Non-Contact Voltage Testers - Which one?

[JohnnieB]

Voltage testing/detecting devices came up in another thread and not wanting to hijack it, I started a new one.

My background is electronics (very low to very high power) and I've got DVMs, O'scopes and other devices that measure volts, amps, watts and power factor, but nothing that "detects" the presence of AC voltage without attaching any leads.

I've seen voltage detectors being used on Holms on Homes and other DIY shows and would like to buy one, but when I Google "Non-Contact Voltage Tester" I get 173,000 hits and found 4 pages (79) of them at Amazon.

I've narrowed it down somewhat. I want one that lights up and beeps when AC voltage is present. Runs on a AA rather than a AAA. Size isn't a major concern since I won't be carrying it around in my shirt pocket all the time. AND, I want one that won't get lost.

Anybody out there familiar enough with these things to recommend one?

Thanks,
John

 

[OKFC05]

I use the UL listed Santronics AC Sensor that detects 110-600VAC, and is sold in some professiional electrical supply houses. I bought a couple from Cole Electric in Paducah, KY.

They do not beep, but glow red when the plastic tip is put on/near a wire. It works by AC induction, not direct contact. It is selective enough that I can tell which wire on a lamp cord is attached to the black hot lead of the house wiring. There are no batteries to go dead, and it fits into a pocket like a pen with a clip.

The unit is designed to check for the presence of commercial AC and keep you alive when working on/around it, not as a precision tool for checking voltages.
It will not detect DC, such as inside an amplifier regardless of the voltage.

 

[seagill]

I use one made by Klein Tools, a trusted name in electrical tools. It has the light plus audible signal, and it runs on 2 AAA batteries. Has a range of 50-1000 volts AC.

 

[DeadAye]

Santronics and Klein units both on eBay and cheap.
Someone's even selling a Wiggie (sp?). My personal fast test fav, but it is a contact type device....

 

[venomballistics]

I dont care for the idea myself since these are mostly inductive instruments. They require AC voltage and that must also be within a range of frequency to give reasonably accurate measurements.
I suppose they are fine for poking around house wiring under load to see whats hot and whats not but inside projects they can be misleading. for example .. an amplifier exhibiting oscillation due to phase shift.
since it is usual for this issue to manifest at ultrasonic frequencies, a non contact sensor may give a zero reading due to inductive reluctance, despite an O scope showing a +/- 90V swing. Even a DMM may read this incorrectly but it will read something and tell you of trouble (hopefully before the output stage enters silicon to carbon conversion mode)

 

[JohnnieB]

Uh-oh, my BS-meter just spiked.

Fortunately none of the smoke escaped and the mirrors didn't crack, so it'll probably continue to protect my aluminum foil hat from non-subliminal bovine scatology.

Good one VM
John

 

[bricker]

I use the Klein model. Home Depot has them for around $20, maybe less. Gives me a little peace of mind when I'm working on HVAC units with 440V.

 

[ltdave]

i use a Fluke 1AC-II...

like the previous model better because theres no 'on-off' button to make sure you get turned on properly and its a bit more streamlined but we have to have Cat III at 1,000vac...

only use it determine if theres voltage present on stuff that would otherwise require disassembly (wire-nuts or taped split-bolts, slow-burn etc) other wise i use a T5-1000, or an 87-V when chasing control wiring issues...

Fluke 1AC-II / 1LAC-II Volt Alert, Volt Stick, Voltage Tester Pen - Fluke

 

[Enframe]

I have an old AW Sperry SPR 300 Plus. It reads AC volts on 3 scales.
0-150, 0-300, and 0-600, at 50-400Hz.
It also reads 0-6,0-20,0-200, and 0-600 Amps, and it has an Ohmmeter as well. In addition to the single-phase clamp-style sensor, it has contact leads for ohms and volts.

It is very similar to an Amp-Clamp brand, if you know what that is.

A bit more useful than an old high-range Simpson 260. Analog readings, not digital, like the Flukes.

I don't know if anything like this is even made, any more.

 

[DOEBOY1]

We call them death sticks for a reason. They will lie to you at the most inopertune time. I use mine everyday all day long to troubleshoot and find breakers for circuits. I prefered the small flukes just before the bigger harder to carry ones came out. I have switched to the Ideal ones. They are very nice but I forget to turn them off when I use them and run the batteries down often. You can buy them as a set with the meter at a pretty good deal. I think the meter also has a no contact voltage feature on them. My brother sent me a picture of two charcoaled men that were attempting to steal copper wire off a pole. The thing that stood out in my mind was not the two charred men frozen in place by the ark blast but rather the greenlee voltage tester laying beside them on the ground. I have to say it "KNOW YOUR TOOLS AND WHEN THEY LIE" Doeboy

 

[srgvaz]

Fluke 1AC-II...

Fluke 1AC-II / 1LAC-II Volt Alert, Volt Stick, Voltage Tester Pen - Fluke

I second that one...

 

[enfield]

You'll find a selection of the at your local Lowes - Sperry, Greenlee, Ideal, Fluke.

 

[Brian41]

At work we call them widow makers. Good indicators of a voltage potenial but not a substitute for a proper meter.
That said I've found them handy for tracing circuits but too iffy to trust my life on.

I work on 480 volt and below but get only one mistake in my life is all.

 

[Catshooter]

As a 34 year construction electrician veteran I also say use them, but do not trust them. Very easy to get a false reading or no reading when you should.


Cat