Old Wiring Good or Bad

[Denray]

Fluked it.

[Jim Katen]

Fluked it.

Never rely on a non-contact voltage tester.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Marc]

When I was wiring up new construction, I would use a non-contact tester when I was trying to find opens in the circuits. That's about the only use I ever had for them.

Marc

[Tom Raymond]

Fluked it.

Never rely on a non-contact voltage tester.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

Why not? He may have just saved his wife from a nasty aerial disease[]

Tom

[Denray]

It did seem kind of wierd at the time. Those aren't classic knobs and it almost seemed like stranded wire. It just kind of looked like a knob and tube set up so I checked it with the sensor. But really folks, I have seen the k&t before with the insulation gone that my untrustworthy voltage sensor sugested had voltage on it.

What should I use to verify it is hot?

[Bill Kibbel]

Non-contact voltage detectors frequently give false positives. I personally have never had a false negative on K&T with mine.

But, Jim is right. If I can't trace what appears to be a dead circuit to where it's disconnected, then a meter is used to confirm.

[Denray]

This was a grow house so who knows what was going on with that stuff.

Who makes a good enough meter and about how much?

[Jim Katen]

It did seem kind of wierd at the time. Those aren't classic knobs and it almost seemed like stranded wire. It just kind of looked like a knob and tube set up so I checked it with the sensor. But really folks, I have seen the k&t before with the insulation gone that my untrustworthy voltage sensor sugested had voltage on it.

What should I use to verify it is hot?

Any old multi meter would work fine. If it's a life/safety issue, never trust the non-contact sticks.

- Jim Katen, Oregon