Well I'm confused ! 
Just went to isolate some kind of antique shower pump thingy in a bathroom for a plumber mate but the switch to it in the bathroom was painted over several times so I couldn't get my voltage tester with probes on it. So I used my non touch volt pen on the switch and the cable going into the switch which showed 230v power.
I isolated what I suspected was the power supply in the basement - an old wylex isolator. Tested the bathroom switch again with my volt pen and 0 volts - Fair enough. That would suggest the isolator was the right call.
Thing is though, When I tried my volt pen at the cable at the isolator (as a whole and also each individual conductor in the isolator) I got no voltage displaying on my pen - with the isolator energised or not. I checked the fuse in the isolator which is fine.
I retried my voltage pen on the switch in the bathroom with the isolator energised / not energised, with the same results.
SO, why am getting a reading with my voltage pen from the bathroom switch and cable at the bathroom switch, but not getting a reading at the isolator outgoing cable??
I'm going to have to return when I have more time to smash open the switch and do more substantial tests cos I like this plumber but I'm still at a loss on why this be...
![[ElectriciansForums.net] Why wouldn't a volt pen pick up voltage?](https://www.electriciansforums.net/attachments/img_20220616_171834-jpg.98641/ "[ElectriciansForums.net] Why wouldn't a volt pen pick up voltage?")
Just went to isolate some kind of antique shower pump thingy in a bathroom for a plumber mate but the switch to it in the bathroom was painted over several times so I couldn't get my voltage tester with probes on it. So I used my non touch volt pen on the switch and the cable going into the switch which showed 230v power.
I isolated what I suspected was the power supply in the basement - an old wylex isolator. Tested the bathroom switch again with my volt pen and 0 volts - Fair enough. That would suggest the isolator was the right call.
Thing is though, When I tried my volt pen at the cable at the isolator (as a whole and also each individual conductor in the isolator) I got no voltage displaying on my pen - with the isolator energised or not. I checked the fuse in the isolator which is fine.
I retried my voltage pen on the switch in the bathroom with the isolator energised / not energised, with the same results.
SO, why am getting a reading with my voltage pen from the bathroom switch and cable at the bathroom switch, but not getting a reading at the isolator outgoing cable??
I'm going to have to return when I have more time to smash open the switch and do more substantial tests cos I like this plumber but I'm still at a loss on why this be...
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