FAQs

What is Cambridge Instruments & Engg. Co.?

Cambridge Instruments & Engineering Co. — also known as Cambridge Instruments & Engg. Co. or CIE — is an Indian manufacturer of precision electrical test and measurement instruments, established in Howrah, West Bengal in 1963. The company manufactures insulation testers, earth resistance testers, relay test sets, transformer oil BDV testers, digital insulation testers, clamp meters, and other T&M instruments under the registered CIE® trade mark.

Where is Cambridge Instruments located?

Cambridge Instruments & Engg. Co. has its manufacturing works and registered office in Howrah, West Bengal, India, at 23/2, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Road, Howrah. We also have a sales office in Kolkata. For enquiries, contact us at cieinstruments@gmail.com.

Are you a manufacturer or a reseller?

We are both. Cambridge Instruments & Engineering Co. (CIE) manufactures a range of electrical test and measuring instruments from our facility in Howrah, West Bengal. We are also authorised dealers for selected leading brands, enabling us to offer a wider range of testing solutions.

What products are manufactured by CIE?

CIE manufactures insulation testers, earth resistance testers, digital earth testers, hand-driven testers, high voltage insulation testers, and other specialised testing instruments designed for industrial and electrical applications.

Which brands do you supply?

In addition to CIE products, we are authorised dealers for Var-Tech and UNI-T.

Are your instruments tested before dispatch?

Yes. Every CIE instrument undergoes quality inspection and calibration before dispatch to ensure dependable performance and accuracy.

Do your products come with a warranty?

Yes. CIE instruments carry a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects from the date of supply. For warranty claims, contact us directly at cieinstruments@gmail.com.

Do you provide calibration and service support?

Yes. We provide calibration, servicing, and technical support directly from our Howrah works — not through a distributor network.

Can you manufacture custom ranges?

Yes. Any non-standard test voltage, insulation range, resistance range, or measurement range can be manufactured to your specific requirement. Contact us with your specification.

How do I select the right instrument?

Choosing the correct instrument depends on your application, operating voltage, testing requirements, and applicable standards. Our technical team can help you identify the most suitable solution.

Do you provide technical assistance before purchase?

Absolutely. We are happy to assist with product selection, technical specifications, and application requirements before you place an order.

Do you accept bulk and institutional orders?

Yes. We regularly supply instruments to utilities, contractors, government organisations, railways, educational institutions, OEMs, and distributors across India.

Do you ship across India?

Yes. We deliver products across India through trusted logistics partners.

Why choose CIE?

Over six decades of manufacturing experience, direct after-sales support, in-house calibration, and instruments trusted by PGCIL, WBSETCL, and Indian Railways across India.

Where are CIE instruments manufactured?

All CIE instruments are manufactured at our works in Howrah, West Bengal, India. Howrah has been an industrial manufacturing centre since the 19th century, and CIE has been manufacturing electrical test instruments here since 1963. Assembly, winding, calibration, and quality testing are all carried out at our Howrah facility.

Do you supply to customers outside West Bengal and Eastern India?

Yes. We supply instruments across India — to customers in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Raipur, Ranchi, and all major cities and industrial centres. We ship through trusted logistics partners with appropriate packing for instrument protection in transit.

What is an insulation tester and when do I need one?

An insulation tester (also called a megger or megohmmeter) measures the resistance of electrical insulation in cables, motors, transformers, switchgear, and wiring. It applies a DC test voltage (typically 500 V, 1000 V, 2500 V, or 5000 V) and measures the resulting leakage current to calculate insulation resistance in megohms or gigohms. Insulation testing is required during electrical installation commissioning, routine preventive maintenance, and fault investigation.

What is an earth tester and why is it important?

An earth resistance tester measures the resistance of an earthing (grounding) system to the general mass of earth. Low earth resistance is critical for personnel safety (fault current must flow safely to earth), equipment protection, and lightning protection effectiveness. Earth resistance testing is mandatory under the Indian Electricity Rules and IS 3043 for all electrical installations — from domestic premises to substations.

What is a relay test set used for?

