Neon screwdrivers

[canduit]

I am not condoning the use of these but am slightly puzzled. Why do they work even when I'm wearing dry, rubber soled boots on a dry floor?

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Your body has sufficient capacitance to earth to complete the (a.c.) circuit.

 

[ricicle]

Throw it away !!

 

[1john]

they are good for cleaning under your nails and that is it.

 

[canduit]

Like I said, not condoning the use of them but they can provide an indicator of a live conductor, not a dead one, to someone competent. You just have to know its limitations. Such as when working in a huge hotel, where you're working on the 6th floor, you get called to investigate an issue on the 9th floor. The neon screwdriver, which is usually in my pocket, can indicate what the problem is.

 

[1john]

Like I said, not condoning the use of them but they can provide an indicator of a live conductor, not a dead one, to someone competent. You just have to know its limitations. Such as when working in a huge hotel, where you're working on the 6th floor, you get called to investigate an issue on the 9th floor. The neon screwdriver, which is usually in my pocket, can indicate what the problem is.

thats a full contradiction, it cannot do anything accuratly, i WILL pick up capacitive coupling on a dead cable making it appear to be live, they are flawed, a small multi meter and a bigger pocket is required sir, for your own safetly and that of the guests in the hotel too, really there is nothing good for a neon screwdriver, at least nothing related to electrics.

 

[MalcofArabia]

If you really have a need to whip something out of your pocket that may be of use


http://www.sparksdirect.co.uk/volt-stick-230-instant-voltage-tester-p-4620.html

 

[canduit]

Ok I surrender! The point I was making, is that it CAN point you in the direction of what may be wrong. So when you go back to the basement to get your "stuff" to rectify the problem, you can limit the amount of paraphernalia (heaters, thermostats, cable, FCU's, steps) you have to dig out, put into a trolley, cart it to the top floor, just (eg) to change a fuse. I ALWAYS use an approved voltage indicator before carrying out any actual works. But I thank you for your constructive comments.

 

[canduit]

Incidentally, can a volt-stick diffrenciate between 2 cables? Eg 2 singles, line & switchline, side by side. Or will it just indicate that 1, or 2 of those are live?

 

[timtheenchanter]

still not agreeing with use, I use mine as a paper clip to hold invoices/receipts together...
Ive amassed 6 or 7 of the things, why do they always seem to supply one with the VDE screwdriver kits??

I do have a voltage stick thingy, useful for a preliminary check before you take the cover off, but the GS38 tester is the final tool of choice.

 

[davelx]

Incidentally, can a volt-stick diffrenciate between 2 cables? Eg 2 singles, line & switchline, side by side. Or will it just indicate that 1, or 2 of those are live?

Mine does with T&E - place on the live side it lights, on the switched live side it doesn't (with the switch off, of course ). Not sure if it would work with singles with no earthed conductor in between.

I have a proper voltage detector for dead testing.

 

[subbysparks]

think my neon screw driver has only ever been used once for undoing a grub which i cudnt get my small terminal screwdriver into.
would certainly never even entertain the thought of using it for any sort of diagnosis.
usually in my pocket most of time is continuity+voltage tester, terminal screw driver, shears and knife.
find them to be the most useful things to always have on you.
but multimeter is definitely the tool for diagnosis

 

[electronicsuk]

If they weren't such cr*p screwdrivers then they might be half useful. If they could actually be used to tighten terminals without twisting and snapping, they'd be a useful last resort should a circuit somehow become live even after having properly tested for dead using a 2-pole voltage detector.