Odd request regarding phantom voltage!

HappyHippyDad · Oct 31, 2014

Afternoon all...

I would like to experience phantom voltage!! Is there any way I can reproduce it so that I can test it?

I know this might sound a little silly, and I realise my new Drummond test lamp would simply not light up if it is phantom voltage, but I would just like to see it for myself on something that I know for certain is phantom voltage.

I also want to test the digital and analog volt meter on it so I can see what they record.

Again... I know this sounds daft but I just want to see it for myself.

Cheers guys.

Octopus · Oct 31, 2014

You can probably "see" this in your own home.

Locate a circuit, turn it off at the CU then attach your MFT - you will probably "see" the phantom voltage as long as the cable(s) run parallel to live circuit(s)

tony mc · Oct 31, 2014

I have Drummond test lamp gift from my mate in the DNO but it has a filament lamp so have to be very careful testing with RCD involved. And your right they don't light up with ghost voltage!!

MTL9C | Drummond Test Lamps

Brightspark2 · Oct 31, 2014

You know you wont always get the same readings?...

rapparee · Oct 31, 2014

Brightspark2 said:
You know you wont always get the same readings?...

Well it is halloween who knows what phantoms and ghouls you might see tonight

Brightspark2 · Oct 31, 2014

rapparee said:
Well it is halloween who knows what phantoms and ghouls you might see tonight

I wont see any, Ive shut the curtains and turned the lights off, no trick or treaters here muhahaha

Richard Burns · Oct 31, 2014

Not sure, haven't tried it, but if you took a nice length of three core and earth and wired it up to a load leaving the one middle core unconnected then you should get a "phantom voltage" on the unconnected core.

tazz · Oct 31, 2014

My idea works every year...!!!

[ElectriciansForums.net] Odd request regarding phantom voltage!

telectrix · Oct 31, 2014

pink windows. YUK.

dingledong · Oct 31, 2014

.Nothing wrong with pink Windows tel ? ?

Marvo · Oct 31, 2014

You'll get a much larger phantom voltage if you wire a simple circuit using two twin and earth cables. Put a plug on one end of each of them but only connect the live in one plug and the neutral in the other, leave the other conductor unconnected.

If you use a nasty cheap multimeter which should have a ridiculously high input resistance you'll see a substantial phantom voltage between the unused conductors and earth.

HappyHippyDad · Oct 31, 2014

Now thats exciting Marvo!

I'll let you know how it goes :smile5:

PEG · Nov 1, 2014

Posted a couple of times about an easy way of demonstrating this...Get a length/roll of t&e,expose conductors at each end. Connect L and N at one end. At other end,measure between cpc/N or cpc/known earth. By using differing test instruments,the results can demonstrate both the merits of individual instruments,and,the reason why readings can occur. Also,by adding "links",of varying impedance,between sections of the circuit,you can replicate what you would encounter on an installation,and greatly assist the understanding of results. As incredibly sad as it sounds,some of the most fun i had,as a teenager,was setting up such arrangements,on a large 8' x 4' board,with all manner of purloined items,and inventing faults and scenarios,to test and understand. I suppose a modern risk assessment of such an enterprise,would today prove "troublesome" :bobby:

Silly Sausage · Dec 9, 2014

dingledong said:
.Nothing wrong with pink Windows tel ? ?

Ey up Dingle, you're back on line! :smilielol5:

andyelectric · Dec 9, 2014

I have to admit that in my 22 year naval career I have never found nor heard of phantom voltages to be a problem. We had 'Wibers' for voltage checking, a version of a drummond lamp, but they were few and far between onboard, and most of us had to rely on our fluke multimeters to check for voltages. (I am well aware they exist).

A far more dangerous problem I feel is the 2mm tip rule and shrouds. If I do not get a voltage and expect one, I have always usually expected it to be there and if not have a damn good check. Nowadays with 'shrouds' I inevitably get some non contacts, and I will investigate further. I wonder if a 'churned out' Electrical Trainee would immediately assume safely isolated. The so called safety of shrouded tips is possibly actually a danger.