You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
electrical issue - need the right tool
- Thread starter ed_v
- Start date
Falcon67
Well-known member
Any home center should sell a little pen looking tool that is used to check for hot wires. You adjust the sensitivity and when it gets near a hot conductor it sounds off.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Last edited:
Any home center should sell a little pen looking too that is used to check for hot wires. You adjust the sensitivity and when it gets near a hot conductor it sounds off.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
perfect! that is what I was looking for. Thanks.
LoneGunman
Well-known member
While they greatly aid in troubleshooting I would not get the pen type as my only tester, if you are only going to buy one I would get a cheap meter. The pen detectors cannot tell you how much voltage you have, if you have a neutral or ground or what amperage you are drawing, which are all requirements for basic troubleshooting. I would get an inexpensive clamp on meter. The clamp on meter measures amperage with have to disconnect the wires and placing the leads in line with the conductors.
Rich and Amie
New member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2009
- Messages
- 3
ed v,
I have been an electrician for over 15 years. I have a little concern about safety. My advice would be to have a friend or somone with some electrical knowledge help / guide you with this. Please understand that I am not trying to insult your abilities, but electricity can be very dangerous.
I have used the "pens" which I usually call them voltage tickers. Most of the time they work great, but I have also seen them not work, when there is power on the circuit. I would suggest a simple multi meter to check for voltage. There is also the clamp on amp meter as mentioned above, but usually that only checks for amperage, and to see amperage something will need to be running or turned on using power. You can have power on the circuit and have 0 amperage.
I will be more than glad to walk you through this project if you need any help, just let me know.
Rich
I have been an electrician for over 15 years. I have a little concern about safety. My advice would be to have a friend or somone with some electrical knowledge help / guide you with this. Please understand that I am not trying to insult your abilities, but electricity can be very dangerous.
I have used the "pens" which I usually call them voltage tickers. Most of the time they work great, but I have also seen them not work, when there is power on the circuit. I would suggest a simple multi meter to check for voltage. There is also the clamp on amp meter as mentioned above, but usually that only checks for amperage, and to see amperage something will need to be running or turned on using power. You can have power on the circuit and have 0 amperage.
I will be more than glad to walk you through this project if you need any help, just let me know.
Rich
Aceman
Well-known member
If you're looking for hot/not, I'd recommend a Knopp tester or Fluke T+.
Fluke has the advantage of continuity and actual voltage readings over the Knopp. I own both.
Fluke has the advantage of continuity and actual voltage readings over the Knopp. I own both.
A screwdriver brushed up on the bare end will be telltale of whether you have a hot circuit. lol just kidding. It is a good idea (and stated on those "tickers") to test on a known live circuit before use. I also use a little test light dealie to check ground.
z28snksknr
Well-known member
I have used the "pens" in my home wiring projects and I recommend checking several times back and forth against a known hot and the wire in question. 8/10 times it would signal the hot wire, but it's those last two times that it's silent that are deceiving.
The one I have beeps once when it contacts a wire and multiple times when it signals a hot. Sometimes, it just didn't beep at all for the same wire it just signaled as hot.
The one I have beeps once when it contacts a wire and multiple times when it signals a hot. Sometimes, it just didn't beep at all for the same wire it just signaled as hot.
Falcon67
Well-known member
I use the pen for a "quick check", then follow up with a meter. On the one I have, you can crank the sensitivity up to where it'll alert on the dog.
Conversely, I have a Zircon stud finder with a power warning - it hasn't found a hot wire yet. And not that many studs, actually.
Conversely, I have a Zircon stud finder with a power warning - it hasn't found a hot wire yet. And not that many studs, actually.
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
Some of the clamp on ammeters have test leads to measure AC voltage.
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/2608f.htm
Beware, many of the high impedance digital meters will show a voltage on a circuit when there really isn't. It is caused by induction from other live wires. A test light with a 120V bulb clipped to the circuit while the voltage is measured will reveal the absence of voltage or will glow... I use one of these with alligator clips for a test bulb:
http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/4843405
The test lights only work on 120V circuits.
I have another one with a plug I have used to test outlets back in the days before these little LED or Neon testers were around:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3099774&CAWELAID=166610897
http://www.multimeterwarehouse.com/2608f.htm
Beware, many of the high impedance digital meters will show a voltage on a circuit when there really isn't. It is caused by induction from other live wires. A test light with a 120V bulb clipped to the circuit while the voltage is measured will reveal the absence of voltage or will glow... I use one of these with alligator clips for a test bulb:
http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/4843405
The test lights only work on 120V circuits.
I have another one with a plug I have used to test outlets back in the days before these little LED or Neon testers were around:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3099774&CAWELAID=166610897
Last edited:
Offshore
Member
I found the "pen" type did not indicate voltage on a wet romex. Tried it several times but would not detect the presence of voltage on a known hot wire.
I ditto on not trusting the pen light, 30 years in the business taught me this. If you don't mind spending about a hundred dollars you can buy a clamp on multiy meter. The clamp is used to measure amperage, very useful and is nice to clamp around something so you can use two hands to handle the leads. The leads are used to test voltage and continuity, both very usefull. The more expensive models with check both AC and DC, some with temprature probes. I use the Fluke meters, somewhere around 100=150 bucks will get you one that will last you a lifetime and they are very good quality. Home Depot and Lowes sell greenlee, I hear their good for the home owner and they are cheaper. Another piece of advice, if you use a pen tester before you touch anything after testing for dead, short the tested wire to a ground, we call this grounding. Use a screwdriver with an insulated handle and turn your head away just in case. Better to damage a screwdriver than yourself, but this is only for 120 volt nothing more. I hesitate telling you to do this and recomend you spend the money and get a good meter and read up on it. The AC/DC are great, can be used to check car batteries and anything automotive. One item though on any digeital meter, they use batteries to operate and can show ghost voltage, Also when the battery gets low they often read high voltage so change the battery when it show a low battery light. Anyway thats my 2 cents, be safe and ask for help if your not sure.
mcdtommy23
Well-known member
The depot sells wire strippers with the voltage alert. While it works good for the most part - IT SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED!!! It has indicated live when wires were not. It has also failed to indicated live wires sometimes. Where these things really shine is in finding broken cords/wires. You can run the thing down the wire and it will indicate voltage and stop indicating at, or just after the break.