Screwdriver Volt/Mains Tester

[Mr Weirdo]

Electric screwdrivers are magic.

Instead of getting a whacking shock, when you stick it on a live wire, with your thumb on the top button, you get a soft, flickering glow like the light over the door of a 50s nightclub.
It's a completely different experience.

Being real magic, it probably has terms and conditions attached - soul to the devil, 1year roasting in purgatory, that sort of thing, but who reads ts&cs anyway?

Real magic is the work of the devil....so any terms and conditions will cost you your soul more than likely and will be written in your own blood...

 

[Mr Weirdo]

Lick it, 220v tastes like bbq.

Note: do not do this.

I'm guessing you do not work in the Health & Safety side of your occupation?

 

[novocaine]

I'm guessing you do not work in the Health & Safety side of your occupation?

Erm, I'm a risk consultant in O&G and renewable. I also lecture in risk management.
I'm IOSH, OSHA and Compex certified.

First rule of being a consultant, do as I say, not as I do.

 

[Mr Weirdo]

Erm, I'm a risk consultant in O&G and renewable. I also lecture in risk management.
I'm IOSH, OSHA and Compex certified.

First rule of being a consultant, do as I say, not as I do.

Tut tut lol...I promise I won't tell them if you don't

 

[novocaine]

Tut tut lol...I promise I won't tell them if you don't

Don't count if its not in work.

 

[Mr Weirdo]

Real magic is the work of the devil....so any terms and conditions will cost you your soul more than likely and will be written in your own blood...

The Devil & Daniel Webster anyone?

 

[elite504]

What are you actually trying to achieve or measure (apologies if I missed it).
The socket tester linked is probably the safest and best things to use to check sockets.
If you're not confident or competent, we don't want to see you fried. What is it you're trying to do.

 

[Mr Weirdo]

What are you actually trying to achieve or measure (apologies if I missed it).
The socket tester linked is probably the safest and best things to use to check sockets.
If you're not confident or competent, we don't want to see you fried. What is it you're trying to do.

I have always wondered how the mains testing screwdriver worked and so I thought one day I would buy one and try it out...which I did and then decided to look it up on you tube to see how it worked...which I did.

I've been fried before...

But I'm not confident...so came to Retrobike for confidence and advice.

 

[bikeworkshop]

If you're doing anything near electrical contacts it's super useful to know what's live when.

But if you're not competent or confident, you should probably call an electrician!

 

[novocaine]

also, contactless testers (or shock sticks, or dumb sticks, or all the other names we used to call them) should never be relied on to check if something is live.

If you aren't sure, don't.

I won't use a neon test lamp (which is what you are playing with) to test for live, I'll use contactless first, on a known isolated circuit, then if I can't confirm isolation at the main breaker panel (or consumer unit in your house), a test meter. for 20 quid you can get a LAP unit from screwfix that means you aren't the path to ground. (I've got this one https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-ac-d...MIhbDK0cf-jwMVzaJQBh3NiTQKEAQYASABEgJDQ_D_BwE)

worst case, shut down the entire unit at the main breaker. I've been stung before by believing things I shouldn't, not normally in a home though, normally on a site where LOTO has been completed and someone has fucked up. Hence, ALWAYS TEST WITH THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT.

there you go, an actual HSE comment.

now, how does a neon test lamp work?

(I have two of the new version Clive talks about from way back when, still nope).