Screwdriver mains tester by Draper

[Marty32]

Good afternoon forum folk

Quick question - I'm an apprentice and wanted to know peoples' thought's/professional opinion on using a mains tester screw driver to see if things like thermostat wires or sockets are live in case of a nasty electric shock?

I've bought a Mains tester screw driver (although I wouldn't use it as a screwdriver) and it comes with a plastic gate tool which you plug into a socket and then put the scewdriver end into the live part of the opening. I believe this opens the the socket but I'm a bit apprehensive to quite honest

Anyone used these and how safe are they?

 

[Simon F]

best to get a multi meter, even a cheap one for about £5-£10 will give you much more information than the screw driver

 

[Marty32]

Thanks mate - do you personally use multi-meters? If so what do you usually test them on?

 

[Simon F]

a neon screw driver is only good to tell you if there is 240volts, so there is some use in that.
a multi meter will give you the actual voltage in ac/dc, amps, can tell you the resistance,
you can use it to test for continuity. you could have 240vots to a part on an appliance but its not working properly,
when you understand how to use a multi meter ( i'm still learning) you can see why its not working.

 

[dontknowitall]

Should be good for opening your sandwich box ... would probably break as soon as it touched metal.

If you hadn't guessed I don't rate Drapers for the "professional" world - great for DIY though!

And if it didn't light up when testing, how do you know if there's no power? That's why we (the survivors that is) use multimeters.

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

never get a neon screwdriver wet either, the current bypasses the Neon and they don't light up... What appears to be dead my not be!
Never a pleasant surprise!

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Get a volt alert stick or even better a socket and see kit

 

[stevetheplumber]

Neons are usefull for quick fault finding but a multi meter is the best thing as it will check for voltage between two points ie l-n or l--e

 

[Howsie]

Neons are usefull for quick fault finding but a multi meter is the best thing as it will check for voltage between two points ie l-n or l--e

100 agree.

 

[Marty32]

Thank you all for your speedy and informative advice as I really didn't cop a packet off of anything so will take the neon tester back for a refund and will get a multi-meter!

Mart

 

[adam84]

i would disregard the comment about buying a cheap multimeter that is poor advice, put it this way would you value your safety at £5-£10? i wouldnt ive seen on several occasions people get nasty shocks by using cheap multimeters.the draper neon is as good a neon tester as you can buy they are made in germany buy a company called Richter a well respected manufacturer, i would recommend a Di-log voltage and ohms tester as it has no switches or buttons and is powered by the mains it also has a wide operating range these testers are available on E-bay for about £40.

 

[sparra1100]

i use a fluke volt stick cost me £40 there are cheaper ones but its ye life at the end of the day saved me a few times ,people on here say dont use them to test live but been using them for few yrs now,and test something live first to check its working, my electriction mate uses the same i dont use a multimeter ,cos got told not to,carnt remember why,but there was a good reason,each to there own i say