Explore the Different Types Of Electrical Testers And How to Choose The Best
Experienced electricians utilize a variety of electrical testers to check for voltage, amperage, continuity, shorted or open circuits, and improper wiring. And homeowners might find some of these tools helpful as well. Some testers are multifunction devices that can finish most of the common electrical testing duties. Others are single-function devices that test for a particular thing, such as live voltage. Let's know about some types of the electrical tester and choose the best that fits your needs:
Non-Contact Voltage Tester (Inductance Tester)
Non-contact voltage testers let you check for voltage in wires or devices without you having to touch any electrical parts. They are safe, easy to use, and affordable. This is like a mini wand with a small tip that senses voltage in electrical wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, lamp cords, light sockets, and switches. You get a reading just by sticking the tip of the tester into an outlet slot or even touching the outside of a wire or electrical cable.
Neon Voltage Tester
Neon voltage testers tell you whether the voltage is present; they don't show how much voltage is in a circuit. These have a small body with a neon light inside and two short wire leads with a metal probe on each end. This does not utilize a battery, making it a dependable tool. It is also cheap. To operate a neon voltage tester, just touch one tester probe to a hot wire, screw terminal, or outlet slot. Then, you have to touch the other probe to a neutral or ground contact. The small neon bulb at the tip of the device will light up if there is current present.
Multimeter
Multimeter is a versatile electrical tester capable of many different testing functions. Most multimeters can provide precise resistance, AC and DC voltage readings, continuity, capacitance, and frequency. Thus, they can give virtually all the information offered by other electrical testers.
Multimeters have a boxy body with an analog or digital readout, a dial for setting the test function (as well as voltage and various readout settings), and two long leads with metal probes at their ends. Multimeters can range widely in quality and accuracy, and you'll often have to pay more money for quality. They are usually more costly than the basic testers but not too expensive. In addition, KM601(Multimeter), in smart mode, can automatically test voltage, resistance, and continuity.
Solenoid Voltage Tester
Solenoid voltage testers are also multifunction testers for voltage and polarity and are easy to use. It has no batteries to monitor. However, it isn't quite as correct as a multimeter for giving a numerical measurement of how much voltage is present. These testers have two wires, each with a probe. They tell the existence of voltage by clicking or vibrating—the louder the clicking or more pronounced the vibration, the higher the voltage level.
Digital Clamp Meter
A digital Clamp Meter integrates the function of a multimeter with a current sensor, and it's just more costly than a multimeter. It's a specialty tool few homeowners will require unless they engage in advanced electrical work.
There are slight differences in function between a clamp meter and a multimeter. The most obvious one is that this device features clamping jaws that can grip wire conductors. This makes the device somewhat safer and easier to operate in some applications, such as when working inside an open circuit breaker panel to test individual circuits. The tool also features wire leads that let it be utilized in the same manner as a standard multimeter. Moreover, The HT208D (Clamp Meter) has Variable Frequency Drive Filtering (VFD) and Low Input Impedance (LoZ) modes, which can provide higher accuracy readings.
Choosing An Electrical Tester
When deciding which type of electrical tester is right for you, you must consider the projects you want to tackle. For example, if you just need to know whether the voltage is present to do some DIY work, consider a basic non-contact or neon voltage tester. If you want to do more advanced work or have a variety of projects to finish, you might need a multimeter. However, if you're going to level the surface for paving tiles or hanging photographs at any place, you can do that with the help of a laser level that projects horizontal and vertical lines on any surface. Get information about each kind of tester and choose the best one.