light on a tester screwdriver from light earth wire

[ban-all-sheds]

I get what you are saying and in some respects you are correct, but wow. I don't think you have any place in this forum or any forum with that attitude.

The attitude that people shouldn't fiddle with things they don't understand, when getting it wrong can be fatal? I disagree.

They don't come on to be insulted and belittled.

And I've done that where, exactly?

 

[bernardgreen]

The neon screwdriver only indicates when the difference in potential (voltage) between the person holding it and the item it is touching is greater than the voltage at which the neon will light ( somewhere around 90 volts in normal use ).

They can light when touching an earthed item if the person is close to live wires and thus by capacitive coupling has a body potential more than 90 volts. The amount of current that can pass across that capacitive coupling is extremely small and in no way harmful.

The other thing that make neon screw drivers dangerous is that the voltage at which they strike depends on the amount of light. A neon lamp in total darkness may not strike even with 250 volts.

The advice to measure the voltage between a known good earth and the suspect earth is the only safe thing to do. Whether the OP does it or an electrician does it. Then if there is no voltage a continuity check should be made.

 

[bosco72]

could i plug an extension into a plug socket and use that earth?.

NO

If you select the wrong setting on your multimeter and/or plug the leads into the wrong sockets, then connect it to a live circuit, there is a high probability that the meter will explode in a ball of flames.

Im not planning on doing anything at this point. I was just asking the question out of curiosity.

As i said at the top of the thread, i will get someone in. As soon as possible, i just wanted to get some sound info to try and safely gage the situation.

Could ask, in theory, if i stripped an extention down just to the earth wire, left the earth prong on the plug connected to the original plug but removed all other parts including wires and live and natural prongs from the plug, would this constitute as a safe enough earth wire to complete safe readings from?

This is just a question, im not doing anything at this point? Thanks for any advice.

 

[jj4091]

Neon screwdrivers do have their uses, but they can be as misleading as they are helpful if you do not understand what they are indicating, which unfortunately you appear not to. You say you are "getting an electrician in, in a couple of days" & frankly that would be the best & safest thing you can do if you have concerns about anything electrical, you really don't need to understand what's going on & that way you won't end up even more confused & feeling insulted, which no-one is trying to do incidentally.

 

[bernardgreen]

[Could ask, in theory, if i stripped an extention down just to the earth wire,.

A lot of effort when you could buy a reel of single core wire from a motor accessories shop to use as a wander lead. A wander lead is an extension lead for a meter.

 

[bosco72]

Neon screwdrivers do have their uses, but they can be as misleading as they are helpful if you do not understand what they are indicating, which unfortunately you appear not to. You say you are "getting an electrician in, in a couple of days" & frankly that would be the best & safest thing you can do if you have concerns about anything electrical, you really don't need to understand what's going on & that way you won't end up even more confused & feeling insulted, which no-one is trying to do incidentally.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciate any calm and collective response i get on this subject.

i would like to understand what and why this is happening. Thats the type of person i am. Im not offended by any and all advice given, that is why i use this forum. What can be offensive in which the manner it is delivered.

I understand it can be complex, i understand it can be dangerousness. I have admitted that my knowledge is limited. But lets not assume that we are all going to lick a live wire on any advice given. Common sense and self preservation are very helpful things.

I have a basic understanding, i have dumbed it down to show that this is not my day job. I will post the link to the website that advised any metal surface. it was not my idea and i fundamentally knew this did not sound correct or i would not have posted on here, and continued to ask questions before continuing to do anything.

I have been a network engineer for 20 years and worked along side many electricians. All very helpful and nice people.

Giving me a link to a google search is offensive,that user will be removed from this forum.

 

[bosco72]

[Could ask, in theory, if i stripped an extention down just to the earth wire,.

A lot of effort when you could buy a reel of single core wire from a motor accessories shop to use as a wander lead. A wander lead is an extension lead for a meter.

Thanks for your response - but the theory is the same? And just as safe? (Within the boundaries of assuming the person using it knows what they are doing)

Regards.

 

[RF Lighting]

Just plug your extension lead in as normal. Run it to where you're working. Put one probe into the earth terminal of the socket on your lead.

Set you meter to it's maximum AC volts setting and test away.

Let us know what you find.

 

[JohnW2]

[Could ask, in theory, if i stripped an extention down just to the earth wire,.

A lot of effort when you could buy a reel of single core wire from a motor accessories shop to use as a wander lead. A wander lead is an extension lead for a meter.

I think he only suggested (asked about) that because he had been told that it would not be safe to use an extension lead to extend the earth/CPC for his measurements. I think he was (I suppose, in some senses, logically) therefore proposing to remove the N and L conductors from an extension lead, so that only the earth/CPC remained connected to the plug - but, as you say, that would be an awful lot of effort. However, as has been observed, someone who needs to ask these sort of questions probably shouldn't really be going anywhere near an electrical installation.

Kind Regards, John

 

[bosco72]

Just plug your extension lead in as normal. Run it to where you're working. Put one probe into the earth terminal of the socket on your lead.

Set you meter to it's maximum AC volts setting and test away.

Let us know what you find.

Thanks for your reply, your advice is much much appreciated. And thank you for assuming that i knew where the earth terminal was on a plug socket. Although I'm sure you will get in trouble for that.

I did get a little confused as to why the multimeter might blow up from the earth terminal? Then i realised that it was in anticipation that would randomly plug the probe into any.

I should have someone out to it by friday or sat, i think i will stay clear until then. Im sure the on site electrician will give me a decent enough break down. I will post back his diagnostics and fix.

I guess i will use the multimeter to test battery's. You can use for that right?

 

[winston1]

I guess i will use the multimeter to test battery's. You can use for that right?

Not very reliably I'm afraid. A dud battery with no load, or very small load of a multimeter, will often indicate almost full voltage.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

 

[bosco72]

I guess i will use the multimeter to test battery's. You can use for that right?

Not very reliably I'm afraid. A dud battery with no load, or very small load of a multimeter, will often indicate almost full voltage.

Haha, it was a joke, batteries come with their own meter on them now. The electrician is booked for weekend so hopefully we will get it resolved then.

 

[winston1]

[quote="bosco72"

batteries come with their own meter on them now. [/quote]

Really? None of mine have.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

batteries come with their own meter on them now.

Very few.

And it's in the interests of the battery manufacturer to make it pessimistic.