Sometimes you wait way, way too long to get a much needed tool. Such is the case here. I have been re-wiring our vacation house workshop garage, adding extra lights and such. Not trusting the idiot home owner who has made every mistake in the book in modifying said electrical circuits, I check and double check what should be, actually is, lest I want to get shocked and killed.
I have been doing that with my trusty voltmeter. But it is a pain to do that. Holding the meter up, trying to not short out anything with those long exposed probes, is difficult and dangerous in itself.
So I finally broke down and got this Fluke Non-Contact Voltage Tester:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EJ332O
With Prime membership, I got it in just two days. I unpacked it and thing way exceeded my expectations. The probe is designed to pick up electricity in a very narrow range. This means that you can actually tell which of the two wires are hot in a typical appliance cord! Touch the wrong one and nothing happens. Move it over 1/8 of an inch to the other wire and it will light up and beep.
There is a nice flashing light every so often, letting you know the unit is on. Despite costing just $22, it has wonderful construction and feel, much like my expensive Fluke meters. Nothing this cheap has any business feeling this nice!
The probe head is flat which means it can be inserted in wall outlets and detect if they are working too, with no direct electrical contact.
If you do any work around the house or ever in doubt that the power is on or now, do yourself a favor and order this thing now.
High Recommended!
I have been doing that with my trusty voltmeter. But it is a pain to do that. Holding the meter up, trying to not short out anything with those long exposed probes, is difficult and dangerous in itself.
So I finally broke down and got this Fluke Non-Contact Voltage Tester:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EJ332O
With Prime membership, I got it in just two days. I unpacked it and thing way exceeded my expectations. The probe is designed to pick up electricity in a very narrow range. This means that you can actually tell which of the two wires are hot in a typical appliance cord! Touch the wrong one and nothing happens. Move it over 1/8 of an inch to the other wire and it will light up and beep.
There is a nice flashing light every so often, letting you know the unit is on. Despite costing just $22, it has wonderful construction and feel, much like my expensive Fluke meters. Nothing this cheap has any business feeling this nice!
The probe head is flat which means it can be inserted in wall outlets and detect if they are working too, with no direct electrical contact.
If you do any work around the house or ever in doubt that the power is on or now, do yourself a favor and order this thing now.
High Recommended!