Network voltage control is always needed:during installation of electrical wiring, replacement or repair of electrical equipment, continuity tests 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 multi-functional multimeter. How to use the tester? About this below.
Voltage tester
An electricity tester is a device that canmeasure the 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 inconvenient conditions, for example, keep one hand on top, the other to measure.
How to use a voltage tester?They can measure electricity outlets on bare wires, electrical appliance contacts, generator outputs. More sophisticated devices display information in a digital form, more simple - using an indicator light.
Types of voltage testers
There are many types of testers - from the simplestdevices to complex devices. All of them allow you to analyze the voltage, but the degree of analysis, of course, will be different. Voltage testers are designed as:
- Test screwdriver.The simplest device, shaped like a screwdriver. It consists of a transparent dielectric body, a metal contact with a straight slot, a neon light bulb, resistance, a spring and another contact – fastening.
- Tester-screwdriver. The device is similar to the previous one, only the case has a liquid crystal screen and an LED indicator.
- The tester is universal. The 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 measurement mode switch between the constant current type and the alternating current.
How to work with a screwdriver probe
Устройство контроля напряжения сети – пробник - unable to determine the level of electricity. His main task is to detect the phase. It is very important to know, because when repairing, by disconnecting the plugs, you need to be sure that there is no phase. It is she who, closing herself through the human body to the ground, produces an electric shock.
How to use the probe tester:
- Ensure that it is visually sound. Insulation material on the device must not be broken.
- Take the screwdriver with the insulating handle with one hand so that one finger is free.
- Insert the device into any outlet of the socket and with your thumb touch the contact on the end of the handle.
- If the light is off, move the screwdriver to another outlet in the socket. A burning light indicates the presence of a phase on the contact.
Также легко понять, как пользоваться a tester-screwdriver for dialing wires, for example, in carrying. To do this, you need to determine the contact phase in a particular outlet. Next, insert the plug of the test carrier and find the phase at the output. 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 instrument indicator is similar in shape todiscussed above, but its functionality allows you to determine significantly more parameters. Such an electrical tester is used as an indicator of the presence of electric voltage in the line, the batteries are checked for discharge status, the polarity of the leads is determined, the break point of the wire is found in the circuit, and the presence of electromagnetic and microwave radiation is recorded.
Tester-screwdriver has the following technical parameters:
- The possibility of measuring the voltage of electricity constant and variable values in the range: 220, 110, 55, 36, 12 volts with the display of information on a digital display.
- Determination of the polarity of the conclusions of permanent power sources and the phase of the variable network.
- Finding the gap in the electrical wire in the range of resistance from zero to 50 MΩ.
- Detection of radiation in the range of frequencies from 50 to 500 Hz.
- The input current is less than 0.25 milliamperes, the voltage is no more than 250 volts.
- Compliance with the requirements of the European standard and tolerances DINVDE 0680 Teil 6 / 04.77.
How to use a screwdriver tester:
1. Contact testing method. This method conducts voltage measurements in the allowable range. Actions:
- The device probe touches the connector in the socket, bare wire or a live electrical device.
- Finger click on the sensor-button with the designation Directtest, located on the device.
- Take readings from the display tester.
2. Method of contactless testing.In this way, it is possible to find the wiring of a variable line hidden under a layer of plaster, if current flows through it, radiation of an electromagnetic and microwave nature, to check the integrity of the electrical wire. Actions:
- Finger click on the sensor button with the designation InductanceBreak-pointtest.
- The device is brought to the approximate location of the wiring and gently moved along and across.
- The appearance on the screen of the icon in the form of a lightning Z indicates that the device has fixed 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?
- By pressing a finger on the Directtest sensor button, with a slot contact, touch any pole of the battery.
- Use your other hand to touch the other pole of the battery.
- The display on the indicator lightning Z confirms the performance of the power supply.
- The polarity is indicated by an LED that lights up in a plus and does not light on the minus of a contact.
How to use a multimeter tester
With a multimeter it's pretty easy to work, hemultifunctional, with user-friendly interface. But you still need to be extremely careful, because due to the many operating modes and measurement limits it is quite possible to get confused and burn the device. In 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, measuring the constant voltage:
- The red test lead is inserted into the VΩmA socket, the black one - into the COM socket.
- The round-shaped measurement mode knob is moved to the DCV position at the highest measurement limit.
- Probes connect to the source of electricity to the plus and minus. Reversal in this case is not terrible. If you allow it, it will simply be displayed with a “-” sign on the display screen.
- Record the instrument readings.
If the voltage is approximately known, then the limit of measurements is better to set a little more than one intended, to improve the accuracy of measurements.
How to use a multimeter tester when measuring AC voltage:
- Probes remain plugged in.
- The mode switch is transferred to the ACV position to a limit of more than 220 volts for a single-phase network, and more than 380 volts for a three-phase one.
- Very carefully, without touching the bare areas of the probes with their hands, connect the last to the contacts of the outlet. It does not matter where the measuring lead is connected to.
- Record the instrument readings.
What is a Keweisi tester?
The KWS-V20 USB tester is designed to measureThe electrical parameters of the USB charging devices connected to them devices, as well as the capacity received and discharged during charging, discharging of the bank. Technical specifications:
- Measured DC voltage from 3 to 9 volts.
- Measured DC up to 3 amps.
- Measured capacity up to 99999 milliamp-hours.
How to use the Keweisi tester
The procedure for working with the device:
- Turn on the measured charging port in the USB and press the reset button.
- Remove the 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 device.
- To determine the recoverable capacity of the bank, a tester is connected to the output of a fully charged device, and a load to the output of the tester.
- As soon as the power bank is completely discharged, the tester is switched to a voltage source and readings recorded in the device’s memory.
Conclusion
If there is no tester at hand andeven a screwdriver probe, and urgently need to check whether there is voltage in the outlet, the easiest way is to use an ordinary incandescent bulb. For this purpose, a wire with a plug is connected to it through a cartridge and plugged into an outlet under study. How to use this type of tester? You need to be extremely sure that there is no overvoltage in the network. Otherwise, the bulb may explode and cause harm.
