I only trust non contact testers for checking wires or terminals. Even when I do use one, I want to find a live wire nearby to confirm it's working. If testing an outlet, use a plugin contact tester.
As an electrician, you really need to know your tools. How they work and also how they behave. Yes these NCVT's are not perfect. Always use a backup in circuit meter.
There is nuance to this. If you know what you are doing then these are one of the most valuable tools you will own. I use mine many times every single day, but never rely on it to save my life. I either use it and then follow up with a meter or short hot to ground before touching anything if it is just 120v. I also regularly test it on known live circuits. I have owned all of them over the years and prefer the one made by Milwaukee. It is cheap, light, and has a flashlight built in. The only negative I have found is that when the batteries start to get a little low it will sometimes not turn on without holding down the button or giving it a couple of bangs against something. I highly recommend it. Don't trust your life too it, but it will save you a ton of time and keep you from having to constantly walk to your toolbox or vehicle to get a meter.
I have had a few instances where the NCV tester did not register voltage... . For some reason my NCV meter does great on 125V, but not on 240V. I was right ON the wire, and nothing showed. Wondering if the wire just happened to be very well insulated / shielded???? Not sure... Always double-check using another method.
before the none contact tester / to test the knob and tube lines in old homes you take a neon tester and hole one end and test the wire at a tap and you will not get shocked and it will light and show you the hot wire
hold on end and insert the other in the hot side or at a tap / on knob and tube you dont know hot from neutral the wires are both the same color / you can do it on regular wire to test for hot wire
Well, of course, it didn’t flash at :40; you were inserting it into the neutral contact of the socket!
Yes you are correct, it was just for a b-roll story example but yes you are correct friend.
@@ElectricalYou Thank you for your clarity and honesty sir, it's not always on YT channels and I really appreciate it. 👌
I only trust non contact testers for checking wires or terminals. Even when I do use one, I want to find a live wire nearby to confirm it's working. If testing an outlet, use a plugin contact tester.
Yes I agree! I used outlets to show what could potentially happen when only relying on these NCVTs. Thanks for your comment friend!
As an electrician, you really need to know your tools. How they work and also how they behave. Yes these NCVT's are not perfect. Always use a backup in circuit meter.
Yes very true my friend! My video is geared towards at home DIYers to show the potential failures but yes very true!
There is nuance to this. If you know what you are doing then these are one of the most valuable tools you will own. I use mine many times every single day, but never rely on it to save my life. I either use it and then follow up with a meter or short hot to ground before touching anything if it is just 120v. I also regularly test it on known live circuits. I have owned all of them over the years and prefer the one made by Milwaukee. It is cheap, light, and has a flashlight built in. The only negative I have found is that when the batteries start to get a little low it will sometimes not turn on without holding down the button or giving it a couple of bangs against something. I highly recommend it. Don't trust your life too it, but it will save you a ton of time and keep you from having to constantly walk to your toolbox or vehicle to get a meter.
Thank you for the great insight and comment! I agree!
I have had a few instances where the NCV tester did not register voltage... . For some reason my NCV meter does great on 125V, but not on 240V. I was right ON the wire, and nothing showed. Wondering if the wire just happened to be very well insulated / shielded???? Not sure... Always double-check using another method.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's important to have more than one way to test voltage!
I never try to test the outlet. I open it and put the tester by the hot wires. I guarantee that all of those tester will alert if you do it that way.
I agree. I used this method to show what potentially could happen with these NCVTs. Thanks for watching friend!
before the none contact tester / to test the knob and tube lines in old homes you take a neon tester and hole one end and test the wire at a tap and you will not get shocked and it will light and show you the hot wire
hold on end and insert the other in the hot side or at a tap / on knob and tube you dont know hot from neutral the wires are both the same color / you can do it on regular wire to test for hot wire
Thank you for the comment friend and great info!
Loose the sound effects, I gave up at 47 sec.
Just trying new things as I grow. Thanks for the comment friend.