http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_03482354000P
How does this work? Seems like it would be handy if it was accurate.
How does this work? Seems like it would be handy if it was accurate.
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Craftsman non-contact multimeter?
- Thread starter bmwpower
- Start date
eschoendorff
Well-known member
It's a non-contact voltage detector. I doubt taht it would work as a non-contact multimeter.
Tbonekilla
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 18
I use a voltage detector at work before going up telephones poles. It gives you an approximate voltage. Nice for rainy days if you know what I mean. This one is a voltage detector plus multimeter.
Franz©
Banned
China made copy of a halfassed idea.
The voltage function is the only non contact function, and even the expensive units supposedly made by legit US manufacturers are dangerous.
Relying on a noncontact voltage measuring device can get you knocked on your *** or dead.
The voltage function is the only non contact function, and even the expensive units supposedly made by legit US manufacturers are dangerous.
Relying on a noncontact voltage measuring device can get you knocked on your *** or dead.
MAD
Well-known member
The non-contact function is similar to this:
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fluke+1ACII+VoltAlert.htm?catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates
The regular meter functions use the tip of the probe (which is a retractable regular wired probe as well) for the hot/ + probe. The back of the pen has a jack to plug in the neutral/- probe.
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fluke+1ACII+VoltAlert.htm?catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates
The regular meter functions use the tip of the probe (which is a retractable regular wired probe as well) for the hot/ + probe. The back of the pen has a jack to plug in the neutral/- probe.
Relying on a noncontact voltage measuring device can get you knocked on your *** or dead.
No kidding. I always us a DMM to check voltage.
I was with one of our maintenance guys one day looking for an intermittent power issue affecting a classroom projector. We both had our heads up in the ceiling, and I had removed the cover from a j box. I stuck the probes of my DMM into the wire nuts and showed him it was reading 121.5 VAC.
He looked at the meter display, then fumbled around in his pocket for the little yellow gizmo he carries. He touched it to the wires, it glowed. "Yep, it's hot", he said.
Whatever.
Tbonekilla
Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 18
Foreign voltage detectors can tell you if something is hot without even touching it. Just waving them near hot wires sets them off. All lineman have to have them per OSHA.
MAD
Well-known member
Non contact testers are handy tools when their limitations and shortcomings are understood. They are not substitutes for a multi-meter in many situations. False positive readings tend to be more of a problem than not indicating voltage that is present. They do tend to get rather flakey and generally unreliable when the battery is low.
They only detect the magnetic field that is produced around the hot side of an AC circuit so a device with an open neutral will still test "on"/live with a non-contact tester. I have seen this cause much head scratching among folks that use these without understanding how they work. This can actually be a safety advantage over a multi-meter in a situation where a ground/neutral is not present such as a knob/tube circuit with an open neutral. In that situation the non-contact tester would indicate voltage where a meter may not.
They only detect the magnetic field that is produced around the hot side of an AC circuit so a device with an open neutral will still test "on"/live with a non-contact tester. I have seen this cause much head scratching among folks that use these without understanding how they work. This can actually be a safety advantage over a multi-meter in a situation where a ground/neutral is not present such as a knob/tube circuit with an open neutral. In that situation the non-contact tester would indicate voltage where a meter may not.
bmwpower, I assume you are referring to the $9.99 multimeter you posted a couple days ago. I already picked mine up and tested it out. You can check to see if an outlet is hot or not without contact. The light lights up and beeps(while pressing the NCV button) multiple times if it is hot. I would probably just test the circuit the old fashion way but it could be handy if it were completely trustworthy(some of these "seasoned" guys don't seem to think it is). You still need to test it for exact voltage, this just shows if its hot.
Grant
Grant
Non contact testers are handy tools when their limitations and shortcomings are understood. They are not substitutes for a multi-meter in many situations. False positive readings tend to be more of a problem than not indicating voltage that is present. They do tend to get rather flakey and generally unreliable when the battery is low.
They only detect the magnetic field that is produced around the hot side of an AC circuit so a device with an open neutral will still test "on"/live with a non-contact tester. I have seen this cause much head scratching among folks that use these without understanding how they work. This can actually be a safety advantage over a multi-meter in a situation where a ground/neutral is not present such as a knob/tube circuit with an open neutral. In that situation the non-contact tester would indicate voltage where a meter may not.
I ran into this situation several years ago when I replaced a porch light for my mother on a two-wire system. I taped the switch off, checked for zero volts between the hot wire and neutral. Dead circuit, right? NO! It turned out that someone (probably my uncle) had switched the neutral instead of the hot wire! I still check using a voltmeter, but I make the final check with the noncontact probe.
Brady