CeilingDweller
Newly Enlightened
I was at my local Grainger store waiting for my order when I spotted on of these - http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/4YE81 . It's a non-contact voltage detector with a built in LED flashlight and removeable clamp made by Fluke. I figured there might be a few CPF memebers who use these things or have use for them, so I'll post a review on it.
I intially thought it was cool that it could pick up as few as 40VAC as all the other voltage detectors I've had was a min 90VAC. Well that turned out to be a problem in that this thing is overly sensitive. When working in a junction box with multiple hot conductors I have to play around alot before I'm comfortable with identifying exactly which one is the hot one. I took it to my back yard and I can actually pick up the utility lines right out side of my door(blue), and if I get right under the lines I even get a red light. Now that's pretty sensitive.
Another thing I disliked was that the only way to detect voltage is to turn it on - meaning that the LED flashlight will be on even when it's not necessary. That seems like a waste of battery life. Especially when one relies on one of these things for a measure of safety.
The LED appears to be a 10mm type. Very blue tint and very ringy.
I thought it had a pocket clip, but the clip is just for the battery cover. So if you want to carry it in your shirt pocket you have to clamp it on, and that makes it too bulky.
I guess it's fine if you just want to quickly verify the existance of voltage on a line. If you are trying to identify a specific line in a "rats nest" of a J-box, then this thing is way too sensitive. It's also nice to have if you find yourself in a dark electrical panel with out a hands free light. The illumination sucks, but its better than nothing.
I've since went back to using my pen style always on non-contact Fluke. I have to put it right on a conductor before it lights up. Its slim in the pocket and the battery lasts a long time. I went to Fry's last night and saw all sorts of different brands of these things that look exactly like the Fluke design.
I'd like to see this thing with a brighter, whiter LED that can be turned on and off independently of the detector itself. I like the clamp would like to see it made smaller and with the addition of a pocket clip. I think the detector should go back to a min. of 90VAC. I'd also like to see a low voltage model that could pick up like 5 - 40VAC.
- voltage range of 40 - 300 VAC
- AAA battery
- Non - contact
- LED light
- On/off switch
- Removeable clamp for pocket, hat, electrical panels
- Visual indicator (blue when close to source, red when on it)
I intially thought it was cool that it could pick up as few as 40VAC as all the other voltage detectors I've had was a min 90VAC. Well that turned out to be a problem in that this thing is overly sensitive. When working in a junction box with multiple hot conductors I have to play around alot before I'm comfortable with identifying exactly which one is the hot one. I took it to my back yard and I can actually pick up the utility lines right out side of my door(blue), and if I get right under the lines I even get a red light. Now that's pretty sensitive.
Another thing I disliked was that the only way to detect voltage is to turn it on - meaning that the LED flashlight will be on even when it's not necessary. That seems like a waste of battery life. Especially when one relies on one of these things for a measure of safety.
The LED appears to be a 10mm type. Very blue tint and very ringy.
I thought it had a pocket clip, but the clip is just for the battery cover. So if you want to carry it in your shirt pocket you have to clamp it on, and that makes it too bulky.
I guess it's fine if you just want to quickly verify the existance of voltage on a line. If you are trying to identify a specific line in a "rats nest" of a J-box, then this thing is way too sensitive. It's also nice to have if you find yourself in a dark electrical panel with out a hands free light. The illumination sucks, but its better than nothing.
I've since went back to using my pen style always on non-contact Fluke. I have to put it right on a conductor before it lights up. Its slim in the pocket and the battery lasts a long time. I went to Fry's last night and saw all sorts of different brands of these things that look exactly like the Fluke design.
I'd like to see this thing with a brighter, whiter LED that can be turned on and off independently of the detector itself. I like the clamp would like to see it made smaller and with the addition of a pocket clip. I think the detector should go back to a min. of 90VAC. I'd also like to see a low voltage model that could pick up like 5 - 40VAC.
