So if you're up for assessment, and you're working on a CU, and you have to hand a readily available 'known source'. But if you don't own a proving unit, is the assessor going to say 'what happens when you're not at the CU, how will you prove dead if you don't own a proving unit?'?
I have a Fluke T120 Voltage/Continuity Tester and my proving unit is a couple of 9 volt batteries in a plastic box with terminals attached to two bolts (screws) showing out (yes, you got the idea) - a cheap & cheerful proving unit.
Works wonders every time!