Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

When shopping for electrical test & measurement tools you will often come across category designations from I – IV. These can be confusing or lead you to think that you need to look for a certain category, or that one is better than another. In terms of application, that might be correct. Overall, these designate particular uses and ratings for electrical test & measurement tools, and so we decided to put together this article to clear up any confusion and put it all into layman’s terms.

Before looking into the various categories it’s important to understand exactly why tools are certified in particular ways. First off, when dealing with electricity, you MUST understand that the tool is either designed for a particular application or not. Many people don’t stop and think about what would happen if the test probes, for example, don’t have enough insulation and too much voltage is applied to them, causing an arc. Or if too much current passes through the meter, causing it to more or less explode.

These aren’t just imaginations, each one of these events has happened time and time again to electricians and amateurs alike who decided to use improper equipment to test and measure current and voltage. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the four primary measurement categories for electrical tools.

Measurement categories can be broken down into four basic designations:

This electrical measurement category is for measurements of voltages from specially protected secondary circuits. Such voltage measurements include signal levels, special equipment, limited-energy parts of equipment, circuits powered by regulated low-voltage sources, and electronics. These categories of use present very little chance for danger or overloading on any significant level.

This is sufficient for a receptacle outlet circuit or plug-in loads also referred to as “local-level electrical distribution”. This would also include measurements performed on household appliances, portable tools, and similar modules.

Distribution wiring is qualified for this group, including “mains” bus, feeders, and branch circuits. Also, permanently installed or “hard-wired” loads and distribution boards. Other examples are higher voltage wiring, including power cables, bus bars, junction boxes, switches, and stationary motors with permanent connections to fixed installations.

This is “Origin of installation” or utility level applications such as any outside cable run. This category refers to measurements on primary overcurrent protection devices and on ripple control units.

In a nutshell, the higher the electrical measurement category, the more risk there is of what’s known as an “arc blast” – a situation where high voltage can overload a circuit and cause electrical (and physical) damage. Arc blast can ruin your whole day… or life. The higher the short circuit fault current available, the higher the category. While a CAT II rating can be higher voltage than a CAT III rating (say CAT II 1000V vs. CAT III 600V) – the higher CAT rating is almost always the safer rating.

Reading this electrical measurement categories chart is pretty simple. If a specification informs the user that a tool is rated for 300V CAT II and 600V CAT I then the module can withstand up to 2500V of impulse voltage. This type of specification would additionally inform the user that the device must not be connected to MAINs CAT II circuits when operated above the specified 300V. And of course, the tool or device rated in this manner should not be used with Category III or IV circuits.

IEC sets standards but it doesn’t test or enforce industry or product-level compliance. As a result, a manufacturer can claim to “design to” a standard but have nothing in place that substantiates their claims.

This is particularly of concern with new products being sourced out of China and being sold under generic names (with no major manufacturer branding and oversight). To be UL-Listed, CSA or TUV-Certified, a manufacturer has to pay and submit products to a listing agency to actually test (often destructively) the product’s compliance with the standard.

Big tip: in most cases, just look for the listing agency’s emblem on the meter.

Your bottom line takeaway here is this: Match the tool with the application and pay attention to certifications and specifications. The results can be devastating if you don’t.

When he's not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.

Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.

Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film & video editing, color correction, and digital video & MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.

After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.

Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.

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Hi. What if a multimeter rated as a CAT-II 600V is used at a CAT – III feeder under 300V? Can I consider a safe use because impulse voltage rate is the same?

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros