voltage stick

[John Dirks Jr]

Which voltage sniffer do you guys like?  I lost my Fluke which worked well.  I tried putting a Gardner Bender one I have into service but it's too sensitive.  It reads voltage even an inch away from a receptacle without even inserting the tool into the receptacle.  No good since I cant use it to check for polarity in older two prong receptacles.  My fluke was at the right sensitivity so you had to insert it to get a reading.

[inspector57]

I like the Sperry Dual check VD7504GFI. It has both non-contact and GFCI outlet tester in one instrument that I keep in my camera holster.

 

[Marc]

Fluke.  I like it but it should have a adjustable sensitivity.

[John Kogel]

Your cheapo tester will give you neutral and hot by covering one slot with a finger while sniffing the other. IOW, if you cover the hot slot, it won't beep.

Best to carry a couple of them, range of sensitivity. I'd keep my good one in my bag to confirm strange readings.

 

 

[Jim Katen]

I use the Fluke with the round cross-section, not the square cross-section, but I don't like any of them. They have all given my false negatives and false positives. 

If you get strange readings, confirm them with a multimeter or a Wiggy. 

 

 

[Chad Fabry]

I believe it was Jim Katen who stated something like, "they're for when you absolutely, positively do not need to know for sure if the wire is hot". 

I use a Wiggy- it tells the entire story reporting voltage and proving a level of current capable of operating a solenoid. No switches, no batteries. 

[pranus]

I personally used Amprobe Voltage Tester..This unit is an automatic AC/DC voltage tester for residential and commercial use. It can test lights, appliances and is compact, pocket-sized and easy to use. It has bright neon lights which indicate AC and DC voltages even in well-lit rooms and has a built-in test-leads holder. 

Fluke is also good but I liked it more

[Bill Kibbel]

Pranus, why do you just paste text copied from other sites?

Are you an inspector there in Maharashtra?