As an electrician I own a several different non-contact voltage testers and they are handy. To the DIY take notice that he checked the circuit hot before he checked it dead that way he knew his tester was working properly. Very nice review and video!
For a newbie like me, your video was clearly explained, demonstrated and informative at just at the right pace. My model NCVT-1P was $19.97 at Home Depot. i got lucky in picking the right non contact tester and feel ready to change out my light switch!
Hi thanks, I got a weird problem. When I test an outlet, (it's an old house, 2 wire, no ground) Both live and neutral turn red. However, when I measure between the L and N with a volt meter, there is 0 voltage. The outlet is dead, no lamp turns on. So I ran a wire from the N at the outlet back to the power box to test for continuity break is the Neutral, and I get a voltage of 117V between the N wire coming from inside the house and the Nueutral connector bar at the panel? What is happening here? Thanks.
Hi, thank you so much for the easy to understand video. I am a single mom and have to fix all that I can myself. I purchased one of these voltage testers and really was not sure of its capacity, but you explained everything about using it so well in this video. I now feel comfortable using this tool to check for voltage without having to consult any guy to have to check it for me. Thank you again!
I own one of this, but I always turn off the breaker period. If not sure, turn off the whole darn power at the electric box, better safe than sorry. I am not an electrician but regardless have respect for electricity.
I have one of these and it detected 12-48 volts when it was 5 volts. It detected 12-48 volts when it was 120 volts, and it detected 120 volts when it was 5 volts. It also detected 0 volts when it was 120 volts. It is hit and miss with this thing. and no electrical tester should be hit and miss. It is useless then. If any electrical tester works accurately, then it's a Fluke.
i've turn the breaker off and I've used my client Viddy one and I still get a red at the outlets in the room I'm having a problem with the breaker be bad it doesn't seem to be turning all the way off
It makes no sense to me why these are preferred over the more sensitive, adjustable style of NCVTs. These clearly show false negatives if you just happen to not be touching the right place and the fact they require you to get close enough it's touching a NON-CONTACT tester bewilders me. Sure, it tests outside the jacket without contacting the conductors but I can wave my adjustable tester around the air of a junction box without disassembling anything to get a positive reading. How is an early/false positive worse than a false negative??? I'd much rather have to double-check my positive readings than miss one entirely just because I was a quarter inch away... I've asked a couple electricians and they can't bother explaining why. I want to replace my cheap adjustable one because it's not very durable but these more expensive testers are practically useless to me.
I’m a total dunce around electrical, I can wire a guitar, but I don’t understand the fundamentals. Thank you for the helpful video and showing me how to use this tool to prevent unwanted zaps!
These are very handy, but they can lie too. Fortunately, it'll lie in the way where you won't get hurt. My old Klein tester a couple years ago would pick up "residual" voltage. Mainly in old houses and commercial buildings. It basically would tell me something was hot when it really wasn't. In some old houses, I could put them against wood studs and they'd be chirping away. Electricians really should have digital meters. They are really the best way to go to be a professional. HOWEVER! In the defense of the non contact tester. If you need to test something where you have absolute no reference to ground, then a digital meter is useless. PRO TIP! If you are picking residual voltage with a non-contact tester, you can hold the insulation of the wire, and it (in most cases) will neutralize the voltage and the tester will stop chirping. As far as I know, this has to be a single conductor, not a whole piece of Romex or MC/BX. I hope this helps!
I just got one of these, and was trying it out on things I knew were hot and knew were not. And it didn't seem to make sense. So this video helped a lot to know to test all sides of a cord, etc. Your comment helped, too. I have a broken flat-top cooktop I'd disconnected the wires from the junction box and coiled them up and tied them until I get around to removing it. The tester insisted that the disconnected wires were hot, hold them or not. Go figure. The wire going into the junction box now has the breaker shut off ever since I removed the other thing that was wired into it. The tester was chirping for that, mostly just once then green again, and holding the wire like you said quieted it...
Have a Klein NCVT-1 removed the batteries to check one was dead and now I don't know which way they go in. No markings on the testers to indicate. Have tried both ways and nothing works.
