Volt Sticks

[tom baker]

How do the volt sticks, such as a Fluke AC1 work? The instructions state that "If no indication, voltage may still be present".
Does it work with capactance to ground thru the body???

 

[JohnJ0906]

I don't know how they work, but I do wish to warn everyone,
Do not trust them 100%!

 

[allenwayne]

I don`t trust them at all.I still treat everything as if it is live until I get a meter on it.Just MHO

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Tom
They do work through capacitive coupling. As has been stated, these are good as indicators only and a tester is the final test, especially since your life may depend on it.

I will say that the manufacturers have improved on these devices considerably in the last few years.

 

[infinity]

I always test mine first by shaking it next to my rubber coated gloves. It will light up and beep.

 

[eric9822]

Here is a link to a document from Fluke that explains the theory behind tic-tracers. I personally use them for quick checks but I always use a standard meter before touching anything.

http://ecmweb.com/mag/electric_know_capacitive_voltage/index.html

 

[RayS]

I always test mine first by shaking it next to my rubber coated gloves. It will light up and beep.

Yep. My Gardner-Bender will give me a quick confidence beep when I turn it on, the Fluke doesn't. Both respond to the "static" test.

 

[tom baker]

There is a new and improved version of the Fluke volt stick. It beeps to let you its working.
Also the new Fluke 117 meter has a built in inductive voltage alert, and a special "Low Z" that allows it to be used where there are ghost voltages. The DVM have a high input impedance and don't load a circuit like the old analogs.
Cost of the 117 is about $170. Heres the link
http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/Fluke+117.htm?catalog_name=FlukeUnitedStates

 

[edamico11]

To be honest...

To be honest...

I do not trust the beep and the light on mine. I first plug it into a circuit known to be live and make sure it functions properly. Just anile I guess..

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Even when you have tested the the non-contact tester before and after testing the unknown wire, it can still tell you that there is no power when there really is. This can happen when testing NM or SO where the paper or fiber under the jacket is wet. This can give a false negative. A false positive is not a safety hazard, but a false negative is.
Don

 

[mdshunk]

I have often gotten false negatives on the very thick type TW insulation. If I can, I try to check where the conductor might be skinned out.