switch wire????

[sparky1502]

hello...i dont really understand the switch wire it being a permant live ,in a domestic lighting circuit. can some one explain it please...many thanks...sorry if it sounds like a stupid question

 

[High Tower]

I personally find that if you are going to buy a volt stick then buy a fluke one, i have personally seen ones that cost a meere £2 and there is no way that i would trust them.

My personal preferance is to isolate a circuit, prove my multi meter and check circuit.

I prove my fluke volt stick on a known supply and regularly re prove throughout the day.

If i simply want to check a lone cable or switch then the stick is in my pocket and i know that its working.

However i would never rely on the stick when it comes to whole circuits or heavy load

 

[Yooj]

Never had a volt stick, never want one...Screwdriver on live terminal, and wet finger for me...ha, ha, only joking.

Test known live, test circuit to kill, kill circuit, test to see if circuit is dead, test known live source.

When pulling fuses, always put the fuse in your pocket, and don't leave it around. For MCBs, use a lock-off device. Always put up a notice. Take nobodies word but your own as to whether a circuit has been isolated.

Yooj

 

[High Tower]

They aint great but for the sake of £12 for a fluke one they are worth having, i use mine mainly for tracing circuits etc, dont think i ever rely on one before working on a circuit. but they are good for finding faults.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Are you sure?

Fuses in the neutral were common back in the 50's and I think phased out in 1966. There are properties out there with them still fitted.......................Thats why.....:

1. Know what you are looking at when you go to an old property
2. Realise standards have changed over the years
3. ALWAYS carry out correct isolation procedures and DONT take someone elses word for it being dead

 

[Yooj]

I am probably doing the voltstick a disservice...Probably stems from where I did my apprentiship, that if you did not isolate safely, and everybody who enters a location not locking-off, then it was instant dismissal.

Yooj

 

[High Tower]

I am probably doing the voltstick a disservice...Probably stems from where I did my apprentiship, that if you did not isolate safely, and everybody who enters a location not locking-off, then it was instant dismissal.

Yooj

Some people would say that thats a bit harsh, however i would say thats probably why your still alive with all digits intact.

I think your probably right to be wary with them. i personally would never trust them before working on exposed condutors no way no how. where i use mine is for a simple example, testing a faulty circuit, first things first, does the switch work? test the common against the insulation, it should buzz, then test the L1, if it buzzes then the switch works.

anything else then its out with the T5 at the very least, i think where sticks become a liability is when someone has one at the bottom of their bag for 12 months and decids to use it, does no prove and takes the result on face value.

Its also nice to note how all the guys on here are quick to encorage safe isolation with the Junior sparks, im afraid to many times i have heard "its only 6a it wont kill ya" or "youll only forget once"
or the favorite " its ok to work live"

 

[Romans99]

I've got a really tiny Fluke volt stick with built in torch.

It's great to have in your pocket for simple tests on cables/socket outlets etc.

Trouble is, it is very easy to switch it on accidently in my pocket and then I find it's been on for hours, battery is dying and it can be a bit dodgy then,

It has a blue light for tracing cables and turns red as you get closer to something live. But when it's dying I've seen all the colours of the rainbow and can't rely on it at all.

Next time I'm gonna get one without a switch to avoid potential annoyance!

 

[Graeme Harrold]

With my background in engineering, Ive seen a few people loose finger tips trying to line up mounting holes for various components on armoured vehicles (they bite hard) and the phrase used to educate the young ones (male orientated) is "Never place your fingers where you wouldnt put your ****" Amazing how that makes them stop and think Same could be applied to electricity..............

 

[Yooj]

...... "Never place your fingers where you wouldnt put your ****" ..............

Bet you always got one who would put their **** in anything though...ha, ha.

Yooj

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Bet you always got one who would put their **** in anything though...ha, ha.

Yooj

Too true...............Unfortunately cant legislate for everyone, make a sysem idiot proof and nature comes up with a smarter idoit..................

 

[aptsys]

Fuses in the neutral were common back in the 50's and I think phased out in 1966. There are properties out there with them still fitted.......................Thats why.....:

1. Know what you are looking at when you go to an old property
2. Realise standards have changed over the years
3. ALWAYS carry out correct isolation procedures and DONT take someone elses word for it being dead

I wasn't questioning that. I was questioning the bit in bold - i.e. that the neutral DOES carry a load!

 

[Matthew M]

Don,t trust those volt sticks in my opinion mate, them who checks and checks again live to test another day my freind, get a proper martindale tester could prove a very good buy for you .
A neutral is classed as a phase conductor, never take things for granted, you CAN get feed backs if the con/unit is incorrectly wired.

I find volt stick is pretty good at showing which wires are not live, but mine often shows live on a wire which is disconnected at both ends, but runnung parallel to a live wire (presumably acting as an areal)

 

[johnnyb]

Youv,e just answered yer own Q mate, don,t trust those volt sticks for any accuracy whats so ever my friend, they in my OWN opinion isn,t worth risking whats so ever.