I don't know if it was in the comments but it wasn't in the video I had mine in a box for years took it out turned it on had a test work couldn't shut it off and then it wouldn't test correctly either it just had the green light on forever so I just decided was supposed to be like a computer and I pulled the battery out but the batteries back in and everything reset and it's good to go sorry anyway if you got problems with the thing take the batteries out put them back in thank you for the video
I'm not too impressed with this tester. It doesn't have the same sensitivity that my last voltage tester had. I'll try fresh batteries since I used what came with the tester. But my last voltage tester would read power through a light switch plate. This one seems like you have to get almost on the wire before it indicates.
I just bought this tester a couple of weeks ago to install an exhaust fan for the bathroom. The electrician left 3 switches, one for the light over the sink, one for the light in the middle of the bathroom, and a third for a future fan installation. That made it easy for me, but I needed to test it to make sure the power was working before and after it was turned off from the breaker and this tester worked liked a charm!
Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've had one of these kicking around the tool box for a long time and never knew how to use it. Now I do! Great video.
Ah.....you just calmed me down. THANK YOU!!! I'm actually afraid of electricity but I have to change out a gfci outlet that keeps tripping. The instructions in the package were very tiny and not totally clear. There was no mention of putting the tip INSIDE the outlet even though it looks like that's what you would do. Your video cleared everything up and ALSO taught me how to test a cord!!!
Thank you so much for full details about this product...you explained several things that I did not know...now I can use my Klein Tools voltage tester with confidence!
A crappy tool. Don’t buy this. The ON/OFF button never works when I press it, so I press it harder and harder but it won’t work, so out of frustration I’ll throw it back into my tool bag, and then it turns on due to the slightest touch when it lands. And good luck trying to change the batteries. You’ll never find a more puzzling and difficult battery cap to replace once you’ve changed the batteries.
I think it works better than the Flir My Flir will light up if there is power about 1 foot away which if your working in a panel where a bunch of wires are you cant isolate very well at all
this is the way that you should explain a simple but potentially dangerous tool, slowly deliberately and repeatedly and in great detail. when needed.thank you very much.
I just installed a new electrical outlet in my house with a Built-in USB port. Before i use it i tested it with this tool. I'm concerned bc when I put the tester in the hot side of my electrical outlet, it's flashing red green red green. Can someone tell me what that means???
when he tests the hot light switch it beeps differently when tests each side of the switch. The light turns red for both sides BUT the first side is a fast beep beep beep and the other side is slower beep...beep... What does that mean?
Question: This product is advertised as non contact but I noticed you stuck the pen right into the outlet to test. Is this the way this tool is supposed to be used?
Well keep in mind that it doesn’t physically contact the metal inside the outlet, nor the copper inside the wires…. The closer you get, the more accurate it is. Better safe than sorry, so I simply get as close as I can.
Very thorough thank you so much I was using list for my car but it wasn’t working how you was working it and you pointed out that the car has DC current and this is not going to detect DC only AC thank you so much
I have a circline fluorescent light fixture that's not working even though I installed a new bulb. The fixture has been there a long time but up to this point I have never had an issue with it. I don't know if the problem is the switch or maybe the ballast. Would one of these testers be helpful? Thanks.
If you don't use this frequently make sure you remove batteries before putting it away in your toolbox. If you're lucky they'll just deplete on their own. I just rieeded to use mine after being stored for about 6 months and not only were they dead but the battery leaked and destroyed the insides rendering it junk.
I really do not like that brand, in a very short period of time i bought 3 to those and non of them worked as should be. I go for the fluke, never had any problem....
As an electrician I own a several different non-contact voltage testers and they are handy. To the DIY take notice that he checked the circuit hot before he checked it dead that way he knew his tester was working properly. Very nice review and video!
DC Rickerson
DC Rickerson, Kickass name btw
On a regular 110v receptacle im getting red light on both neutral and hot side .Breaker is fine
My new outlet is flashing flashing red green red green red green on the hot side and I can't figure out what that means
@@rogerleadbeter1625?
