voltage tester was picking up voltage on a detached wire

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michaelkingdom

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Sarasota, FL
Home inspector's question:

Can anyone explain why my voltage tester was picking up voltage on a detached wire in the panel? The tester's sensitivity range is 50V-1000V. Can detached wires have voltage over 50V?




http://www.kleintools.com/catalog/electrical-testers/non-contact-voltage-tester
 

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Put a working incandescent light bulb across the black & white then black & grounding then grounding & White. If either one lights up you have an energized NM cable. If it does not light up and your pocket tester does not light up then it is a ghost/phantom voltage.
 
edward said:
Put a working incandescent light bulb across the black & white then black & grounding then grounding & White. If either one lights up you have an energized NM cable. If it does not light up and your pocket tester does not light up then it is a ghost/phantom voltage.
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Look at the picture in the OP and think about the advice you are giving.
 
K8MHZ said:
What is on the other end of the cable being tested?
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Could be connected to a breaker in the panel and the cable shown was a second homerun pulled by mistake.
Sot of like a ring circuit.
But that's just a possibility...
 
Little Bill said:
If I knew why I might could answer "why not"!
I'm asking why a HI might need to?
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Well how would you check for double taps and other issues without opening the panel?

As far as being barehanded that is likely a safety violation but are we going to hold HIs to higher standard than ourselves?:)
 
Little Bill said:
Better question....
Why is the OP, as a HI, using a noncontact tester in a live panel?
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iwire said:
Why not?
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I think Little Bill has a point, it's not really part of their job. They open the panel for a visual inspection and if they see anything questionable they should write it up.

Electricians shouldn't get upset when they see something like this on a home inspection report. You have cable in a live panel that's not capped off or taped.
 
growler said:
I think Little Bill has a point, it's not really part of their job. They open the panel for a visual inspection and if they see anything questionable they should write it up.

Electricians shouldn't get upset when they see something like this on a home inspection report. You have cable in a live panel that's not capped off or taped.
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I am at a loss why you would think an HI should not be using a non-contact tester. I am willing to bet it is in their training to do so.


Of course I have never understood the animosity between electricians and HIs. :)
 
iwire said:
Well how would you check for double taps and other issues without opening the panel?

As far as being barehanded that is likely a safety violation but are we going to hold HIs to higher standard than ourselves?:)
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I was trying to avoid the "double tap" subject here but that's my point. What's the tester got to do with checking that?

Seems you have your "arguing britches" on today!:p
 
Little Bill said:
I was trying to avoid the "double tap" subject here but that's my point. What's the tester got to do with checking that?
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Is there a reason they should not use a tester if they see something odd?

Seems you have your "arguing britches" on today!:p
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:lol::lol:

I am working really odd schedules lately and right now I am board out of my mind.
 
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