Monitoring the mains voltage is always needed: during the installation of electrical wiring, replacement or repair of electrical equipment, continuity of circuits. The surest way to do this is to use a voltage tester, which is popularly called a probe. Such a device is much cheaper than a multifunctional multimeter. How to use the tester? More on that below.
Voltage tester
An electricity tester is a device that can measure voltage and establish its presence or absence in the network. The tester is much simpler than a multimeter, it is easy to use, you can work quickly, in uncomfortable conditions, for example, hold on to a height with one hand, take measurements with the other.
How to use the voltage tester? They can measure the electricity of outlets on bare wires, contacts of electrical appliances, the output of generators. More complex devices display information digitally, simpler ones use an indicator light.
Types of voltage testers
There are many types of testers, from the simplest devices to the most complex ones. All of them allowanalyze the tension, but the degree of analysis, of course, will be different. Voltage testers are available as:
- Probe screwdriver. The simplest device, shaped like a screwdriver. It consists of a transparent dielectric body, a slotted metal contact, a neon bulb, a resistor, a spring and another fastening contact.
- Tester-screwdriver. The device is similar to the previous one, only the body has a liquid crystal screen and an LED indicator.
- The tester is universal. Device with two probes, one of which is equipped with an LCD screen.
- Multifunction tester - multimeter. Such a tester is used as a device for measuring not only voltage, but also all other electrical parameters. Such a device has two probes and a switch for measurement modes between direct and alternating current.
How to work with a probe screwdriver
The mains voltage control device - a probe - is not able to determine the level of electricity. Its main task is to detect the phase. This is very important to know, because when repairing, turning off the plugs, you need to be sure that the phase is missing. It is she who, closing through the human body to the ground, produces an electric shock.
How to use the probe tester:
- Make sure it is visually correct. The insulating material on the appliance must not be broken.
- Pick the screwdriver by the insulating handle with one hand so that one finger isavailable.
- Insert the device into any hole in the outlet and touch the contact on the end of the handle with your thumb.
- If the light is off, move the screwdriver to another hole in the socket. A burning light indicates the presence of a phase on the contact.
It is also easy to understand how to use a tester-screwdriver for wire continuity, for example in a carry. To do this, you need to determine the phase contact in a particular outlet. Next, insert the plug of the tested carrier and find the phase at the output. By changing the location of the plug, determine which wire the phase does not go through - there is a break.
How to measure with a screwdriver tester
This indicator device is similar in form to the one discussed above, but its functionality allows you to determine much more parameters. Such an electrical tester is used as an indicator of the presence of electrical voltage in the line, they check the batteries for a state of discharge, determine the polarity of the terminals, find the wire break point in the circuit, and record the presence of electromagnetic and microwave radiation.
The screwdriver tester has the following technical parameters:
- The ability to measure the voltage of electricity, DC and AC values in the range: 220, 110, 55, 36, 12 volts with information displayed on a digital display.
- Determining the polarity of the outputs of constant power supplies and the phase of the variable network.
- Finding a break in an electrical wire in the resistance range from zero to 50 MΩ.
- Detecting the presence of radiation in the frequency range from 50 to 500 Hz.
- Input current less than 0.25 milliamps, voltage less than 250 volts.
- Compliance with European standards and approvals DINVDE 0680 Teil 6/04.77.
How to use a tester screwdriver:
1. Contact testing method. In this way, voltage measurements are carried out in an acceptable range. Actions:
- The probe of the device is touched to the connector in the socket, the bare wire or the contact of the electrical device under voltage.
- Press the sensor-button with the designation Directtest located on the device with your finger.
- Take readings from the tester display.
2. Non-contact testing method. In this way, you can find the wiring of a variable line hidden under a layer of plaster, if current flows in it, electromagnetic and microwave radiation, check the integrity of the electrical wire. Actions:
- The finger is pressed on the sensor button with the designation InductanceBreak-pointtest.
- The device is brought to the approximate location of the wiring and carefully moved up and down.
- The appearance of a lightning bolt Z on the screen indicates that the device has detected a weak magnetic field created by the conductor.
- Checking the wire for a break, move along it until the Z icon disappears.
How to use a voltage tester when working with batteries and chemical batteries?
- Pressingfinger on the Directtest sensor-button, contact with the slot touches any pole of the battery.
- The other pole of the battery is touched with the other hand.
- The lightning Z display on the indicator confirms that the power element is working.
- Polarity indicates the LED that lights up on the plus and off on the minus of the contact.
How to use the multimeter tester
The multimeter is quite easy to use, it is multifunctional, with a user-friendly interface. But still, you need to be extremely careful, because due to the many modes of operation and measurement limits, it is quite possible to get confused and burn the device. For cheap Chinese meters, it is better to immediately replace the wires of the test probes with more reliable ones.
How to use the tester correctly when measuring DC voltage:
- The red test lead is inserted into the VΩmA jack, the black one into the COM jack.
- The round-shaped measurement mode switch knob is moved to the DCV position for the highest measurement limit.
- Probes are connected to a source of electricity to plus and minus. Reversal in this case is not terrible. If it is allowed, it will simply be displayed with a “-” sign on the screen display.
- Record the instrument readings.
If the voltage is approximately known, then it is better to set the measurement limit a little more than the expected one, in order to increase the measurement accuracy.
How to use the tester-multimeter, measuring AC voltage:
- The probes remain connected in the same place.
- The mode switch is set to the ACV position to the limit of over 220 volts for a single-phase network, over 380 volts for a three-phase network.
- Very carefully, without touching the bare areas of the probes with your hands, connect the latter to the socket contacts. It does not matter where which test lead is connected.
- Record the instrument readings.
What is a Keweisi tester
USB tester KWS-V20 is designed to measure the electrical parameters of USB chargers, devices connected to them, as well as the capacity received and given away when charging, discharging the power bank. Specifications:
- Measured DC voltage from 3 to 9 volts.
- Measurable DC current up to 3 amps.
- Measurable capacitance up to 99999 milliamp-hours.
How to use the Keweisi tester
How to use the device:
- Include measured charging in the USB port and press the reset button.
- Take voltage measurements displayed on the screen.
- To measure the current consumed by any device, insert its cord into the Keweisi USB connector.
- Take readings on the instrument.
- To determine the output capacity of the power bank, a tester is connected to the output of a fully charged device, and a load is connected to the output of the tester.
- As soon as the power bank is completely discharged, the tester is switched to any voltage source and takes readings,stored in the device memory.
Conclusion
If you didn’t have a single tester and even a screwdriver tester at hand, but you urgently need to check if there is voltage in the outlet, the easiest way is to use an ordinary incandescent light bulb. To do this, a wire with a plug is connected to it through the cartridge and plugged into the socket under investigation. How to use this type of tester correctly? You need to be extremely sure that there is no increased voltage in the network. Otherwise, the bulb may explode and cause harm.
