Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

newshound wrote:

Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

I have a Kewstick Uno, I know it won't detect live SWA buy you wouldn't
expect it to, it does detect T&E under galvanised capping, I don't
recall ever having wrong reading from it, it does give a brief flicker
from the LED when you tap the end onto something (don't know if all
makes do that?)

They sell a Duo version which seems to have a high/low sensitivity

https://www.kewtechcorp.com/products/electrical-testing

On 02/11/2018 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

Well I quite like my fluke, but I have not tried the others, so can't
really give you a comparison.

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

In this case even fluke prices are not that steep - normally £20 - £25 ish.

Di-Log do some at about £15 that are probably ok as well (they are what
TLC sell). Note sure I would chance the £2.50 duratool offering from CPC
though!

--
Cheers,

John.

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

newshound presented the following explanation :
Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices but I
suppose I might look after one of them better.

I would still pay the extra and get a Fluke..

Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I would still pay the extra and get a Fluke..

If you had one of the Fluke SM300 socket testers that got recalled, and
took the option of replacing it with a Fluke T110 tester, those are now
also being recalled ...

On 02/11/2018 14:47, John Rumm wrote:
On 02/11/2018 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone
have recommendations?

Well I quite like my fluke, but I have not tried the others, so can't
really give you a comparison.

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

In this case even fluke prices are not that steep - normally £20 - £25 ish.

Di-Log do some at about £15 that are probably ok as well (they are what
TLC sell). Note sure I would chance the £2.50 duratool offering from CPC
though!

Agreed, but I think my previous ones were only a fiver or so. Trouble
is, I could do with one for my general toolbox, another for the small
lightweight electrics one, another for the desk drawer, another to hang
next to the consumer unit.

But thanks all for the comments, will order a Fluke or maybe the fancy
Kew while I muse further.

On 02/11/2018 14:45, Andy Burns wrote:
newshound wrote:

Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone
have recommendations?

I have a Kewstick Uno, I know it won't detect live SWA buy you wouldn't
expect it to, it does detect T&E under galvanised capping, I don't
recall ever havingÂ* wrong reading from it, it does give a brief flicker
from the LED when you tap the end onto something (don't know if all
makes do that?)

They sell a Duo version which seems to have a high/low sensitivity

https://www.kewtechcorp.com/products/electrical-testing

£20 from Amazon, will report back!

I think one of my others is a Kew, no doubt it will turn up now.

Andy Burns submitted this idea :
If you had one of the Fluke SM300 socket testers that got recalled, and took
the option of replacing it with a Fluke T110 tester, those are now also being
recalled ...

I don't have either, but thanks..

"Andy Burns" wrote in message
...
Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I would still pay the extra and get a Fluke..

If you had one of the Fluke SM300 socket testers that got recalled, and
took the option of replacing it with a Fluke T110 tester, those are now
also being recalled ...

Fark, pity about the price.

On 02/11/18 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

I have one of these (Fluke)

https://www.edwardes.co.uk/en/produc...etector-tester

It is nice because of the pen light built in - bright and clear.

Do be aware that volt sticks are just as bad as neons in that you
shouldn't trust your life to them (in fact I'd trust a recently proved
neon tester more).

The most solid tester is a "proving lamp" - fancy word for an
incandescent lamp tester - and these should be proved before and after
on a known live source.

--
Email does not work

On 02/11/18 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

On a side note - if anyone is trying to *accurately* locate cables
behind plasterboard, I have a magnetic tester that has proven most
useful. You need to load the circuit under test, but it is fairly immude
from stray field readings unless you're unlucky enough to have a bit of
iron capping or plasterboard edging in the area.

--
Email does not work

On 02/11/2018 16:27, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

I would still pay the extra and get a Fluke..

That's what I thought when I got one until the push switch in the cap
intermittently stopped working. Fluke weren't interested in supplying a
new cap.

A while after that the main body started to crumble away round the cap.

I replaced it with a LAP one from Screwfix about 3 years ago and have
had no problems with that.

On 02/11/2018 18:58, Tim Watts wrote:
On 02/11/18 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone
have recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

I have one of these (Fluke)

https://www.edwardes.co.uk/en/produc...etector-tester


It is nice because of the pen light built in - bright and clear.

Do be aware that volt sticks are just as bad as neons in that you
shouldn't trust your life to them (in fact I'd trust a recently proved
neon tester more).

The most solid tester is a "proving lamp" - fancy word for an
incandescent lamp tester - and these should be proved before and after
on a known live source.

Very true, but you do need exposed conductor for this. Actually I tend
to use a DVM at that stage.

The Kewstick Duo is quite nice: it flashes green when swiched on and
off, confirming that you have a battery and making it less likely to be
put away swiched on. And it switches itself off after 3 minutes, and it
gives you a red + green light for low battery.

I havn't tried the dual sensitivity yet.

Totally agree about checking on another live first of course, but that
is easier to do than for a neon screwdriver.

