Tom J
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Sep 03
Location: Bridgend
User status: Offline
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I want to see if a plug socket wire coming into my garage is live or not, is it one of these i need? and will it detect it through the rubber sheathing?
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=A331921&ts=11472&id=54634
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R Lee
Member
Registered: 15th Aug 03
User status: Offline
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just lick it
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CorsAsh
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Lee
just lick it
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Jules
Member
Registered: 26th Nov 04
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Status: Happy
User status: Offline
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Surely you can test with a normal multimeter?
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C2RL R
Member
Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: Redcliffe, QLD
User status: Offline
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that will only work on bare conductors
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CorsAsh
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 02
Location: Munich
User status: Offline
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And no, it won't work through the sheating. You need to hold the metal bit on the bare wire, thumb on the other end and see if it lights up in the middle. 
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Seethegrim
Member
Registered: 3rd Apr 07
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
User status: Offline
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Correct. You also get one which has a very sharp point which allows you to stick it through the rubber sheathing. If it lights up, you in business. 
ps: dont lick the wire..... its a tad stronger than a battery. hahahahahhha
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Mistamist
Member
Registered: 16th Jul 03
Location: Gillingham, Kent
User status: Offline
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I have something like this :
i also have this pen looking thing that has a buzzer and a led that flashes when it is near a mains current.
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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jab it in.
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C2RL R
Member
Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: Redcliffe, QLD
User status: Offline
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buy a voltstick if you wanna test through the insulation
http://www.voltstick.co.uk/
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Mistamist
Member
Registered: 16th Jul 03
Location: Gillingham, Kent
User status: Offline
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thats the other one i got! its a wicked little gadget. mine is green and doesnt have any writing on, and has a buzzer.
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Tom J
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Sep 03
Location: Bridgend
User status: Offline
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where can you buy them voltsticks?
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Nismo
Member
Registered: 12th Sep 02
User status: Offline
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touch it against your banjo.
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Mistamist
Member
Registered: 16th Jul 03
Location: Gillingham, Kent
User status: Offline
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nicked mine from the sparkie that used to work for the company i work for.
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mattk
Member
Registered: 27th Feb 06
Location: St. Helens
User status: Offline
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just stick your finger on it.
Tests if your Breakers are working as well
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drunkenfool
Member
Registered: 7th Feb 03
Location: Hereford Drives: Audi R8 V8
User status: Offline
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I got another mains shock 2 days ago when I was rewiring the electrics in the garden, I was being slack and didnt turn off one of the spurs and thought Id just work around it  that makes 3 I've had now 
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mav
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
User status: Offline
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simple multimeter with probes through the sheathing job done
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C2RL R
Member
Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: Redcliffe, QLD
User status: Offline
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i have never done that and wouldnt recomend it. insulation is there to protect you against electric shocks so why would you want to pierce a hole in it?
You can buy voltsticks from and electrical wholesaler or online from:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=45560&criteria=voltstick&doy=4m4
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C2RL R
Member
Registered: 28th Mar 02
Location: Redcliffe, QLD
User status: Offline
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this a better one:
http://www.brewtime.co.uk/product-detail.asp?d=992
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Ally
Member
Registered: 2nd Jul 03
Location: Pontypool Drives: a Skoda
User status: Offline
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You can buy one from argos but its £25
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