How BCG Transformed Testing with MFT-X1 and CertSuite
Based in Fareham, BCG Electrical Services is one of the UK’s south coast’s busiest and most successful electrical contractors. Always looking for ways to improve efficiency and to offer an even better service to its customers, the company recently decided that it would be useful to check out the latest developments in multifunction installation testers. As an enthusiastic user of Megger test equipment for many years, it was an easy decision for BCG to choose Megger’s new MFT-X1, used in conjunction with CertSuite Installation software, for evaluation.
“Right from the outset, our impressions of the MFT-X1 were positive,” said Mark Gray, Project Manager at BCG. “The instrument is very clearly robust and built to last, and it comes with an equally durable case. We also quickly discovered that it has a very straightforward and intuitive user interface with a built-in help function. I thought the help was a little gimmicky at first, but it’s actually turned out to be a good way of reassuring less experienced users that they’re making all the right test connections.”
In service, the MFT-X1 has proved very popular with BCG’s engineers. Among the features they particularly like are the removable rechargeable battery, which can be quickly swapped when it goes flat, so there is no need to interrupt testing for recharging, and Megger’s patented Confidence Meter, which not only helps to reduce the time needed to carry out tests, but also means that the results obtained are always accurate and completely reliable.
“The MFT-X1 is very clearly robust and built to last, and it comes with an equally durable case. We also quickly discovered that it has a very straightforward and intuitive user interface with a built-in help function.”
Mark Gray, Project Manager at BCG
“In the year we’ve been using it, the MFT-X1 has shown itself to be an exceptional instrument: it’s versatile, reliable and easy to use,” said Mark Gray. “And it’s almost future proof, thanks to the convenient software upgrade facility. However, what really lifts it to the next level is the tight integration with the CertSuite Installation app, which can be used on almost any smartphone, tablet or computer. With CertSuite Installation, you simply set the MFT-X1 to the circuit you are testing, hit send, and the test certificate is done. Lots of time saved, and no chance of ‘fat finger’ errors!
BCG has discovered that CertSuite Installation has even more to offer. In addition to the large number of standard certificates provided by the software and the ability to generate certificates anywhere on almost any platform, the company is very impressed with the multiuser functionality.This allows several engineers to work on the same circuit at the same time. One could, for example, be recording cable sizes, fuse ratings and so one, while another is performing tests on the circuit.
Also much appreciated by the BCG managers is the control CertSuite provides over which sections of a certificate can be completed by the engineers. This makes it easy for the company’s admin staff to complete details of the client and their address before the engineers go to site, leaving the engineers to fill in only the installation data and test results. Not only does this save time for the engineers, but it also means that client data – including company name – is always presented in the same way.
Other features of CertSuite Installation that BCG has found to be useful are the test instrument log, which provides a convenient way of tracking instrument locations and calibration dates; the ‘send for approval’ option, which keeps certificates awaiting approval separate from those that are completed; and the ability to generate new certificates from existing certificates. This means that if BCG revisits a site to carry out further work, the new certificate can be produced, ready to receive the new test results, simply by clicking ‘copy certificate’.
“The MFT-X1 with CertSuite Installation is definitely a winning combination,” said Mark Gray. “It saves us time and money and allows us to do an even better job for our customers by supplying them with top quality certificates that are guaranteed to be populated with accurate, reliable results. It is definitely our intention over time to replace all of our other multifunction installation testers with MFT-X1s and to use CertSuite Installation throughout our company.”
“We’ve been recommending the MFT-X1 and CertSuite Installation to other contractors we know,” he continued, “but maybe we should have kept quiet – after all, these two products together definitely give us a strong competitive advantage!”
