Dear jonrev-ga:
Is easier than you might imagine. Contact your local hardware store
and tell them you need a "circuit tester" to check a wire in your
"household" electrical system. See if they have them in stock (they
probably will). They cost about $2-$5 which is a small price to pay to
keep from getting yourself accidentally fried by a live wire. It's a
very simple tool to use. The alligator clip is connected to a ground
surface and the needle is touched to the exposed wire. If the LED
light in the tool's handle lights up, it's live. If it doesn't, it
isn't. Simple as that. If you follow the direction the whole safe
process takes only 5 seconds. The common circuit tester looks like
this:
TOOL AID - CIRCUIT TESTER
http://www.mytoolstore.com/toolaid/elect02.html
Alternatively, you can buy a voltage meter, but they are signficantly
more expensive:
TECRA TOOLS
http://www.tecratools.com/pages/service/37302.html
If you don't have an "exposed" wire to test, they also make a circuit
tester that literally clamps onto a portion of the wire's insulation
and takes a relatively small invasive "bite" through it to make
contact with the wire inside. If this is the type of situation you
have, be sure to mention that this is the type of tool you need
instead.
Ask around at work or in your neighborhood. Lots of people have these
in their tool boxes and rarely use them. You might be surprised how
many people you know who probably have one. Maybe someone you know
will let you borrow theirs, but if not, the circuit testing tool is a
common inexpensive offering at most hardware stores. Be sure to ASK A
PROFESSIONAL in the store to make sure you get the right one. You
don't want to put a 6v tester on a 110 line - NO...that would be a bad
thing, I assure you.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
"circuit tester"
"circuit tester" "alligator clip"
"voltage meter" |
