Volt sticks and what is you opinion

[The Ghost]

I used one the other day as I was extending a lighting circuit and located two cables going to the rose to tap off of. Volt stick was very handy. Disconnected the feed at the rose and parted the cables the volt stick told me which one was live/feed as I could not get directly above the rose downstairs this was very handy. As to relying on them for safe isolation, when hell freezes over!

 

[NDG Elecs]

As already said - I wouldn't use for 100% isolation but they have uses. Except the Megger one I have which is so sensitive. I think that one would chirp if you put it near a watch battery.

 

[Deleted account]

An absolutely useless way to get yourself hurt

Totally disagree with you there.

It's an absolutely ideal way to get yourself hurt.

You may as well pick up a stick in the forest and use that to ensure safe isolation. Just as safe.
On second thoughts you may get a splinter in your pinky from the stick.

 

[oracle]

got one with my clamp meter thrown in the box, even my weetabix makes it glow! found out when i put it on the side with the shopping next to it!

Why do you keep the clamp meter in the weetabix box?

 

[Pete999]

Why do you keep the clamp meter in the weetabix box?

To keep his Bix together, sorry Mate I'm in one of those Sarcy Moods pay no heed to me.

 

[pirate]

They might tell you there is current, but I wouldn't trust one to confirm there is NO current..so, useful at times, but not a life-saver.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

They might tell you there is current, but I wouldn't trust one to confirm there is NO current..so, useful at times, but not a life-saver.

I thought we were talking about volt sticks

 

[Deleted member 105166]

I don't have one and don't want one, nor a neon screwdriver for that matter. Although nearly everyone on here understands safe isolation and the reason they should not be used, reality is, like in any job, short cuts and complacency do set in when carrying out the same tasks regularly and reality is people do rely on them for a quick answer that's "probably" correct. No different to an experienced driver knowingly not driving how they would if they were taking a driving test.

 

[Percyprod]

Issued by dno as polarity tester. That is the only use, after a circuit is proved live or dead by test lamps. Definitely not to prove dead

 

[a-z electrics]

Very useful especially in dark attics but wouldn't rely on solely for dead testing.
I have one which has a graduated display bar, so can discriminate to some extent between 230V and spurious voltages..

 

[rolyberkin]

IMHO a life saver, you isolate and then give it a wave over with the old volt stick prior to cutting, saved my backside (or snips!) a few times!

 

[static zap]

Results do depend on how well you are earthed.
(!!!...Or completely up-side down if near live-leaning against one of those touch lamps..!!!)

 

[The_apprentice2.0]

As everyone has already said, no good for proving dead, however do come in handy.... However spend out on a decent quality one. I've seen a couple that detect voltage if u wave it across your clothing

 

[Squid]

Put one in your top pocket of your boiler suit and everyone on site looks at you in awe as you are the master electrical engineer, you also need a few pens and a moleskin notepad to really pull off the look......

 

[Rpa07]

Put one in your top pocket of your boiler suit and everyone on site looks at you in awe as you are the master electrical engineer, you also need a few pens and a moleskin notepad to really pull off the look......

To all those who are uninformed - a moleskin notepad is a Brand and not the result of the ‘patient trapping’ in order to clothe one’s pages with softness!