On 04/11/2018 09:04, newshound wrote:
On 02/11/2018 18:58, Tim Watts wrote:
On 02/11/18 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone
have recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

I have one of these (Fluke)

https://www.edwardes.co.uk/en/produc...etector-tester


It is nice because of the pen light built in - bright and clear.

Do be aware that volt sticks are just as bad as neons in that you
shouldn't trust your life to them (in fact I'd trust a recently proved
neon tester more).

The most solid tester is a "proving lamp" - fancy word for an
incandescent lamp tester - and these should be proved before and after
on a known live source.

Very true, but you do need exposed conductor for this. Actually I tend
to use a DVM at that stage.

The Kewstick Duo is quite nice: it flashes green when swiched on and
off, confirming that you have a battery and making it less likely to be
put away swiched on. And it switches itself off after 3 minutes, and it
gives you a red + green light for low battery.

I havn't tried the dual sensitivity yet.

Totally agree about checking on another live first of course, but that
is easier to do than for a neon screwdriver.

On 02/11/2018 19:00, Tim Watts wrote:
On 02/11/18 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone
have recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.

On a side note - if anyone is trying to *accurately* locate cables
behind plasterboard, I have a magnetic tester that has proven most
useful. You need to load the circuit under test, but it is fairly immude
from stray field readings unless you're unlucky enough to have a bit of
iron capping or plasterboard edging in the area.


I got this last week but have not tried it out yet.

http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/socket...it-finder.html

When I do use it I'll report back.

--
Adam

On 02/11/2018 14:13, newshound wrote:
Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from
their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have
recommendations?

Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices
but I suppose I might look after one of them better.


I have this one

https://www.screwfix.com/p/fluke-1ac...ctor-pen/85949

It certainly outperforms the cheaper brands.



--
Adam

newshound Wrote in message:
On 02/11/2018 14:47, John Rumm wrote: On 02/11/2018 14:13, newshound wrote: Searching today, all my volt sticks seem to have diffused away from their usual storage spaces so I need to get some more. Does anyone have recommendations? Well I quite like my fluke, but I have not tried the others, so can't really give you a comparison. Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices but I suppose I might look after one of them better. In this case even fluke prices are not that steep - normally £20 - £25 ish. Di-Log do some at about £15 that are probably ok as well (they are what TLC sell). Note sure I would chance the £2.50 duratool offering from CPC though! Agreed, but I think my previous ones were only a fiver or so. Trouble is, I could do with one for my general toolbox, another for the small lightweight electrics one, another for the desk drawer, another to hang next to the consumer unit.But thanks all for the comments, will order a Fluke or maybe the fancy Kew while I muse further.

I have a LAP one from Screwfix.

Seems to b.e reliable
--
Chris French

On 05/11/2018 08:06, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Fri, 02 Nov 2018 16:27:11 GMT, Harry Bloomfield
wrote:

newshound presented the following explanation :
Not being a professional sparks, I tend to shy away from Fluke prices but I
suppose I might look after one of them better.

I would still pay the extra and get a Fluke..

Are voltsticks any better at accurately determining the position of
live cables in a wall, in PVC conduit, than standard pipe/live cable
detectors? I have a B&D BDS200 and I'm not impressed by it
https://tinyurl.com/yasou34o and I'm looking for something more
precise.


They are no use what so ever in locating a cable in a wall.

--
Adam

On 05/11/2018 08:10, Robin wrote:
On 04/11/2018 21:25, ARW wrote:
On 04/11/2018 21:12, Robin wrote:
On 04/11/2018 20:07, ARW wrote:


I got this last week but have not tried it out yet.

http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/socket...it-finder.html



At that price I'm a bit surprised it doesn't have the means to swap
the lead with croc clips on the transmitter for a lead terminating in
a plug that can go straight into any 13A socket that's not getting
power.Â* The more so when it's the "Socket & See" brand!




It did come with one!



Ta for that.

In my defence I did look at the manual which doesn't mention it.Â* And
the pictures on their website show the other leads which come with every
other tracer they make

http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/produc...ircuit-tracers


Actually I got the

http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/socket...racer-kit.html



ie a FFCB200 and a DCF200 sold together.

Paid £220 for the pair. And it is a pair. It's two identical carry
cases[1] with different kit in each case.

So to add to your defence I was expecting just the one case with all the
bits in it after looking at the photos.

[1] The cases need some sort of identification so I know which is which,
and I am sure the Scouts do a sewing badge............


--
Adam

On Monday, 5 November 2018 18:49:22 UTC, ARW wrote:

Actually I got the

http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/socket...racer-kit.html



ie a FFCB200 and a DCF200 sold together.

Paid £220 for the pair. And it is a pair. It's two identical carry
cases[1] with different kit in each case.

So to add to your defence I was expecting just the one case with all the
bits in it after looking at the photos.

[1] The cases need some sort of identification so I know which is which,
and I am sure the Scouts do a sewing badge............

A funny colour of gloss paint. Dunk everything in it to discourage tealeafs..


NT