A relay test set is used to test protection relays — devices that monitor electrical parameters (current, voltage, frequency) and trip circuit breakers when a fault is detected. Testing verifies that each relay operates at the correct threshold and within the specified time. CIE manufactures single-phase relay test sets (for over-current and earth fault relays) and the RTS-33 three-phase relay test set (for distance, differential, and directional relays).

What is a transformer oil BDV test?

A dielectric strength or breakdown voltage (BDV) test measures the ability of transformer oil to withstand electrical stress without breaking down. It is performed by applying increasing AC voltage across electrodes immersed in the oil until breakdown occurs. The result (in kV) indicates the oil's condition — deteriorated or contaminated oil has lower BDV and must be processed or replaced before filling a transformer. CIE manufactures oil BDV test sets from 50 kV to 120 kV.

Are CIE instruments approved by any government or statutory body?

CIE instruments are manufactured to conform to relevant Indian Standards (ISS/IS) as applicable to each instrument type — including ISS: 2992-1987 for insulation testers and IS 10656 for digital insulation testers. CIE has been supplying instruments to government utilities, railways, and PSUs for over six decades.

Are you a test and measurement instruments supplier in Kolkata?

Yes. Cambridge Instruments & Engg. Co. (CIE) is a test and measurement instruments supplier based in Howrah, West Bengal — adjacent to Kolkata. We supply insulation testers, earth testers, relay test sets, transformer oil BDV testers, HV test sets, clamp meters, and other electrical test instruments to customers in Kolkata, Howrah, and across West Bengal and India. Being manufacturers, we supply directly — so you get factory pricing with full manufacturer support.

Do you supply insulation testers in Kolkata and West Bengal?

Yes. CIE is one of the oldest and most established insulation tester suppliers in Kolkata and West Bengal. Our manufacturing works is in Howrah — we supply hand-driven insulation testers, motorised insulation testers, digital insulation testers, and compact insulation testers directly to customers in Kolkata, Howrah, and across West Bengal. We also supply to all other states and cities across India.

Do you supply electrical testing equipment in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, or Delhi?

Yes. CIE supplies electrical test and measurement instruments across India — including Bengaluru (Bangalore), Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and all other major cities. We ship through trusted logistics partners with appropriate packing for safe transit. Contact us at cieinstruments@gmail.com or WhatsApp +91 98300 91260 for a quote.

Who are the suppliers of insulation testers in India?

Cambridge Instruments & Engg. Co. (CIE) is one of India's oldest domestic manufacturers and suppliers of insulation testers, with over 60 years of manufacturing experience from our Howrah, West Bengal facility. Our insulation testers — from the classic hand-driven CIE/444 and CIE/666 to digital models like the DIT-2500 and DIT-5005 — are supplied to power utilities, railways, EPC contractors, and industry across India.

Do you supply industrial test equipment and electrical measuring instruments in India?

Yes. CIE is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial test equipment and electrical measuring instruments in India. Our product range covers insulation testing, earth resistance testing, protection relay testing, transformer oil testing, high voltage testing, clamp measurement, and micro-ohm measurement — instruments used by power utilities, manufacturing industry, railways, and construction and EPC companies across the country.

Can I buy CIE instruments online or through dealers?

CIE instruments are available directly from us — contact us by email at cieinstruments@gmail.com or by WhatsApp at +91 98300 91260 for availability, pricing, and delivery. We also have authorised dealer arrangements in select locations. For bulk, institutional, or government orders, contact us directly for competitive pricing.

What is the difference between a megger and an insulation tester?

"Megger" is a popular brand name that has become a generic term for insulation testers, just as "Hoover" is used generically for vacuum cleaners. An insulation tester (or megohmmeter) measures the insulation resistance of electrical equipment by applying a known DC test voltage and measuring the leakage current. CIE manufactures insulation testers that are equivalent in function to meggers — at competitive pricing with direct manufacturer support from Howrah, India.

Are you an authorised supplier of Vartech (Var-Tech) instruments?

Yes. In addition to CIE's own range of test instruments, we are an authorised dealer for Var-Tech (Vartech) multimeters and other instruments. Contact us for Vartech product availability and pricing.

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