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TonyDuell · 2nd Aug 2019, 4:49 pm

I was taught 'All wires are live until _you personally_ have proved they are not' I would never joke about isolating a circuit, but if you are working with me, I would not be insulted if you verified that. In fact I would expect it. Similarly I would hope you would not be insulted if I check the wires were dead. Anyone can make a mistake...

To get back on-topic, my feeling is that neon testers are not themselves dangerous. Misuse of them might be. If I used one to check the status of a wire I would test it before and after on a known live point in the same area (so I would be earthed similarly) to be sure.

And anyone who doesn't know how to use test equipment, including neon testers, safely, is not fit to be called an 'electrician'. So there is no reason not to have one in the toolkit.

2nd Aug 2019, 4:49 pm	#16
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,224	Re: Neon Tester Screwdrivers I was taught 'All wires are live until _you personally_ have proved they are not' I would never joke about isolating a circuit, but if you are working with me, I would not be insulted if you verified that. In fact I would expect it. Similarly I would hope you would not be insulted if I check the wires were dead. Anyone can make a mistake... To get back on-topic, my feeling is that neon testers are not themselves dangerous. Misuse of them might be. If I used one to check the status of a wire I would test it before and after on a known live point in the same area (so I would be earthed similarly) to be sure. And anyone who doesn't know how to use test equipment, including neon testers, safely, is not fit to be called an 'electrician'. So there is no reason not to have one in the toolkit.