Frequently Asked Questions

How should you use battery analysers? 

If you’re using one of our car battery analysers, then it is recommended that you attach the red lead to your positive charging terminal and the black lead to the negative terminal. You should then be able to read your results from the battery analyser screen. 

Always proceed with caution if you’re unused to handling battery systems, where you should consult expert advice if in doubt.

What are clamp meters?

Clamp meters are devices used to measure electrical current without connecting directly to a circuit. Choose from our range of AC & DC Digital TRMS clamp meters, as well as our Process, Leakage and Resistance clamp meter products.

Where should you buy an energy meter from? 

You can source a meter directly from your energy provider or from a credible specialist instrument supplier like SIS - we offer a wide range of energy monitoring equipment, including heat, water and gas meters for your home or business.

Why are smart meters so important? 

Smart meters are able to tell you exactly how much energy you’re using at any given time, where you can usually check your usage on your meter screen or through a digital device such as a smartphone. These meters can also send energy readings directly to your supplier, so you don’t have to.

How do water meters work? 

A water meter will calculate your water usage and charge you accordingly, meaning you will only be paying your water company for the resources that you use instead of being charged a fixed fee.

What are the best types of digital thermometers?

Digital thermometers come in all shapes and sizes depending on what they are designed for. Choose from our extensive thermometer range to find your ideal gadget, where we recommend our affordable TPI 306C Pocket Digital Thermometer for a portable option, or the Fluke 52 II Dual Input Digital Thermometer for more high-tech applications.

How do you use air testers? 

Most of our digital air quality testers are designed for easy handheld usage, where you can simply switch on the device and quickly view your air quality results on screen. If you choose the TPI 1010A Indoor Air Quality Meter for instance you can also download stored data via USB and log up to 4,000 readings.

What are the best light meters on the market? 

Our digital and LED light meters can be used to provide you with quick and accurate readings at the touch of a button. We supply some of the best options on the market, including the budget-friendly KPS Instruments LX30LED Professional Digital Light Meter.

Why are gas leak detectors so important? 

Gas leak detectors are vital pieces of safety equipment. Gas leaks are often undetectable due to the fact that many harmful gases are colourless and odourless. Some leaks can cause fires or explosions, whilst others can cause serious health problems or even death in humans and animals.

What are low resistance ohmmeters? 

Low resistance ohmmeters are designed to take especially accurate measurements of low resistance valves within a circuit. They can measure down to extremely small quantities of micro-ohms, which can be useful  for the management of breakers, static control circuits and other precision applications.

What are cable avoidance tools? 

Cable avoidance tools are specialist pieces of equipment designed to scan areas of ground for potential cables or pipes. This can help to avoid the infliction of damage to these cables whilst also ensuring the safety of workers and residence in the surrounding area.

What are the best energy monitors on the market?

At SIS, we supply some of the best energy monitors on the market, including analysers, loggers and smart meters. Opt for our new Chauvin Arnoux Power & Energy Logger for an affordable option, or the more technologically advanced 8345 Power Analyser which includes a wide range of specialist features.

How does an infrared thermometer work? 

Infrared thermometers are impressive pieces of equipment which can measure temperature through the levels of thermal radiation emitted by the measured object. This is done by focusing light from the object in the form of infrared rays into a thermophile detector, which can convert infrared into measurable heat. These devices typically provide more accurate readings than a traditional thermometer.

What are sound meters used for? 

Sound meters can be used to measure the noise produced by various appliances on both a domestic and industrial scale. This can help to detect internal faults within the appliance in addition to monitoring noise pollution levels, which may need to fall within a local or city limit.