Anyone recommend a good voltage detector???

[Guest112]

Hi guys lost my second fluke voltage detector this week but wasnt that happy with it anyway it was the one with the torch (handy) which changed colours the nearer you get to live cables it was very unreliable but not unsafe as i dont use it for safe isolation mainly to identify equipment on citrcuits for testing

been looking on amazon and places and tbh i dont rate the reviews of people on there so would rather go on recommendationd from you lot, but im seeing a lot of random brands for volt sticks what do you recommend?

(voltstick not test lamps)

 

[1shortcircuit]

Are you after an approved Voltage Tester or a Voltage Indicator such as a Volt-stick?

Volt-sticks are okay but none of them are reliable, handy on occasions yes but not reliable :thumbsup

 

[Guest112]

just a voltstick mate i know their a bit ****e but i only use them to prove stuff on circuits

 

[1shortcircuit]

I use a Kewtech Voltage indicator to prove live. I also use a Kewtech approved voltage tester for safe isolation which I'm very pleased with as the tips are screw on/off so unlike my Fluke t100 they don't just fall off:thumbsup

 

[Guest112]

I use a Kewtech Voltage indicator to prove live. I also use a Kewtech approved voltage tester for safe isolation which I'm very pleased with as the tips are screw on/off so unlike my Fluke t100 they don't just fall off:thumbsup

i have the T100 aswell and i dont have the tips anymore lol my firm have bought me some newlec testers i just took the tips off them

 

[1shortcircuit]

i have the T100 aswell and i dont have the tips anymore lol my firm have bought me some newlec testers i just took the tips off them

I replaced my T100 for my Elecsa assessment as my tips went a long time ago. I'm happy to have the option of removing them as and when, I know it's unlikely but better safe than sorry

 

[sparkygg]

I have used a few Fluke voltsticks over the last few years and some work better than others. They will prove something is live but not always reliable for dead testing, so don't rely on them! They seem prone to indicating a circuit is live which are in fact dead, down to induced voltage i think. Still handy to listen out for when working on your own though, when wedged in the back of a light fitting when your on your knees in an understairs cupboard trying to identify which mcb for what circuit.

 

[Big n Daft]

Horrible things, they want sending to hell in a handcart

 

[cjp1]

Had the fluke T 100 for about 6 years and still going strong also brought the square fluke volt pen with the buzzer about a year or so ago and that is still going strong and always comes in well handy I think it was about £15 - £20 .

 

[telectrix]

the best one i've ever used is a fluke with a detachable bit in the end. taske this out and it then has a horseshoe in the end so it will only light when a live cable is within the horseshoe. usefull when there's several conductors in a switch position and you need to id the L 's from the S/L's. think it'e the fluke 230, but mine went awol in an attic some time ago and i ain't got round to replacing it.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

The only GOOD voltage detector, is an approved two pole voltage detector.
Non contact voltage detectors can be rather hit and miss, however, MK used to do an effective type with a variable sensitivity control that increased the hit to miss ratio considerably but at the expense of speed of use.

 

[Specialist]

Has to be a good 2 pole tester every time for me, i've seen too many non contact testers pick up on dead circuits due to induced voltages on cables.

 

[telectrix]

agreed, but still a useful tool if used correctly and it's limitations taken into account.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

The only GOOD voltage detector, is an approved two pole voltage detector.
Non contact voltage detectors can be rather hit and miss, however, MK used to do an effective type with a variable sensitivity control that increased the hit to miss ratio considerably but at the expense of speed of use.

Thats the one I have, quite like it. If im bored i pretend Im doctor who and its a sonic screwdriver.

 

[supasparxs]

Is that the one with a notch outa the side of it, with smoke coming of it?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

My old mentor used to check fuses by running two fingers down the row of end caps. I would not recommend it, but it always worked for him, used to make his hair stand on end like Bunsen Honeydew's from the Muppets, when he found a blown one.

 

[wildgoose]

The only one I will use is the small fluke stick with a torch in-built. It has two led colours in the sensing head: red and blue.
This one is very sensitive and in my experience will almost always indicates a live feed present but will sometimes show a live when it's not there? - probably due to crosstalk from nearby live cables! So it can be quite useful for quick checks before the Martindale testlamp comes out.
I don't recommend the Fluke VoltAlert 1AC. These are unreliable rubbish and in my opinion a waste of money - not that we should ever totally trust these things in the first place!!

 

[grantr37]

if you need to check a voltpen is working, hold it next to the base of your laptop screen and the feed for the backlight from the screen inverter will make it beep....also works with tablets and some smartphones...



I have a couple of fluke ones, I also bought a load of cheap ones from ebay which are ok, think from the same factory just blue instead of yellow....as people always borrow and often don't give back.....especially fluke ones at £24 each...

 

[The Finch]

I have one of these

http://www.test4less.co.uk/details.asp?ProductID=297