Tick testers revisited

[dr sportster]

The other day someone inquired about pen style voltage testers. I have one but I don't like them .I brought it into work today because alot of work is being energized and alot of work is still open and incomplete. The electrical contractor started 30 days behind and was/is behind the eight ball for time. So as I'm driving my lift down a corridor lamping fixtures the foreman says cut in these exit lt tails and leave a duplex connector on it . I get down there pull out my old tick tester ,hold it up to a flourescent light --tweeeeeet- place it on the cable ends -nothing - hold up to light tweeeeet. Cut off sheathing with roto-spltter pull off , grab plastic part and cut the wire BABOOM. Nice ! 40 dollar linemans ruined by 277 volt circuit. I'm lucky the sheathing didn't catch the hot while being pulled off. It was like I knew it was going to happen even though the tick tester told me it was off. I'm sure if I take it apart it will have a little dust inside causing a faulty reading. I will be wearing gloves Monday.{ and using a wiggy]

 

[John730D]

If it is not grounded, consider it hot.

 

[MartyinVa]

Tag-Lock-Clear-Try and if you foolin with electricity test before you touch, you are damn lucky to be able to tell us what almost happened.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I posted you should not to bet your life on those testers. Glad you are ok.

 

[Greg K]

That sucks! Mine can have issues testing the but end of a metal clad wire also, another thing that helps on mine to reduce false positives is to place my finger alongside the pen with my finger touching it about an inch from the tip. I will sure admit that there is a learning curve to successfully using them. They also do not work on wires that are wet such as direct bury wires just dug out of damp dirt.

 

[jeffcat]

No.... trust NO ONE! Here at work we had a real as-hole electrician who thought it was funny to turn breakers back on. I still hope that idiot falls into a 480 pannel!

 

[dr sportster]

Exit light circuit was tagged and locked but an idiot helper tied the exits into an incorrect lighting circuit in another room. It was not the first [or last ] time someone told me that is definatly not hot and it was.

 

[John T]

REGARDLESS, Better the current to pass through your pliers then your old ticker tight dr????

Good info, glad you're all right

John T

 

[Geo-TH,In]

JohnT,
Bubba said at the bright side, the hole in his linemans may also double as a wire stripper.
George

 

[dr sportster]

It actually is one of those blowouts ,dead center like a stripper.. I like the little stripper alot better and hate to cut twice so new linemans are in order. They got so expensive !

 

[Hanky]

Have been using the fluke brand for years, they get used a lot, I have never had them not see voltage, years ago they were worthless, love the new ones that pick up the lower voltages when I want to see if something might be working without opening a device, just hold it to the cable, or tape it on and toggle the PLC output high and listen for it to make sure I got the right cable.
Spent the last week working on machine controls in Ohio, heading back to the cold in Minnesota Monday, then Friday I am off to the Philippine islands until January 24, wonder how much crop damage there was there, our house over there lost the roof a few hours into the storm, and still no electricticty , it"s Ormoc City on the western side of Leyte, it got hammered bad, going to try and get some solar panels to charge phones and computers, and a generator for the refrigerator, should be a fun trip.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

dr sportster,
Bubba will be happy to take your homemade strippers.
George

 

[Dusty MI]

If possible I cut one wire at a time.