Fluke VoltAlert

dodzy

Hi folks, just a quick question for you. Had a generic b & q branded non-contact volt stick that I found very handy but it has since been lost.

I replaced it with a Fluke II AC; very similar tool. Better build quality, etc; but one feature that annoys me is this:

The older, cheaper one from B & Q could be left on a cable and you could walk away and the unit would continue to beep. Handy if you are trying to establish which breaker to switch off whereas the fluke unit will not emit audible tone if you are not physically holding it. Is this just a design difference between the 2 ? Handier when they beep

indie armada

there are two types of fluke volt stick.
1ac which has an audible tone
2ac which doesnt.
there is about a fiver differance in the price.

tomdempsey200

i think the fluke are like that alright..i lost mine recently

they're prob not as sensitive ..it is a nuisance if you want to walk away and turn off mcbs

ordered a couple of these for the crack
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Non-Contact-90-1000v-AC-Voltage-Detector-Tester-Voltstick-Pen-Make-DIY-Safe-/230894028861?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item35c25b483d

callouts are a pain without a non contact tester

brightspark

Best way of checking the Christmas lights (but they seem to give a lot less problems nowadays)

dodzy

indie armada wrote: »

there are two types of fluke volt stick.
1ac which has an audible tone
2ac which doesnt.
there is about a fiver differance in the price.

Yep, we know that. Its the "not having to hold it and being able to potter off the consumer unit and still here the beep" which I miss.

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

i think the fluke are like that alright..i lost mine recently

they're prob not as sensitive ..it is a nuisance if you want to walk away and turn off mcbs

ordered a couple of these for the crack
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Non-Contact-90-1000v-AC-Voltage-Detector-Tester-Voltstick-Pen-Make-DIY-Safe-/230894028861?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item35c25b483d

callouts are a pain without a non contact tester

Yeah, ordered them too. We shall see. Some dude on adverts selling them for €7ea I see.

cast_iron

tomdempsey200 wrote: »

ordered a couple of these for the crack
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Non-Contact-90-1000v-AC-Voltage-Detector-Tester-Voltstick-Pen-Make-DIY-Safe-/230894028861?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item35c25b483d

I always found those ones that ranged from 90V or 100V up to be not so useful. Once you go near (within a few inches of) anything live at all it was lighting up.
The 200V and up range would require you to be within a couple of mm of the live conductor to light up - very handy for quick identifying of live cables where multiple cables/circuits are together.

tomdempsey200

cast_iron wrote: »

I always found those ones that ranged from 90V or 100V up to be not so useful. Once you go near (within a few inches of) anything live at all it was lighting up.
The 200V and up range would require you to be within a couple of mm of the live conductor to light up - very handy for quick identifying of live cables where multiple cables/circuits are together.

true..good point there

best gadget ever for an electrician to have in his pocket imo