For a newbie like me, your video was clearly explained, demonstrated and informative at just at the right pace. My model NCVT-1P was $19.97 at Home Depot. i got lucky in picking the right non contact tester and feel ready to change out my light switch!
Hi thanks, I got a weird problem. When I test an outlet, (it's an old house, 2 wire, no ground) Both live and neutral turn red. However, when I measure between the L and N with a volt meter, there is 0 voltage. The outlet is dead, no lamp turns on.
So I ran a wire from the N at the outlet back to the power box to test for continuity break is the Neutral, and I get a voltage of 117V between the N wire coming from inside the house and the Nueutral connector bar at the panel? What is happening here?
Thanks.
Hi, thank you so much for the easy to understand video. I am a single mom and have to fix all that I can myself. I purchased one of these voltage testers and really was not sure of its capacity, but you explained everything about using it so well in this video. I now feel comfortable using this tool to check for voltage without having to consult any guy to have to check it for me. Thank you again!
I own one of this, but I always turn off the breaker period. If not sure, turn off the whole darn power at the electric box, better safe than sorry. I am not an electrician but regardless have respect for electricity.
most thorough, clear and helpful tutorial on this tool. Thank you.
try and test a new plug with child protection with that shit
Thank you this video was very helpful 👍🏽
Very straightforward and simply said. Fantastic video thank you very much. You are a great instructor.
UA-cam is the best thing on the internet you learn n learn thank UA-cam
Thank you very much, it is very helpfull
I just got one of these in a set with my multimeter. Wasn’t exactly sure what it was for or how to use it. This video answered all my questions.
Hi, I like your lecture .Thanks
I have one of these and it detected 12-48 volts when it was 5 volts. It detected 12-48 volts when it was 120 volts, and it detected 120 volts when it was 5 volts. It also detected 0 volts when it was 120 volts.
It is hit and miss with this thing. and no electrical tester should be hit and miss. It is useless then.
If any electrical tester works accurately, then it's a Fluke.
This one only beeps and changes color. It doesn't tell you the amount of volts you have.
Awesome video… super helpful
I'm not an electrician but I recently bought this to help with replacing a light switch. It's very handy and works great.
Very good review. thank you
I came across my Klein the other day..needed a quick review and found your site on UA-cam. Thanks. Great video and YES I did subscribe.
Awesome....thanks Gerry!
Nice video man I appreciate it
for a electrician like me this things are pure gold!!!
i've turn the breaker off and I've used my client Viddy one and I still get a red at the outlets in the room I'm having a problem with the breaker be bad it doesn't seem to be turning all the way off
It makes no sense to me why these are preferred over the more sensitive, adjustable style of NCVTs. These clearly show false negatives if you just happen to not be touching the right place and the fact they require you to get close enough it's touching a NON-CONTACT tester bewilders me. Sure, it tests outside the jacket without contacting the conductors but I can wave my adjustable tester around the air of a junction box without disassembling anything to get a positive reading.
How is an early/false positive worse than a false negative??? I'd much rather have to double-check my positive readings than miss one entirely just because I was a quarter inch away...
I've asked a couple electricians and they can't bother explaining why.
I want to replace my cheap adjustable one because it's not very durable but these more expensive testers are practically useless to me.
I’m a total dunce around electrical, I can wire a guitar, but I don’t understand the fundamentals. Thank you for the helpful video and showing me how to use this tool to prevent unwanted zaps!
you marketed their product better then the company markets it.
Thanks so much!!
Dude come back and make more videos 😢
Soon!!
These are very handy, but they can lie too. Fortunately, it'll lie in the way where you won't get hurt. My old Klein tester a couple years ago would pick up "residual" voltage. Mainly in old houses and commercial buildings. It basically would tell me something was hot when it really wasn't. In some old houses, I could put them against wood studs and they'd be chirping away. Electricians really should have digital meters. They are really the best way to go to be a professional. HOWEVER! In the defense of the non contact tester. If you need to test something where you have absolute no reference to ground, then a digital meter is useless. PRO TIP! If you are picking residual voltage with a non-contact tester, you can hold the insulation of the wire, and it (in most cases) will neutralize the voltage and the tester will stop chirping. As far as I know, this has to be a single conductor, not a whole piece of Romex or MC/BX. I hope this helps!
