Non contact voltage testing

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MAC702 said:
In that case, wouldn't the construction of your shoes make a difference? Do you have to know ahead of time if you will have a sufficient capacitive path, and ground it accordingly if not, or will the meter tell you that you don't? Will it give false readings without telling you your capacitive path is insufficient? I'm going to look for some detailed reviews from actual users before I buy one.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a symbol on the screen that appears if there is no ground.
 
This meter, for me, is a good every day meter to carry. I also have better meters. I carry the T6 in my bag the others stay in the truck unless i need them. Depending on what I am looking for I use the voltage functions both ways, with both leads and without. I do use the ground lead for the non contact readings because I wear EH shoes.
 
Mgraw said:
This meter, for me, is a good every day meter to carry. I also have better meters. I carry the T6 in my bag the others stay in the truck unless i need them. Depending on what I am looking for I use the voltage functions both ways, with both leads and without. I do use the ground lead for the non contact readings because I wear EH shoes.
Click to expand...

Very good feedback. Thank you! Do you have the 600 V or 1000 V version? I only need 600 V, but I noticed the 1000 V also has a greater resistance range, but probably not a range I need.

My main meter is a Fieldpiece clampmeter because it is designed for HVAC usage and can quickly test capacitance and temperature. But you can't have too many meters.
 
well, if you go on amazon and read the reviews...... reviews are mostly
from sad puppies.
===
[FONT=&quot]Very disappointed. I waited over a month for this meter to be released.
I’m having the same issues as the other reviews, the voltage readings are not accurate.
Half the time I’ll get 0 volts unless it’s directly in the middle of the red.
The button pad on the back is virtually useless.
I’ll keep it for another week but most likely returning it before the 30 day period.
I have 4 other fluke meters I love but it’s sad to say this product is a bust.
===
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Received meter and field sense did not work called fluke and they said send it back with no insight why it didn’t work
===
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I ordered this new technology skeptically shortly after product announcement. And it's about what I expected,
and have heard from others while waiting for it to arrive. The FieldSense for voltage is pretty unreliable without
a connection from the black lead to a good ground. Using the only the backside ground button/pad, I've gotten
readings anywhere from 0 volts to 347 volts (how coincidental is that??) from a single 120v conductor while
standing on concrete in regular work boots. I can't even trust it to determine if ANY voltage is present, because
it has indicated -0- volts on energized conductors, while indicating that it had an "acceptable" earth ground.
Same issue exists even if I am touching a good earth ground point that works for the single-lead method; so
grounding yourself doesn't appear to make it any more reliable, even if the screen shows you have a "good"
earth ground connection and turns green to indicate a "valid" reading.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And yes, I had the both leads docked in the storage slots (this is important) while attempting the readings.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Using FieldSense with the black/ground lead on a good earth ground seems to be reliable and accurate,
so I'll give that method a thumbs up. Just wish it worked truly "leads-free".[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The other features are worth the price though; love the backlit screen! Maybe this concept will get better
in a few generations. So if you're thinking about a purchase, maybe hold off until the technology improves,
accept FieldsSense as a "novelty" feature in lead-free mode, or go with the seemingly bulletproof T5.
===

[/FONT]
 
MAC702 said:
Very good feedback. Thank you! Do you have the 600 V or 1000 V version? I only need 600 V, but I noticed the 1000 V also has a greater resistance range, but probably not a range I need.

My main meter is a Fieldpiece clampmeter because it is designed for HVAC usage and can quickly test capacitance and temperature. But you can't have too many meters.
Click to expand...

The T6 only comes in the 1000. The difference between the T5 and T6 is the T6 also does non contact hz.
 
