two-pole voltage detector Guidance Note GS38

shanky887614 · Jul 12, 2015

telectrix said:
the problem with mulimeters is thst they are battery dependent. flat battery = no reading. an approved voltage indicator should not rely on batteries to give a measurement of voltage.

true, im just saying that when the nic say no multimeters that is there own opinion and nothing more.

personally i prefer a martindale

telectrix · Jul 12, 2015

i use a fluke T3.

IzzyS · Jul 12, 2015

assegayer said:
im talking about new installation cables when they are left coiled to be terminated into something.

and indeed it is bad but in a situation like that u would need a volt stick

Thats OK then, the EAWR don't apply to dangerous situations if it's new work

R G · Jul 12, 2015

Approved voltage indicators mean a set of leads that are not battery driven and also have fused test leads incorporated , such as the Drummond test leads I use , from the DNO days ...
These then are to be tested by a proving unit..

shanky887614 · Jul 12, 2015

R G said:
Approved voltage indicators mean a set of leads that are not battery driven and also have fused test leads incorporated , such as the Drummond test leads I use , from the DNO days ...
These then are to be tested by a proving unit..

nope, dont need a proving unit just a known source

R G · Jul 12, 2015

Agreed they can be tested after using them, on known source ...

I have a proving unit also..

shanky887614 · Jul 12, 2015

R G said:
Agreed they can be tested after using them, on known source ...

I have a proving unit also..

true there does seem to be a lot of mis information about, i was told that they were going away from fuses in test leads in favor of current limitation e.g. resistors.

after reading the gs38 doc by the hse i found its utter bollox and you can have either

MarkF · Jul 22, 2015

There's a write up on our website in regard to voltage indicators and the recommendations for safe isolation. The details is taken from Electrical Safety First and it explains how multimeters, among other battery operated testers, are not recommended, not only because of the battery issue, but also because it is easy to set it to the wrong range and make a false measurement.

the full article is available here - Safe Isolation Procedures and The Right Test Equipment - Instrotech Ltd