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Just realized my voltage tester saved me from a bad shock last month after I read the manual cover to cover
I was working on a 277-volt lighting circuit in an old warehouse downtown and found out from the fine print that my non-contact tester won't pick up voltage through thick insulation, so I used my multimeter instead and caught a live wire I would've missed.
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lee_reed17d ago
Did you catch that article from EC&M a few months back about how non-contact testers can give false confidence on old wiring? I read that the electromagnetic field can be dampened by metal conduit or even moisture in the walls, not just thick insulation. It's crazy how much those little details matter when you're actually on a job.
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murphy.abby16d ago
Non-contact testers are fine for most jobs if you know how to use them right. The whole point is they give you a quick check, not a final answer, and blaming the tool for user error is a stretch. Metal conduit or moisture might mess with readings, but a real electrician should still verify with a meter or visual check before trusting anything important.
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