ANENG AC27 Smart Socket Tester EU - Mini Review

[Kiriakos GR]

I have to admit that this is going to be my first ever ....  Smart Socket Tester 

Intro:
ANENG AC27 this gadget belongs to recently designed socket testers.
It offers visual status of six possible condition's.
It does not produce weird sound effects when plugged.
It does not have weird English text printed at the face plate.

My application this is quick testing of one active socket, the first diagnostic step this is the strong point of such gadgets.
Next significant detail this is the build quality and longevity, which both will be explored.

ANENG AC27does not seem to have any screws, this is good and bad.
Good = Better shield against moisture.
Bad = We can not admire the internals with out the use of violence.

In the past six months, several Chinese brands with poor international reputation, the ones not owning even their own website.
They start a battle of whom will deliver the most fancy looking socket tester.
They add large display and color text, and some models also include the most poor in quality volt meter.
Their No1 goal this is to impress not expert consumers and to grab their cash.
Nowadays such fancy socket testers has hilarious extreme pricing at 11~22 EUR/USD
Now Imagine that most simple version of 100% CN made multimeter, this is still in low price of 1~2 EUR/USD

I did select ANENG AC27 as the less evil one regarding retail price, and also because it does not produce funny noises when connected.
Ancient design of socket testers, this was buzzing when connected to mains.

I have just paid €5,66 EUR as a total = Product + EU VAT + Fast shipping (and paid due PayPal)
Expected product arrival Nov 13th-23rd,2023

I did select ANENG AC27 in white color (newest edition), simply because it is easier to see the gadget when this is within your toolbox.   

[Andrew-88]

If this survive the journey from China to Greece this would be the first sigh of success 
Will gain the title of robust for international travel.   

[Kiriakos GR]

I have different pack of considerations about it 
As for example, how to make a storage case that will protect it and keep it visible within the shop.

[Kiriakos GR]

After 17 days my masterpiece arrived.   
Its GENUINE Aneng  Phase meter which does not measure anything. 

Production date: 25 May 2023 = six months old (still fresh).

The carton box its like be eaten by a mouse, there is no love at product packaging.
There is nothing technical to read over the carton box.
For any complains you need to visit XINLIAO Village in China 

The real name of the product in the west world this is: Phase detector for sockets.
There is not any socket detector in this planet yet.

It does work !! 
No buzzing sounds, just LED lights.
Most popular sockets at my workshop are wired correctly, but the tester text appears upside down (and skipped a photograph in action).
L = Live wire and you should test at both orientations of EU plug so to gain 100% confidence. 
 
My workshop has three phase system and no RCD.

Most idiotic move that amateurs do,  this is activating RCD test, when LED indications are abnormal.
a) Ground missing
b) The tester this is placed reversed within the EU socket = (Line LED inactive).
At both of these conditions, the tester will not aloud RCD test to run at all.

In summary, this tester it might be considered as water resistant, but not as waterproof.
Front face and tester compartment plastics, they are connected due high speed thermal bonding, and there is no chance to separate them = 100% sealed design.
At the back side, the EU plug this is a third plastic part, this is held in place by internal anchors, there is a tiny play (left right) but there is no change to pull it out.

AC27 product housing this is shared with AC28 = Tester with add-on useless volt meter.
At AC27, front product label, this is hiding the hole for the voltmeter. 
Avoid squeezing the label with your hands, so to avoid label damage.

The quality of the white plastic seems good, but do not consider it as drop-proof.
I did repair the original carton box, and I will use it as storage box, mostly because it makes it more difficult to lose it. 
And so, handle it with care.   

[Andrew-88]

After 17 days my masterpiece arrived.   
Its GENUINE Aneng  Phase meter which does not measure anything. 

Success after all !! 

[overvolt]

Wow !! in just 20 days this topic collected 450 views.   

I think that the white version, will gain greater popularity because Kiriakos like it more. 

[Kiriakos GR]

Wow !! in just 20 days this topic collected 450 views.   

In fact, this is a more interesting topic than a screwdriver with a neon bulb  

 

[Kiriakos GR]

When you get such a gadget, you next problem is how to label your sockets,  without using a permanent marker. 

And or the most painful option is to rewire all wall socket's so correctness this to prevail   

[Kiriakos GR]

ANENG AC27 RCD test:

This is a warning note about RCD test / Leakage test button.

I have tried RCD test, in the form of AC load,  and this causing flow of 42mA at 230V. 
This is resistive load with Power Factor 1.000
This creates a load of 9.66W     

Product label mention RCD test up to 250V at 30mA.

At my testing, by holding RCD test activated for 10 seconds,  with out RCD in the building, a burning smell started to came out of it.
It is equal smell of regular carbon resistor after overload,  first to happen this is resistor body discoloration.
   
And so here are the News:
1) You are advised to never use RCD test when no RCD relay this is present at the specific power line and AC socket.
2) ANENG AC27 RCD test, this is designed to do load testing, with duration of few seconds but lesser than five.
In theory, instant load testing will trip the RCD relay.
3) If you insist pressing Leakage test button, for over 10 seconds of time, then the internal carbon resistor, will overload and burn.      

[Andrew-88]

3) If you insist pressing Leakage test button, for over 10 seconds of time, then the internal carbon resistor, will overload and burn.   

Makes this 20 seconds for 120V system 
By an approximation, the AC load will be half (5 Watt). 

[Kiriakos GR]

This is a fact, almost 5 Watt at 120V, but no one knows exact wattage of the internal resistor.

We better keep our ANENG AC27 as undamaged = keep your finger away from the Leakage test button. 

[Kiriakos GR]

By looking BENETECH GT85 Socket Tester,  you are getting the point of whom copy ed from whom this product design.
 
GT85 Socket Tester, this is the prototype. Since 6/2021
BENETECH it is a known brand at making products for several markets including EU.
All products comes with well written documentation, along compliance at standards for its one market.

GT85 Socket Tester RCD test = 3 seconds as Max.
GT85 Socket Tester this is designed for 220V only.
Functional voltage range:   Min / Max  176V - 220V - 264V
(EU Socket type, this will prohibit accidental use at 120V Mains.)

GT85 Socket Tester this is a more complete product, BENETECH added RCD test led indicator.

Bellow are GT85 Socket Tester high resolution photographs along Tester Instruction Manual, for any one interested to download. 

(Benetech wholesale price starts at 2.60$ USD, for a minimum order of 60 pieces) (21-9-2024)