I just got one of these, and was trying it out on things I knew were hot and knew were not. And it didn't seem to make sense. So this video helped a lot to know to test all sides of a cord, etc. Your comment helped, too. I have a broken flat-top cooktop I'd disconnected the wires from the junction box and coiled them up and tied them until I get around to removing it. The tester insisted that the disconnected wires were hot, hold them or not. Go figure. The wire going into the junction box now has the breaker shut off ever since I removed the other thing that was wired into it. The tester was chirping for that, mostly just once then green again, and holding the wire like you said quieted it...
Very thorough video
Very informative
Have a Klein NCVT-1 removed the batteries to check one was dead and now I don't know which way they go in. No markings on the testers to indicate. Have tried both ways and nothing works.
JUST used your link to purchase...thanks!
I've heard good things from this. I love klein tools! but any of my electrical work is trusted by fluke
Mine suddenly stopped working while in the middle of a small project at home, tried changing batteries still not working , thanks for the info anyway.
I don't know if it was in the comments but it wasn't in the video I had mine in a box for years took it out turned it on had a test work couldn't shut it off and then it wouldn't test correctly either it just had the green light on forever so I just decided was supposed to be like a computer and I pulled the battery out but the batteries back in and everything reset and it's good to go sorry anyway if you got problems with the thing take the batteries out put them back in thank you for the video
I'm not too impressed with this tester. It doesn't have the same sensitivity that my last voltage tester had. I'll try fresh batteries since I used what came with the tester.
But my last voltage tester would read power through a light switch plate. This one seems like you have to get almost on the wire before it indicates.
Perfect simple but well explained video. Thanks for your time doing this for guy's like us.
Thank you! Excellent job explaining this ! 👏👏👏
I just bought this tester a couple of weeks ago to install an exhaust fan for the bathroom. The electrician left 3 switches, one for the light over the sink, one for the light in the middle of the bathroom, and a third for a future fan installation. That made it easy for me, but I needed to test it to make sure the power was working before and after it was turned off from the breaker and this tester worked liked a charm!
+tiger507 Awesome!
The advance version of this tester is rated at 12vac - 1000vac.
Where would find 12vac in your house?
Best explanation yet.Simple and to the point.
This was a very helpful video thanks new subscriber
Great job!
Thanks for explaining how "Klein Tools Non Contact Voltage Tester" functions, in a very clear manner.
Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I've had one of these kicking around the tool box for a long time and never knew how to use it. Now I do! Great video.
Ah.....you just calmed me down. THANK YOU!!! I'm actually afraid of electricity but I have to change out a gfci outlet that keeps tripping. The instructions in the package were very tiny and not totally clear. There was no mention of putting the tip INSIDE the outlet even though it looks like that's what you would do. Your video cleared everything up and ALSO taught me how to test a cord!!!
Glad to help!
Fine video, and you covered a lot of different items and how to test them.
Thank you so much, very detailed! 👍
Good video
I have one and I think it's a must have for everyone that does their own electrical . 👍👍
+Steve Rob I agree Steve! MUCH better than hoping for the best & getting zapped!
Klein Vs Fluke 1AC-A1-II VoltAlert Non-Contact Voltage Tester????
Thank you so much for full details about this product...you explained several things that I did not know...now I can use my Klein Tools voltage tester with confidence!
Can I stick this in a surface mount 50 amp 125/250 volt outlet?
A crappy tool. Don’t buy this. The ON/OFF button never works when I press it, so I press it harder and harder but it won’t work, so out of frustration I’ll throw it back into my tool bag, and then it turns on due to the slightest touch when it lands. And good luck trying to change the batteries. You’ll never find a more puzzling and difficult battery cap to replace once you’ve changed the batteries.
