Hi,

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

TIA

Fred pretended :
Hi,

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

They do vary quite a lot in quality and to some extent in usefulness/
usability. The Fluke is a particularly good example and looks very
similar to the Farnell version.

Other than that, if you know how to use one, become adept at using one
and know their limitations, they are an absolutely brilliant bit of
kit.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:32:46 +0100, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

They do vary quite a lot in quality and to some extent in usefulness/
usability. The Fluke is a particularly good example and looks very
similar to the Farnell version.

Other than that, if you know how to use one, become adept at using one
and know their limitations, they are an absolutely brilliant bit of
kit.

Thanks. The fluke has been recommended here before. That say ebay is
the place to buy them but I wasn't sure whether there might be an
issue with fakes?

I guess I should say before someone else does that these devices do
not replace care and attention and checking everything is switched off
first, etc and should only be part of your precautions/checks.

On 21/06/2012 08:39, Fred wrote:
Hi,

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

I have a Fluke one and it works well. I have not used enough others to
pass a comparative comment, but would expect that any CE marked item
from a recognisable maker of test equipment should at least be adequate.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

John Rumm formulated the question :
I have a Fluke one and it works well. I have not used enough others to pass a
comparative comment, but would expect that any CE marked item from a
recognisable maker of test equipment should at least be adequate.

I have several others and the Fluke beats them hands down. It is nice
and slim, robust and has a tone - which means you can leave it near a
live cable some distance away and the tone stops when you isolate it.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

On Jun 21, 8:39*am, Fred wrote:
Hi,

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

TIA


The problem with all these devices is they either work or they don't.
In other words, don't rely on it solely to confirm a cable is
"dead".You should test it on the known live cable before and after use.

On Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:39:19 +0100, Fred
wrote:

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

I had one of those - over sensitive - it was ok for waving around in
the general vicinity of live cables, but not much else.

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

I gave that one to a neighbour's kid and replaced it with a Fluke -
much better.

On 21/06/2012 14:34, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
John Rumm formulated the question :
I have a Fluke one and it works well. I have not used enough others to
pass a comparative comment, but would expect that any CE marked item
from a recognisable maker of test equipment should at least be adequate.

I have several others and the Fluke beats them hands down. It is nice
and slim, robust and has a tone - which means you can leave it near a
live cable some distance away and the tone stops when you isolate it.

My first one had a tone which was great, but I lost it & replaced it
with the TLC one - which annoyingly doesn't..

Silverline ones are total rubbish.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 21/06/2012 16:40, Grimly Curmudgeon wrote:
On Thu, 21 Jun 2012 08:39:19 +0100,
wrote:

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

I had one of those - over sensitive - it was ok for waving around in
the general vicinity of live cables, but not much else.

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

I gave that one to a neighbour's kid and replaced it with a Fluke -
much better.

I have three or four cheapies scattered around so that I can usually
find one when I need it. Some of them give a flash when knocked even in
the absence of mains. I'm sure the Fluke is best, but I still think you
are safe enough with cheap ones as long as you check against a known
live before relying on them for proof of isolation. But I usually use
them more for fault tracing than safety checking. Is there mains on the
plug? Is it getting into the wire? Is it reaching the switch? Does it
get past the switch? Also, I always start with the most basic "three
light" tester plug to confirm that you are not missing a neutral, and
that you have an earth.

It happens that harry formulated :
On Jun 21, 8:39*am, Fred wrote:
Hi,

What is the group's opinion on voltage detectors such as these:

http://cpc.farnell.com/_/ac-9/voltag...t/dp/IN0444902

Is it best to buy a branded one or are they all much the same?

TIA


The problem with all these devices is they either work or they don't.
In other words, don't rely on it solely to confirm a cable is
"dead".You should test it on the known live cable before and after use.

No need, stroke it gently on your skin and it should light up. Good for
diagnostics, but absolutely not to be used where safety is involved.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk