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!!