Ok I used one now I want one (no contact voltage detector)

watcher · #1 05/18/10, 02:11 PM

A friend of mine let me use his no contact voltage detector and now I just have to have one. If you haven't used one, you place the pencil like thing next to the wire, if the wire is hot it lights up.

The problem is I don't know enough about them to even know what I should look for in one. Also while looking on line I have discovered there are tons of them and run from $10 to $25. Some have lights and noises, some are "adjustable" (adjustable for what?), some use AA, some AAA and others button cells and at least one offers no contact current detection. . . AHUGH!!! I just want a new toy, ahh tool.

So tell me what I should look for, what I should avoid (I'm thinking I want to avoid the button cell batteries) and which one you would suggest. And hurry I got a $25 birthday check burning a hole in my wallet right now!

You'd think I was 8 years old instead of. . .

Ray · #2 05/18/10, 06:08 PM

boy, you sound like tool time Tim, I guess you'll want to beef it up to read the current in a bolt of lightning, too. you know they've had this kind of stuff for years, but it was for high voltage Amps, and current, not the small stuff these can read now of days. If you don't have a multi-meter, I suggest that you buy one with the non-contact voltage reader in it, a digital perhaps. I happen to have an analog, and a digital, because sometimes I just need to see the needle move to know what I;m doing and it seems quicker, then there are times, I want as close to accurate as can be with the digital readout. I have'nt got the new one your talking about with the non-contact voltage reader either, and suspect it would be nice too, but see if you can find one that reads both ac and dc. and let us know how well they work and what all applications they are good for around the farm, home, and shop, best wishes, ray

watcher · #3 05/18/10, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

boy, you sound like tool time Tim, I guess you'll want to beef it up to read the current in a bolt of lightning, too. you know they've had this kind of stuff for years, but it was for high voltage Amps, and current, not the small stuff these can read now of days. If you don't have a multi-meter, I suggest that you buy one with the non-contact voltage reader in it, a digital perhaps. I happen to have an analog, and a digital, because sometimes I just need to see the needle move to know what I;m doing and it seems quicker, then there are times, I want as close to accurate as can be with the digital readout. I have'nt got the new one your talking about with the non-contact voltage reader either, and suspect it would be nice too, but see if you can find one that reads both ac and dc. and let us know how well they work and what all applications they are good for around the farm, home, and shop, best wishes, ray

I've got a multimeter with a clamp on amp reader but to check voltage you have to pierce the insulation. With this little tool you just stick the nose of it next to the wire. If it lights up the wire's hot.

I was up about 12 feet trying to find which wires in a box were hot and and which ones weren't while trying to hang on with one hand and with the other hand trying to hold one probe on the white wire connection and the other probe on the black wires. Then my buddy pulls this little tool and shows me which ones are hot with one hand and in a few seconds. At that point I decided I had to have one of those. At $10 if I only use it once a year its worth it.

**clovis** · #4 05/18/10, 10:44 PM

I'll be a "watcher" on this tread too. (Pun intended)

I actually went to Lowe's to purchase one of those gizmos a year ago. The old, salty, yet well experienced electrician asked if I needed any help.

"Sure. I'm looking to buy one of these gizmos. Which one should I buy?" I asked.

About an hour later, he was still talking, of course, in terminology that was way over my head, and I just kept nodding and saying "yeah" every now and then. He had lost me about three minutes into the conversation. I think at one point he was talking about electric generation from the power company, and followed one single volt all the way through the power lines to my home toaster.

The closest I could surmise from that wind bag was "If you own a home, you should just call an electrician."

I left Lowe's without buying a thing.

CIW · #5 05/18/10, 11:08 PM

I carry a "wiggler" in my belt pouch. When you put it up to a live wire the led comes on and it vibrates. My Fluke 117 and my Fluke 322 both come with an inductive head that will give amp and volt readings by putting the head up to a given wire. They also have a setting to put out a tone when put within about 18" of an electrically charged enviroment.
As I remember the Wiggler cost me about $37.

foxtrapper · #6 05/19/10, 06:57 AM

They all pretty much work the same, through induction pickup. The money is bells and whistles. A cheap one that lights up and bleeps is enough, at least for me. I don't need it to tell me the voltage, or vibrate, or have different sound for different voltages, etc. Just light and bleep, that's enough.

Funny sidebar on them. I don't know what it is about me, but they all go off near my arms or legs. Makes it darn hard for me to actually use them. Friends and co-workers find it fascinating. They don't usually believe me until they actually put the meter on my arm and see it for themselves. I can't even carry one in my pocket because it will be constantly going off.

Curtis B · #7 05/19/10, 10:23 AM

Stick with Ideal, Kline, or Greenlee. The cheaper ones are just that, cheap. They have gotten better over the years, but I have had some (cheap) that have given me missreads. I still would not be without one though, I buy them for everyone of my employees.

Theront · #8 05/19/10, 11:48 AM

I use a Craftsman one that is pretty sensitive, I can pick up wires that my electrician friend will have to test 2 or 3 times. He uses a Fluke model and a Greenlee as well. I like my Craftsman it lights red and chirps nice and loud. The key is to not put your life in the hands of the inductive tester. I use it for verification of power whether on or off. They will give false readings now and then. I never cut a wire without truly testing it with my multimeter.

My opionion.

theront

seagullplayer · #9 05/19/10, 12:02 PM

I have a "sperry" brand from Home Depot I carry at work. And one from Harbor Freight for home. They work pretty much the same.

http://www.harborfreight.com/non-con...ter-97218.html

Always a good idea to test them on something you know is hot before trusting it...