On Apr 8, 10:33*pm, John Rumm wrote:
Pete Verdon wrote:
How are they supposed to work?

You touch the tip on something live or not, and they may light up or not.

I tagged one of these onto the end of a TLC order just to get an ok
electrician's-sized screwdriver. I don't intend to use the alleged
"testing" facility, but I'm curious how it's supposed to work. It looks
like it's meant to be touched to a live terminal and have the current
flow up the shaft, through a capsule which I assume is the bulb, and
then go via a brass end-cap *into my hand*. The last part of that I'm
not particularly keen on.

Yup, is about right - your provide the neutral path.

I assume that, while they're not well-regarded by most here, neon
screwdrivers don't actually electrocute their owners during intended
use.

No, that is usually when they do try to electrocute you. You stick the
driver on a live wire, it neglects to light, so you go ahead and touch
the wire!

--
Cheers,

John.

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Do they usually have high value resistor inside to limit current to a
few microamps????
Or maybe something less than a milliamp?
e.g. 230 RMS volts/230 k.ohms = 1 milliamp. and 115/230 k.ohms = 0.5
ma.
Peak voltage of 115v about 160 volts more than enough to fire most
neons.

PS. Took a small pocket version half way across the globe and to Malta
and back over Christmas, mixed in woth pens and pencils in brief case;
didn't even realise it was there. Only to have it confiscated on a
short day trip between two Middle Eastern countries! Length of the
blade or something.
Strange thing was that on another flight we were provided with metal
fork and knife, the blade length of which exceeded the confiscated
pocket screwdriver. So thinking of making one that 'looks' like a ball
pint or 0.5mm drafting pencil!
Any suggestions?