from a single lead set, and it covers on-load tap changers, polarity, excitation current and phase angle deviation.
| Spec | TTRU3 |
|---|---|
| Method | Patented step-up excitation, up to 250 V on the primary |
| Accuracy | ±0.05% guaranteed from -20 °C to +50 °C |
| Transformer types | Three-phase, phase-shifting and zigzag |
| Interface | 7 in daylight-viewable touch screen |
| Data | Export to Excel and PDF, PC connection |
Battery testing takes three different tools. The BITE5 checks health, the TORKEL measures capacity, and the MGFL100 finds ground faults.
| BITE5 / BITE5 Advanced | TORKEL 910 | MGFL100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Impedance, cell voltage and temperature, with one connection | Discharge tests to measure actual battery capacity | Finds ground faults in battery systems |
| Battery types | Lead-acid (VLA and VRLA), NiCd, lithium-ion | Lead-acid, Ni-Cd and others | DC battery systems |
| Method | Quick state-of-health check | Constant current, power, resistance or preset load profiles | Current clamp, system stays online |
| Specs | Module testing to 200 V DC (BITE5) or 500 V DC (Advanced) | 7.5 V to 300 V battery voltage, 0 to 110 A, 0 to 15 kW | Megger does not publish further specs |
| Extras | Advanced adds recharge monitoring, strap resistance and an RFID tag reader | Can test in service with a DC clamp probe, USB or Ethernet data transfer | Light and portable |
The TORKEL 910 is the base model. Megger says it does not include cell voltage logging, charging measurement or full report functions, and it cannot use TORKEL Viewer without a paid firmware upgrade to 930 functionality. The 930 and 950 add all of those. The 910 also comes in a large case version.
| 910 | 930 | 950 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max current | 110 A | 220 A | 220 A |
| Max battery voltage | 300 V | 300 V | 500 V |
| Cell voltage logging | No | Yes | Yes |
| Charging measurement | No | Yes | Yes |
| Full report functionality | No | Yes | Yes |
We can order the TORKEL 930 and 950. Contact Powertech Associates.
A TDR measures distance to a fault from a reflected pulse. A thumper applies a high voltage surge so you can pinpoint the fault where it occurs.
The 3 kV and 4 kV models are for LV networks. Megger makes the EZ-Thump 12 kV for MV underground cable.
The MIT2500 goes to 2,500 V. The MIT400/2 series stops at 1,000 V.
The BITE5 measures impedance and voltage for a quick health check. The TORKEL puts a real load on the battery to measure its capacity. Megger says the BITE5 works with the TORKEL to take measurements during a discharge test.
Powertech Associates and Utility Power Supply Company serve utilities across New England and New York State. Tell us the job and we will help you pick the tester. Contact us at info@powertech-upsc.com or (860) 678-8772.
Last updated: November 2026.
