What Is a Low Voltage Tester?
Low voltage testers are measuring instruments used to measure the voltage of lower voltage circuits.
By touching a low voltage tester to the part to be tested, it is possible to check whether electricity is present. The type of low-voltage detector used depends on the magnitude of the voltage of the circuit to be checked.
Usage of Low Voltage Testers
Low voltage testers are used where there is relatively low voltage flowing in the circuit.
Low voltage testers can measure voltages from 20V to 1000V, and can be used for products used in the home.
However, there are two types of electrical circuits, DC and AC, and it is necessary to use a different type of detector for each circuit.
Principle of Low Voltage Testers
All types of detectors, including low voltage testers, indicate whether or not electricity is present at the point where the detector makes contact. There are three types of signals: light, buzzer, and both. The detection methods can also be divided into two types: those that make contact with the sensing element and those that are non-contact.
However, the principle is the same for all of them. Normally, when electricity is flowing in a circuit, the electric field around it changes from when it is not flowing. Therefore, when a detector is brought into close proximity to the circuit, it detects this change in the electric field and notifies the user with light and sound.
How to Use Low Voltage Testers
A contact-type detector holds the detector firmly, and the side of the detector, not the tip, is in contact with the wire. If the wire is coated, the sensitivity of the detector is less than that of a bare wire, so it is necessary to make sufficient contact with the wire.
These are often used to confirm that there is no electricity and to perform subsequent work. However, care should be taken not to use them with wet hands, as there is a risk of electric shock in case of accident.