Could I learn to use an electric tester?

[MrsRenovator]

Hello, as a general housewife diyer, I can do basic household electrics like replacing sockets, light fittings, tumble dryer elements etc. And I have used a simple little multimeter to find faults in vacuum cleaners, lamps and other small electrical items.

But I've just put up an outside light and now it's not working. Admittedly, the twin/earth cable was ridiculously short, so I thought a wire had come loose due to the tension. So today I've been back up the ladder and put up a junction box and extended the cable. Still not working! Hmmph.

So what I want to know is, if I buy an electrical tester, will I be able to learn how to use it, and be able see if the wiring from the switch to the light is ok? I'm feeling really frustrated that this faulty light is a problem I can't (as yet) resolve.

What do you think?

 

[JP_]

Following this, as need to do same. Not done any electrics yet, but need to change some old sockets soon ...

 

[Jakg]

What is an "electric tester"?

Do you mean one of those non-contact current voltage detectors? A multimeter? a proving unit? Some other kind of tester (e.g. RCD)?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Of course.. anybody can learn to do anything. Most basic tasks are described ( not very well in some cases) on the Internet

 

[MrsRenovator]

What is an "electric tester"?

Do you mean one of those non-contact current voltage detectors? A multimeter? a proving unit? Some other kind of tester (e.g. RCD)?

Well I don't know what it is called yet because I've never used one.
I would like to be able to test the wiring to light fittings to try to discover where the fault is.
Can you recommend the name of the type of tester I would need? And is it the kind of thing I could learn to use quite easily? Or would I have to learn all about voltage, ohms, amps and resistance before being able to test a ring main? What I mean is, is there a simple test function on these gadgets, or does it just give you a reading which you then have to use in a formula? If the latter, I'm afraid it will be beyond my scope and be a job for the electrician.

 

[MrsRenovator]

Of course.. anybody can learn to do anything. Most basic tasks are described ( not very well in some cases) on the Internet

Most of the results I got from Google were either from the USA, which I immediately dismissed, or they were presuming that I already had more knowledge then I presently possess. That's why I thought I'd ask the forum. I thought they would help me get an idea of the difficulty scale.

 

[terryplumb]

You already told us you have a multimeter and have used it ,but for what ? Do you know how to safely measure mains voltage with it ,for instance ? A multimeter can be used for most basic fault finding on domestic / household electrics ,outside lights that won't work included. The electrical knowledge is certainly something that you could learn by studying.

 

[MrsRenovator]

You already told us you have a multimeter and have used it ,but for what ? Do you know how to safely measure mains voltage with it ,for instance ? A multimeter can be used for most basic fault finding on domestic / household electrics ,outside lights that won't work included.

No I don't know how to use it to measure voltage. I have only used it to send a current through conductors on small electrical items to find breaks in cables, wires, fuses etc. I will now Google 'How to use multimeter to test voltage' and hopefully that will point me in the right direction. Thank you.

 

[EFLImpudence]

You could study this excellent site -
https://www.flameport.com/electric/index.cs4

which includes the testing page:
https://www.flameport.com/electrical_testing/index.cs4

 

[MrsRenovator]

Plenty of bedtime reading on that site! Thanks.

 

[ericmark]

Using a clamp on is likely the best to start with, the cheap

meter shown does not have any range which results in a direct short on the leads, you may be able to damage meter by having it on wrong range, but unlikely to damage yourself which is more important. It does have a draw back as will not measure DC amps, only AC.

As you go up in price you get the hall effect meter which will read DC amps and the auto ranging meter. The small plug in

Martindale EZ150 has a basic loop impedance test, which non of the multi meters will do, however to get a set of meters to do all the tests likely looking at £300 minimum.

An insulation tester starts at around £28 however the one linked to does not have a low ohm setting but your clamp on is likely good enough for that. To test a RCD cheapest I could find just over £100 and it unlikely you would need one anyway.

As to you learning how to use one, it seems even an electricians mate with years of doing the job, could not even write down what the meter said, never mind interpret what it said. However I think that was stupidity, rather than inability.

However they are not magic wands.

 

[MrsRenovator]

As to you learning how to use one, it seems even an electricians mate with years of doing the job, could not even write down what the meter said, never mind interpret what it said. However I think that was stupidity, rather than inability.

Wow, thats a horror story!

Thank you for listing the various types of tester and succinct descriptions of what they do. That's a great help. And I think your post will be interesting to subsequent readers on this forum.

 

[jj4091]

More bed time reading how to use a multimeter

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Or would I have to learn all about voltage, ohms, amps and resistance before being able to test a ring main?

You really should understand all of those basic things.

It's a bit like asking "would I have to learn all about measures of length, area, weight and volume before I could lay a concrete slab?" All those fundamental units of measurement are intrinsic to actually knowing what you are doing and what's going on.

What I mean is, is there a simple test function on these gadgets, or does it just give you a reading which you then have to use in a formula?

They are all simple to use, and they all give you a simple number as a result.

You don't have to put that number into a formula, but you do need to understand what it means.

If the latter, I'm afraid it will be beyond my scope and be a job for the electrician.

It really isn't rocket science.

Just start Binging for things like electronics basics or fundamentals or '101' (to pick up a lot of US stuff - their laws of physics are the same as everybody else's, despite what Trump supporters might wish). Ditto Ohm's Law and electrical circuits, but ignore anything to do with US house wiring, as that is different.

 

[ericmark]

When I sat my C&G 2391 exam we were given a board with consumer unit, light switch, lights, sockets etc to test, when I looked at the earth loop impedance it was as would be expected for a full size house, it did not relate to what one would expect on a test board, so I investigated further and found some one had fitted resistors to emulate a full size house, however with a board that would result in over heating.

So even though 0.85Ω may be a pass, the tester has to use some personal knowledge and if one expects 0.65Ω then you still need to inspect closer to find out why.