Fluke Volt Detection Pen

[Tiny Spark]

Just picked one of these up today and was wondering if anyone else has one to compare mine to.
Fluke 1AC-II Voltage Detector Pen | Voltage Testers | NoLinkingToThis

Reason I ask is mine seems to be a little insensitive, Not like most others where it goes off when you are 6 inches away from something but it will only operate when following a live wire through a flex!
I can literally track the individual wire through the flex twirling around inside!!

Is this normal for these flukes or not?

I can only compare to the £5 jobbies I have had in the past.

 

[andyelectric]

I've never trusted the idea of them, and have never found somewhere yet where I've needed one. Do you find you use it often??

 

[James.taffinder]

My fluke does the same, i prefer it to the other makes.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Cheers james glad its not just mine then lol

I do use it fairly often Andy, they are great for quick indications when fault finding, cable tracing/identification and mostly for determining if something is actually live.

I would never trust one as a way of proving dead but they can be a little more convenient and quicker than using a meter.
Plus it fits nicely in ya pocket lol

 

[Robotstar5]

I've got an older version of the Fluke and it will detect power on the front of a S/O, but the cheapo Draper model they standard issue at work won't, it also has to follow the live conductor round a flex as above.

 

[specs]

I don't use my fluke often , but it is very useful in finding cable breaks.

 

[pennywise]

Fluke do two versions of the volt stick one being 90v-1000v sensitivity and the other is 200v-1000v I've got the later and it's brilliant, it stays off until your right on the cable, I can even find the live in a T&E. Looks like you've got the 90v which does go off with everything, the boss had one and couldn't understand why mine wasn't lol

 

[Brightspark2]

Yes it is normal that...

 

[rapparee]

My pen has a low level of sensitivity as well. I find it handy for checking extension leads.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Cheers guys, Like I said only ever had the cheapy ones so I was a little suprised to find one that accurate!!

 

[bigdavs83]

I have the lvd2 fluke effort which has the small torch on it too. It goes blue when it's close to live cable and red when it's right on it. They are extremely Handy for a quick reference but I wouldn't solely rely on it for isolation. I always double check. They definitely have their uses

 

[Kate]

Love my fluke pen. Yes can follow live conductor around a flex. Works through frontplates too. I like that its not over sensitive.
I also have a kewtech pen, got it purely as I liked the noise it made lol, but it's too sensitive. If I move it in the air it goes off

 

[davesparks]

I had one once, haven't seen it for years, I just don't have any use for it.

 

[Kate]

My most common use for it...eicrs. turn off a circuit and go around see whats isolated. Gives an indication of whats on the circuit then can use me brain to work out how its likely to be wired.
Done a lot of testing lately on half labeled installs

 

[7029 dave]

Well I have one, an use it every day, not your bog standard volt stick, ours are desensitized, about £80 worth of kit.

 

[uksparks]

I've got the 2AC which is the 200 - 1000v version, like others have said, I can tell which side of the twin and earth has the line conductor in.

I use it a lot, kind of stays in my pocket, before I get an ear bashing I don't use it as a form of voltage indication before touching a conductor, but it kind of does have its uses.

 

[Tiny Spark]

LOL Kate that has to be the single best reason for buying a tool I have ever heard!!

Glad ime not on my own in finding these things handy.
I know alot of the old guys frown upon them but i think if you dont rely on them and remember the limitations they are a valuable bit of kit.

My personal fave use is finding a specific cable in a bunch or a conductor in conduit,
Get your mate to play a tune on the switch and you know you have the switched live

 

[Robotstar5]

I also find them handy for showing non-technical production staff that power is there, they understand a light/bleep more than a reading on a meter.

 

[Simonslimline]

Out of the ones i have owned including the fluke, i find these the best. i use the green model with a bleeper.

Volt Stick ::: The market leading brand in AC, DC voltage and magnetic testers in the UK

 

[Black Dog]

I've never trusted the idea of them, and have never found somewhere yet where I've needed one. Do you find you use it often??

They come in handy when working on K&T systems where there in no grounding conductor and the color of the wires have faded, and you need to find the neutral and hot.