Why do voltage detectors ......

[macmikeman]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

Tic tracers are absolutely useful when troubleshooting old work that has no grounding such as two wire romex. Also my Greenlee one allows me to insert it into the hot side of a receptacle outlet with the switch in the on position. Usually I can hear it ringing all the way at the panel so it makes finding that breaker on old stuff that isn't marked good at the panel easy.

 

[physis]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

I tried to get both of mine apart without damaging them but there both assembled by inserting the PCB and then sticking the top piece on with plastic fusing stuff. At some point I wont be able to withstand the growing temptation break out a hack saw.

 

[H.L.]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

A couple years ago there was a recall for a tic tracer giving false negatives.

 

[mklicko]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

Warning for the inexperienced!!! Do not use a tic tester on a shielded wire!!! Blew a big hole in my linemans when I was first starting out by testing a 40a 240v piece of old, (shielded), romex that had to be removed. If you know the limitations of these testers, they are a good tool in certain circumstances. As far as testing to make sure the circuit is de-energized, GET A VOLTMETER!

 

[iwire]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

Originally posted by mklicko:
I was first starting out by testing a 40a 240v piece of old, (shielded), romex that had to be removed.

What the heck is shielded romex?

 

[rattus]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

Didn't some entrance cable use a braid for the neutral in ancient times?

Right, you have to understand the limitations of this or any other tester, but if you can get to the bare metal with a probe, you should be able to get your proximity tester close enough as well.

BTW, my 29 cent neon tester works just fine for detecting hot wires. Fits in a shirt pocket easily.

 

[zog]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

"A couple years ago there was a recall for a tic tracer giving false negatives"

The problem was with 3 phase systems where the fields would cancel each other out giving a false negative. There is a warning in the instruction book (who reads those?)that says something like "3 phase conductors that are within 4" of each other may cause the fields to cancle each other out, leading to false readings" a newer tic tracer has that warning lable affixed to the back of the tic tracer.

 

[mklicko]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

Originally posted by iwire:

Originally posted by mklicko:
I was first starting out by testing a 40a 240v piece of old, (shielded), romex that had to be removed.

What the heck is shielded romex?

romex may not be the right word for it. What it was, was 2 wires. Each one individually coated with rubber insulation, then each wire with a cloth covering over that. Then each wire was wrapped individually with paper. Then the neutral wire was stranded on the outside of both of the wires (similar to SE cable), and covered with more rubber and cloth. Yes, ancient wire feeding the new electric range. That's why it was being removed and replaced.

 

[physis]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

I hold my diagonals in such high regard that I will not cut two conductors at the same time with them.

Usually.

Obviously no one could have that kind of will power.

But 99% of the time I'd guess.

 

[physis]

Re: Why do voltage detectors ......

By Zog:

The problem was with 3 phase systems where the fields would cancel each other out giving a false negative. There is a warning in the instruction book (who reads those?)that says something like "3 phase conductors that are within 4" of each other may cause the fields to cancle each other out, leading to false readings" a newer tic tracer has that warning lable affixed to the back of the tic tracer.

I'll admit to being a "doesn't read instructions" type. But I don't understand how there's a difference between the way three phase and single "emf" cancels and why that would matter to the tick tracer.

If it's looking for an electric field (I think that's what it's doing) then how would that matter? All electrons have the same charge.

I'm not meaning to necessarily disagree, I just don't see why there would be difference in what the thing sees.