voltage pen question and strobe light

[keendiyer25]

morning all this question may be a bit random but i have always wondered about these voltage indicator pens that are usually 1000ac rated that light up red when it detects live ac voltage however when im testing a strobe and its operating the voltage pen doesn't light red like it would do on a normal 240v plug/light ect

is this because the strobe is more than 1000v and above the range that a voltage pen can detect so it doesn't light. the pen works on a normal 240v cable but doesn't work on the strobe why is this? what are your opinions

don't worry i am aware about the dangers of strobes and have no intention of touching them i was just wondering why the pen doesn't light up near them like it would near a cable cheers

 

[bernardgreen]

If it is a single contact pen then it relies on a capacitive coupling to ground to complete the circuit. That is via the body of the person holding it.

Capacitive coupling only works with AC. the high voltage in the strobe is DC.