Lets say you have a keyswitch for a roll up door and you want to take out the cylinder and you are told the power is off because nothing happens when you turn the key. Do you believe them? How do you tell? I told the guy pull off the wires and hand it to me and he didnt want to. These have to be around 240. Also if you have a switch for a spa with a shutoff button is there a way to tell if all power to it is off?
How to know if something is live
- Thread starter natas2000
- Start date
383 240z
Well-known member
Neon test light? DVOM. Just a few options
DonPowers
Well-known member
You can pick up a non contact voltage tester, also called tick testers, at any of the big box stores for $15 to $25. Many provide both visual and audible indication.
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/i...paign=Bing Product Ads&utm_term={QueryString}
http://www.lowes.com/pd_464286-295-40110N___?productId=50129720&pl=1&Ntt=voltage+tester
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electric...oltage+tester?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5
http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/i...paign=Bing Product Ads&utm_term={QueryString}
http://www.lowes.com/pd_464286-295-40110N___?productId=50129720&pl=1&Ntt=voltage+tester
http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electric...oltage+tester?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5
Last edited:
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
Are u sure the key switch isnt a low voltage switch that operates a controller?
And even though u touch a hot leg, it doesnt mean u will get shocked as u would need to also be grounded.
Get a inductive voltage tester. Or use a MM...
The buttons on many spas are low voltage as well.
I use to work on spas...
And even though u touch a hot leg, it doesnt mean u will get shocked as u would need to also be grounded.
Get a inductive voltage tester. Or use a MM...
The buttons on many spas are low voltage as well.
I use to work on spas...
Last edited:
Well I was told that too wyliediesels
But when things went bad nobody doing the talking would touch it
Things I know and or observed
Heavy wire
Large red flash with 125
larger red flash and bang with 220
The one I did on a spa was not low voltage,I accidentally touched the gang box next to the wire and gang front and boom,I did not know there was a shut off button for the spa which should shut the power off. My biggest mistake is trusting someone else and not learning to check.
So then Ill check into the tester and get that.
But when things went bad nobody doing the talking would touch it
Things I know and or observed
Heavy wire
Large red flash with 125
larger red flash and bang with 220
The one I did on a spa was not low voltage,I accidentally touched the gang box next to the wire and gang front and boom,I did not know there was a shut off button for the spa which should shut the power off. My biggest mistake is trusting someone else and not learning to check.
So then Ill check into the tester and get that.
Bigbandguy
Well-known member
Cheap neon tester is easy. Hold one wire of the tester and touch other up to wire. If hot it will glow and you won't feel it. A trick my dad taught me. That's also the easiest way to find the hot side of an old two wire outlet.
Lx460
Well-known member
Stick it to your tongue like the old 9v battery test.
tfi racing
Well-known member
Well,if you have to ask...
thewatusi
Well-known member
Never. Always personally verify power is off.
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
The controls on most commercial and industrial roll up doors have full voltage controls.
The controls on most residential roll up openers have low voltage controls.
Trust no one! Tic Tracers cost less than a trip to the hospital by far.
The controls on most residential roll up openers have low voltage controls.
Trust no one! Tic Tracers cost less than a trip to the hospital by far.
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Tic tracers are great... as are the "voltage snitches" - the handheld devices that have a number of neon lights in a row, the higher the line voltage, the more lights light up (I think they're usually from 24 VAC to 600 or something...). If neither of these show current, then the final check is with a multimeter.
BTW - Home Despot or Lowes have these Klein 3 pack kits with each of these, not very expensive, and a lot less than a trip to the ER or worse...
BTW - Home Despot or Lowes have these Klein 3 pack kits with each of these, not very expensive, and a lot less than a trip to the ER or worse...
Stevie-Ray
Well-known member
Tic Tracer, never leave home without it. Always test on a known live circuit first, though. They DO fail, occasionally. I've thrown out a couple in my day. One that still works to this day is an old Micronta from RS-the first I ever bought. Nothing fancy, just glows red if live. Later ones I got from work, light up and do an audible cheep-cheep. Some hum.
akpolaris
Well-known member
That is why electricians have an apprentice with them; "see if that is hot boy"
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
zmaxmotorsports
Well-known member
I work things hot all the time,Ive never been bit when I treated something like it was hot.
Ive been bitten many times treating something like it was dead though.
Ive been bitten many times treating something like it was dead though.
Falcon67
Well-known member
Find a outlet on the same circuit and insert a copper 12 gauge jumper in the socket.
When I was adding a pantry and re-doing a bedroom in the old house, I carefully consulted my circuit layout and breaker list, switched off the power to that line and proceeded to shower sparks when I cut an outlet box off a run. Well, nobody's perfect.
When I was adding a pantry and re-doing a bedroom in the old house, I carefully consulted my circuit layout and breaker list, switched off the power to that line and proceeded to shower sparks when I cut an outlet box off a run. Well, nobody's perfect.
This.
Steevo
Well-known member
Just like checking to see if a flagpole is below freezing.
Stick your tongue on it . . .
JK , do not do this.
Stick your tongue on it . . .
JK , do not do this.
AnthonyJ124
Well-known member
I have the southwire voltage detector from lowes linked above. Lives in my pocket or tool belt anytime I'm touching or near wires. It works well, I always check it twice on a live circuit immediately before testing what I'm working on, and even then I'll test test then retest. It does get a little finicky, but it has helped me a dozen times in trying to figure out what's hot. Cheap insurance when working on unknowns.
My brother had an identical tester in his pocket while skidding under a crawl space and it started going off. Turns out the "abandoned" 220 from an old water heater wasn't so abandoned and he pulled himself right over it.
My brother had an identical tester in his pocket while skidding under a crawl space and it started going off. Turns out the "abandoned" 220 from an old water heater wasn't so abandoned and he pulled himself right over it.
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
I work things hot all the time,Ive never been bit when I treated something like it was hot.
Ive been bitten many times treating something like it was dead though.
I wear red wing boots that are "EH" rated....
On a trouble call the other day, my boots inadvertently got put to the test.
Had an energized water line(didnt know it in the beggining). Landlord told me that tenants washing machine would shock them. So i checked it and discovered the frame was energized but not via the cord.
Went around to the front where the main service panel was and checked the panel out and a ground rod connection someone else had recently done. I then touched the water line after i noticed it wasnt bonded (I didnt get shocked). I then got down on my knees so i could get a better look at the ground rod. I put my hand on the water line and got a quick jolt.
thats when i discovered the water line was energized. I tried touching it again while standing up and got no shock....