ghost voltage ideas

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Missed my point.

Missed my point.

My whole point to that Don was to consider the dual impedance meters. The 117's alright. Hard to compare to a VoltStick though, try getting that DMM into a JB! The 117 can measure current up to 10A, but who in the electrical field measures A in series? I chose the 116, small, comfortable, dual impedance and temp. measurement, uA as well.

Marc, I have the T5-1000 as well. Great tool, non-RMS, but GREAT tester. There isn't a newer version of the T5 that is RMS or is low impedance. I think you are referring to the T+Pro which is RMS, it does not measure A, it is CATIV rated for 600V, has a GFCI trip function, it's a phase sequencing indicator as well. What I don't like about it is the vibrating V present feature. The vibration feature is not switchable. Maybe we're all different, but I do NOT want a vibrating tester in my hands no matter how much juice I am buried in.

Bob, what do you carry on a service call? I carry a bag so I do not have to run back to the truck. My T5 is in my pouch on my shoulder, the bag has everything else you'd need meter wise and is less than 20lbs.. My bag will cover anything from entertainment in res. all the way through a factory.

We're off on a good topic, what do you other guys carry? We touched on this before, but didn't get many hits.

Well???????????
 
mdshunk said:
Okay, I'm calling BS on this, since a neon will light up pretty darned quickly on 'phantom voltage'. That's the #1 reason I quit carrying one.
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wow, shot down again on the old neon tester. I still like it. :)
 
my T5 600 is fairly new (9 mos) and gets fooled by travelers a lot, but as I said its almost always 40 v or less, so I am used to it. even the light lights up, which I believe my older (diff model) one did not do, but I can't remember...brain not new either:)

I mainly carry it cause it is small and the leads fold into the ammeter.
 
I have not read the answers but I have a plug that fits my Fluke that I installed a resistor across the plug. FWIW a 1-watt, 2400 to 5200 ohm resistor works great for 120 volt and lower voltages.
 
tom baker said:
They also make a plug in adapter for a regular DMM that makes it low impedance, I have seen it in the catalog but do not have one.
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Darn Fluke stole another one of my ideas.
 
Go to the truck and get your wiggy.I keep my Fluke DVM out in the truck and keep the wigggy in my bag. :smile: . The DVM is my "big gun". Most of the time the squirril rifle works just fine.
 
Real ghost story

Real ghost story

I didn't believe in ghosts, either, 'til one day...

I'll make this short. I was working on the top floor of a multi-million dollar townhouse conversion. I was alone, and there was only one-way in and out; a creeky stairway. I felt and heard someone walk up behind me, as I was on my knees. I figured it was one of the goofy owners. I ignored it for a minute or so, and I heard what appeared to be someone walking around behind me. I, finally, looked around and saw no one. I got up and checked the entire area, and no one. A slight chill went-up my spine.

A few weeks later, I was on the same floor doing finish work. The new owner, already, moved in. I heard drawers in the next room opening and closing. I thought I was alone, so I yelled hello, hello, and then looked-in. No one was there. I walked through the room, and walked throughout the entire floor; no one there. I got the chill up the spine, again. I told the ghost that I wasn't afraid, and that they can go back to making noise.

I didn't say anything to anyone because I figured there'd be a lawsuit at some point when the owner, a doctor, had enough of the ghosts.

Not long afterward, one of the guys mentioned a ghost story directly across the street at another job. Apparently, the ghost moved across the street when they moved some equipment, but this was a few buildings down.

I felt better that I wasn't going bonkers, but it made me think about a few things that I had to repair, that didn't make sense to me because I did the original rough-in, and it didn't look like my work.

SegDog
 
Wow this is becoming a ground up/down item...

Both have their purpose IMO. While I have not touched my Wiggy in years - because I can get by without it - I still keep it around. And there are a lot of things it is absolutely useless or even dangerous or damaging for. Lower voltages, or control work - it has enough through voltage capacity to close a relay. Or become a shock hazard. Has enough of a load to damage certain electronics. Things a DMM is better suited for.... As well as the many things a wiggy just can not do... Current, basic Ohm values etc.

Best thing to do for "Ghost Voltage" is to remove the words from your vocabulary IMO. Treat ALL voltages for what they are measured at with some common sense. And ask yourself questions about readings.
  • What is the nominal voltage you are looking for? If looking for an open for a whole circuit you should be checking the breaker and it's voltage first anyway. Just take note of each phase voltage...
  • Map the circuit on paper. (Trust me - it helps for all troubleshooting no matter how small) Ask yourself - "How would I wire it?"
  • What do you expect to find on the conductor you're testing?
  • Is this through a load? A percentage of nominal voltage.
  • Capacitive or inductive coupling on a long open conductor? Also a percentage of nominal voltage.
IMO if you answer the first 3 questions - often you'll know the answer to the last two. Just walking up to a troubleshooting situation and saying, "No power - move along..." is one way to go about things, but not always effective.
 
My basic premise for troubleshooting is that the system/circuit/device/etc. worked at some point; I need to find out what has changed, and restore it. Presence/absence of power is more important than specific voltage in most cases.
 
or control work - it has enough through voltage capacity to close a relay.
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I have never seen any issues using a solenoid voltage tester for 120 volt control circuits. It will pick up PLC inputs, but I have never seen it pick up a relay coil...even a small ice cube one.
Don
 
My DMM stays on the truck most of the time. It is a useful tool only if you know its limitations. Just because it reads 120V doesn't necessarily mean the circuit is OK and can supply a load.
 
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