When I was an apprentice my first set of "test lamps" was a very basic Steinel tester with two LEDs that simply indicated the presence of voltage at a reasonable test current between the range of 6 to 415V and also indicated the polarity if it was DC.
I noticed that they sell similar devices quite cheaply on eBay, so I bought a few from different sources to compare.
I'd say that I would not fully trust them for use on an industrial supply, but for home wiring they are infinitely better than the very dubious neon screwdrivers and a much more reliable indicator than the simple and sometimes vague non-contact detectors.
I noticed that they sell similar devices quite cheaply on eBay, so I bought a few from different sources to compare.
I'd say that I would not fully trust them for use on an industrial supply, but for home wiring they are infinitely better than the very dubious neon screwdrivers and a much more reliable indicator than the simple and sometimes vague non-contact detectors.
About the nean screwdriver: My father had one and told me that it was useful when he was working with lighting fixtures. When you're up near the ceiling and the fixture is not lit up and you want to test if the wiring is good you can see the nean if you use steel ladder. Wooden ladder won't work. The new ones I saw in 80's didn't even have the flat end but just cylidrical. So they weren't screwdrivers.
mains voltage testers are very intressting
Had a neon tester for years. Not for testing live circuits, but found they fit better in ceiling roses when connecting. Also rather the longer version. In the 80’s used to have lighting and socket versions.
I'd like to see an episode on NCVs, non-contact voltage detectors, which I suppose are the modern equivalent of that glowing screwdriver. I recently did some volunteer wiring in a developing country and despite having shut off the breaker on the circuit in question, the NCV showed the neutral was hot. It turned out that they use a "floating neutral" arrangement which is a euphemism for no safety ground/earth/tierra. I measured about 60 VAC between the neutral leg and the service entrance panel's metal frame, but could not tell if this were leakage or something with some real oomph behind it (and not wanting to touch it to find out). I ended up carefully disconnecting the "neutral" feed line from the box, fully isolating the building.
I beg to differ, Clive, those cheap neon mains testers are very useful. I have one that I use and rely on all the time…….. I wedge it under the door to keep it open. It's been reliable thus far!
Seriously though, if your hobby is restoring vintage TV sets, those neon screwdrivers are handy at detecting HF/HV activity around the line output stage. Crucially, there is no need for a physical connection, just waving it around near the LOPT is enough for it to strike.
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Fekin hell, I just wanna know how to use one 🙁
Deadly devices in the right hands and deadlier in the wrong !Watched a fluke meter get grenaded in the right hands .luckily he wasn't seriously injured .Wrong Settings !600V 400a mains voltage .
Guilty as charged used one of those neon death drivers when I was very young best place for those is at the bottom of the sea
Motivated by your video I cracked mine open. I found that replacing the indicators with high efficiency red LEDs improved the tester, particularly at low voltage.
You are a very dangerous guy
How to use VFC function (Variable Frequency Conversion) on a multimeter?
A useful insight to the workings of these testers Clive, so thanks. For anyone considering using such a tester on their household electrics, before purchase, give the HSE publication GS38 (electrical test equipment) a read and decide if you want to chance these cheapo testers against something else – just saying!
Found this video just after I'd ordered a new version of one of these – a 6-380V "8-in-1" AC/DC voltage tester for £4.99 from eBay. Has 8 LEDs – +/- 6V (for DC), then 12, 24, 50, 110, 220 and 380V LEDs. Have tested on 240V and all the LEDs seem to light up brightly; the 380V one perhaps slighlty dimmer; on 8V DC you get one of the 6V LEDs brightly and a slightly dimmer 12V LED.
So it looks as this will be good for car circuits as you get a decent light output from the 6 & 12V LEDs, as well as useful as a voltage tester to prove a 240V circuit is dead. I haven't put it through an ammeter as yet to see whether it pulls <30mA (so as to be useful for e.g. lighting circuits with only live, switched live and earth to the lightswitch without tripping the RCD) but will do so when I get a chance. Have always relied on a neon screwdriver in the past but I realise that this isn't a good idea, especially having watched this video!
Seems to be an updated version of this 2 LED probe, although I note from your open case that there was clearly space for a column of LEDs and not just the two.
My only gripe is that the probes are about 2cm of bare metal rather than being shielded! But for £4.99 what can you expect? ;o)