Try decent batteries & not junk ones from an old TV remote.
love your videoesr! learn so much from this one.THANK YOU
Why are they called "non-contact" testers if you have to contact the tool with the wiring?
yo tengo en la marca Fluke son muy practicos y te ayudan a trabajar con seguridad
Great video. Thank you for taking the time to make it. Very educational for begginner DIYers.
Thanks for your video, very informative.
Thanks very much for this. Helped me a lot.
I own one of those testers but mine sometimes a blue lite comes on...wat does that mean...??
This is an excellent video. I learned a lot.
I think it works better than the Flir My Flir will light up if there is power about 1 foot away which if your working in a panel where a bunch of wires are you cant isolate very well at all
this is the way that you should explain a simple but potentially dangerous tool, slowly deliberately and repeatedly and in great detail. when needed.thank you very much.
😉👍
thank you so much. this video is really helpful
Sure enough it work.. thanks
I do not understand this tool - it doesn't do what the video says - yet I have the same one!
thanks for the explanation
I just installed a new electrical outlet in my house with a Built-in USB port. Before i use it i tested it with this tool. I'm concerned bc when I put the tester in the hot side of my electrical outlet, it's flashing red green red green. Can someone tell me what that means???
USB = dc power
Reg outlet = ac power
Wouldn’t you want to test both duplex outlets in case one was switched?
many thanks for a very helpful video
Great comprehensive advice. Thank you!
when he tests the hot light switch it beeps differently when tests each side of the switch.
The light turns red for both sides BUT the first side is a fast beep beep beep and the other side is slower beep...beep...
What does that mean?
Rj Miller - Jesus is coming soon?
I have this same issue. It also beeps slower on most metal surfaces. What gives?
Question: This product is advertised as non contact but I noticed you stuck the pen right into the outlet to test. Is this the way this tool is supposed to be used?
Well keep in mind that it doesn’t physically contact the metal inside the outlet, nor the copper inside the wires…. The closer you get, the more accurate it is. Better safe than sorry, so I simply get as close as I can.
Well done. Simple straight forward.
Thanks
Jim
Can you test a regular battery like AAA or D batteries with this?
Very informative. Thank you.
Does this tool work with armor clad cable BX or MC
Awesome! Thank you for this video!
Way good review..crisp, clear..good, good job.
What about the beeping, the most important feature
Very helpful video. Thanks!
Very thorough thank you so much I was using list for my car but it wasn’t working how you was working it and you pointed out that the car has DC current and this is not going to detect DC only AC thank you so much
Come on Klein this thing was recalled as in 1.7 million. You should take this vid down asap.
Does car and driver take down reviews when airbags are recalled?
Clear and concise...excellent review, great for DIY’ers
I'm New to the wave world. Your instruction is straight forward, clear, especially helpful, encompassing safety. Thank you
Great video. Very helpful. Just bought one of these units today and this was a GREAT video to explain things to me. Thanks so much.
Glad to help!
thorough review thanks
Great concise explanation, thanks!
No problem! 👍
Great review! Very clear and helpful!
What does the rapid beep vs the steady beep mean?
so green means no power and red means power right?
I bought this last night but i’m still scared and might just turn off the whole house.
Better safe than sorry
I have a circline fluorescent light fixture that's not working even though I installed a new bulb. The fixture has been there a long time but up to this point I have never had an issue with it. I don't know if the problem is the switch or maybe the ballast. Would one of these testers be helpful? Thanks.
nice review. Thanks!
Thank you for your video, it did help a lot,
What if im touching a wire and it just beeps once and goes red for a second?
That's bad
If you don't use this frequently make sure you remove batteries before putting it away in your toolbox. If you're lucky they'll just deplete on their own. I just rieeded to use mine after being stored for about 6 months and not only were they dead but the battery leaked and destroyed the insides rendering it junk.
Can this detect continuity for things like a thermal fuse? I've seen multimeters normally being used for this.
excellent
thank you
I really do not like that brand, in a very short period of time i bought 3 to those and non of them worked as should be. I go for the fluke, never had any problem....
I like it defenely deed one