Fulthrotl said:
well, if you go on amazon and read the reviews...... reviews are mostly
from sad puppies.
===
[FONT=&quot]Very disappointed. I waited over a month for this meter to be released.
I’m having the same issues as the other reviews, the voltage readings are not accurate.
Half the time I’ll get 0 volts unless it’s directly in the middle of the red.
The button pad on the back is virtually useless.
I’ll keep it for another week but most likely returning it before the 30 day period.
I have 4 other fluke meters I love but it’s sad to say this product is a bust.
===
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Received meter and field sense did not work called fluke and they said send it back with no insight why it didn’t work
===
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I ordered this new technology skeptically shortly after product announcement. And it's about what I expected,
and have heard from others while waiting for it to arrive. The FieldSense for voltage is pretty unreliable without
a connection from the black lead to a good ground. Using the only the backside ground button/pad, I've gotten
readings anywhere from 0 volts to 347 volts (how coincidental is that??) from a single 120v conductor while
standing on concrete in regular work boots. I can't even trust it to determine if ANY voltage is present, because
it has indicated -0- volts on energized conductors, while indicating that it had an "acceptable" earth ground.
Same issue exists even if I am touching a good earth ground point that works for the single-lead method; so
grounding yourself doesn't appear to make it any more reliable, even if the screen shows you have a "good"
earth ground connection and turns green to indicate a "valid" reading.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]And yes, I had the both leads docked in the storage slots (this is important) while attempting the readings.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Using FieldSense with the black/ground lead on a good earth ground seems to be reliable and accurate,
so I'll give that method a thumbs up. Just wish it worked truly "leads-free".[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]The other features are worth the price though; love the backlit screen! Maybe this concept will get better
in a few generations. So if you're thinking about a purchase, maybe hold off until the technology improves,
accept FieldsSense as a "novelty" feature in lead-free mode, or go with the seemingly bulletproof T5.
===

[/FONT]
Click to expand...
The wire does need to be inserted into the slot all the way. The lead free ground didn't work very well for me either so I just use the ground lead. I must confess I did not buy the meter, it was a gift from Fluke but after using it I will buy one if I break or loose this one.
 
NFPA 70 E requires that each phase must be checked to ground and from phase to phase. Something to think about when using this meter.
 
Thank you. Just trying to establish context. It is important to note that NFPA 70E is a voluntary national consensus safety standard published by NFPA primarily to assist OSHA in preparing its electrical safety standards.

I'm not under OSHA, and not required to follow this.
 
MAC702 said:
Thank you. Just trying to establish context. It is important to note that NFPA 70E is a voluntary national consensus safety standard published by NFPA primarily to assist OSHA in preparing its electrical safety standards.

I'm not under OSHA, and not required to follow this.
Click to expand...
My understanding is that nobody is required to follow 70E, but you still must have a safety standard for electrical work practices and could even write your own - but to use something such as 70E won't put a lot of scrutiny on the standard compared to one you wrote yourself, so 70E becomes the top choice to use, let someone else do all the research and development of the safety standard and you just need to follow it. Start making your own "amendments" to it and those will be questioned if there is ever a serious accident or death because you basically created your own standard if you make any modifications.
 
kwired said:
My understanding is that nobody is required to follow 70E, but you still ...
Click to expand...

No problem with phrasing it that way.

If I'm happy with a reliable test for each line-to-ground, and know there is no way possible for a line-to-line voltage to exist, I'm not required to do it. Depending on the tester I'm using at the time, I might do it anyway.

Rules may be different for employees, but I don't need to care about that. Having employees is too complicated these days, and I refuse to accept work that will have me needing them.
 
MAC702 said:
No problem with phrasing it that way.

If I'm happy with a reliable test for each line-to-ground, and know there is no way possible for a line-to-line voltage to exist, I'm not required to do it. Depending on the tester I'm using at the time, I might do it anyway.

Rules may be different for employees, but I don't need to care about that. Having employees is too complicated these days, and I refuse to accept work that will have me needing them.
Click to expand...
I understand and am sort of in same situation, but have to ask how old are you?

Comes a point when it is nice to have someone younger that maybe can do things you just don't want to do or have a harder time doing then you once used to.
 
kwired said:
I understand and am sort of in same situation, but have to ask how old are you?

Comes a point when it is nice to have someone younger that maybe can do things you just don't want to do or have a harder time doing then you once used to.
Click to expand...

Mid-40s. I agree. Too bad it's been made too complicated to do legally. I refuse. I've other options, fortunately.
 
MAC702 said:
Mid-40s. I agree. Too bad it's been made too complicated to do legally. I refuse. I've other options, fortunately.
Click to expand...
I turn 50 next Aug. Still do most of what I have always done, but not getting any easier.

Used to be able to hand dig all day if necessary, now I want to quit after 5 minutes.
 
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