Klein ET60 votage detector

[rick carpenter]

The Klein ET60 12-600v voltage detector does not use batteries. Is it to be trusted? I have a Sperry adjustable sniffer and a Craftsman 82141 DMM, but I like the idea of being able to toss a meter with test leads in a kit and forget about it til I need it.

https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/electrical-testers/electronic-acdc-voltage-tester

 

[klassenl]

I have one that is similar to this. I would give up many other tools before I would give up this. I carry it with me all of the time.

 

[rlitman]

I don't see a problem with that. I keep a wiggy around because it doesn't require batteries, but those can be dangerous in Cat IV situations. This Klein is Cat IV, and should be much safer.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Its a solenoid tester which are power from the test circuit.

Not sure why the abscence of batteries would be cause for alarm.

 

[rlitman]

Its a solenoid tester which are power from the test circuit.

Not sure why the abscence of batteries would be cause for alarm.

It isn’t a solenoid at all. It is just in the form factor of a solenoid (wiggy). That’s why the question.

The problem with solenoid testers is that they’re dangerous in the presence of high surge voltages (Cat IV environments) as well as the fact that they have low duty cycles, and can fail dramatically when abused. Solenoids also have relatively low impedance for a testing device. That’s sometimes useful, but can also be dangerous.

Instead, the device in question is a high impedance tester, that derives the power to run its electronics from the source parasitically. That will make it inherently far safer than a solenoid.

So, the question is, does that sound like a legit power source, and I say, sure, why not. It isn’t that hard to design a power supply that has a wide enough input voltage range to accept anything this might encounter, when the power requirements are almost nil.

 

[shteii01]

rlitman covered everything I think.

To reiterate. This is NOT a multimeter. It does not measure resistance, no need for battery. It does not test diodes, no need for battery. It has no backlight, no need for battery. It does not have a screen, no need for battery. It does not do continuity testing, no need for battery. Get it?

It is a modern take on good old VOLTmeter. It does one and ONE thing only. It measures voltages. And, like rlitman already said, it "steals" a little bit of the voltage (and current) from the circuit to power its own led lights.

Basically, it is almost useless in our day and age.

If you don't mind something the size of a brick, then take the 20 bucks that ET60 sells for, add another 15 or so and get one of these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluke-27-F...m261bc6d5ae:g:mZkAAOSwIjVcoWBU&frcectupt=true

 

[wyliesdiesels]

It isn’t a solenoid at all. It is just in the form factor of a solenoid (wiggy). That’s why the question.

The problem with solenoid testers is that they’re dangerous in the presence of high surge voltages (Cat IV environments) as well as the fact that they have low duty cycles, and can fail dramatically when abused. Solenoids also have relatively low impedance for a testing device. That’s sometimes useful, but can also be dangerous.

Instead, the device in question is a high impedance tester, that derives the power to run its electronics from the source parasitically. That will make it inherently far safer than a solenoid.

So, the question is, does that sound like a legit power source, and I say, sure, why not. It isn’t that hard to design a power supply that has a wide enough input voltage range to accept anything this might encounter, when the power requirements are almost nil.

Awww ok.

Thats what i get for briefly glancing at it and not looking up the specs...

 

[rick carpenter]

Sorry, I said 'meter' when I meant tester. I'm trying to find a reason for getting one since I like the no battery aspect, so the next question is what would this do that a sniffer won't? I'm not telling y'all anything you don't already know, but I can set my adjustable Sperry VD6505 for proximity detection of any voltage going into an outlet/switch. Then I can adjust it down to where it needs to contact a hot/traveler wire.

 

[rlitman]

Well, it claims low impedance, so it might act more like a wiggy and not show "ghost" voltages where a DMM might lead you astray, without the disadvantages of a wiggy that I mentioned above.

If a wiggy is an appropriate tool in your box, I think this would be a superior alternative. If you need a DMM, then this isn't it.

 

[rick carpenter]

Got one this evening.

 

[klassenl]

Basically, it is almost useless in our day and age.

I find it interesting that an established company like Klein would sell a product that is "almost useless"

 

[strutaeng]

I have one of these ET60 in my tool bag. I only do residential wiring around the house, and I "think" is good for that. Basically, just test to see if the outlets are live. Checking volts across 2 hots, volts from hot to ground, etc. Simple, rugged and no batteries as has been stated.

I have a basic Fluke 114 that's nice for auto work, but I don't like to use for rough wiring work. I have used the Fluke for more like diagnosing problems in AC and DC: Continuity, impedance, voltage (as in magnitude) etc.

Maybe I should stop using the Klein ET60 for testing live circuits?

CAT V? Is that like transformers and stuff like that? Yeah, I wouldn't use it under those conditions, LOL.