Showerthought: My old voltage tester nearly got me zapped on a Reno job last month

It failed to detect a live neutral on a 240V dryer circuit because the internal fuse was blown, which I only found after a second check with my meter. Anyone have a favorite brand for a reliable non-contact tester that won't ghost you like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugo_craig119d ago

Man, that's the kind of close call that makes your heart skip a beat, isn't it? Had a buddy who swore by his old tester until it gave him a false clear on a switch leg. Makes you wonder if they should come with an expiration date stamped right on the side. What's the point of a safety tool you can't actually trust?

park.joseph9d ago

My uncle kept the same voltage tester for almost twenty years in his garage. It finally failed during a simple outlet check, reading dead on a live circuit. He only found out because his new apprentice double checked with a fresh unit. That incident made him replace every old tool in his shop.