the little 3-light outlet tester

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megloff11x

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When I had a home buyers inspection, the inspector had one of these gadgets. They cost about $5. It's a 3-prong plug with three lights on the back. Which ones light up tell you if it's OK, line and neutral reversed, open ground, etc. Quick and simple.

But I later found a couple of outlets that this gadget lit up indicating they were wired correctly, but the outlets did not provide power to one or both of the terminals. The power needed to light a small light is a lot less than to run a vacuum cleaner for example.

I'm wondering if there is a better outlet tester. Personally I'd also prefer to test the current loading and possibly even breaker function. While some might cringe at deliberately tripping a breaker, I say better to know now then if it doesn't when you plug in the hair dryer, toaster, and microwave to the same circuit... While they don't have infinite life they are supposed to have more trips than you should ever use. A larger device including some switchable power resistors would suffice. A Voltage indication would be nice too.

While it is properly CAT rated, I prefer not to jam the leads of my DMM into each outlet, or make a widowmaker from an extension cord.

Is anyone aware of a better tester for a more advanced user?

It seems to me that these 3-light gadgets give a false sense of comfort.

Matt
 
megloff11x said:
Personally I'd also prefer to test the current loading and possibly even breaker function. While some might cringe at deliberately tripping a breaker, I say better to know now then if it doesn't when you plug in the hair dryer, toaster, and microwave to the same circuit...
Click to expand...


Yes I cringe at that idea.

If you want to test a breaker get the right equipment and test just the breaker. Do not try to load test a breaker using the premises wiring system.
 
iwire said:
Yes I cringe at that idea.

If you want to test a breaker get the right equipment and test just the breaker. Do not try to load test a breaker using the premises wiring system.
Click to expand...

I don't want to start a fire but would like to know if running the microwave is going to start one... I've rented some pretty bad fire traps before finally breaking down and buying a reasonably maintained home.

Hoping for a better and safer way.

Matt
 
megloff11x said:
While it is properly CAT rated, I prefer not to jam the leads of my DMM into each outlet, or make a widowmaker from an extension cord.

Is anyone aware of a better tester for a more advanced user?
Click to expand...
I haven't thought about it until now, but how about a simple home-made tester? Get a typical 3-wire plug and cord, and make a box with a pair of bulb sockets, one line to neutral, and one line to ground.

You could use anything from a 4 or 7w night-light bulb to a 100w bulb. Or, split the neutral side of a receptacle and wire it as above. Of course, you'd have to make sure nobody tries to use it as an axtension.

The problem with your tester is the load is too light (pardon the pun) to be meaningful. Try some tests:

Leave the tester plugged in while you try a real load, like a lamp, and see what it indicates. This is also good when using a high-impedance voltmeter.

Also, for future reference, see whether a solenoid tester indicates like the plug-in one, or more like a real load, so you can re-test suspicios outlets.
 
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