Voltage Tester Or Receptacle Circuit Analyzer

[Valjean]

I am trying to find something like the Gardner Bender 3-Wire GFI Circuit Analyzer I had in the US to test my electrictal - including the work I am having done. Anyone know where these can be bought? At Home Pro they have the voltage testers but they don't test the ground.

[Ratsima]

I looked for these all over and never found one. I ended up doing all the testing with a multi-meter. Last trip back to the States I tried to find a circuit checker that would work with 220 V, but no luck.

I searched on both Amazon UK and Google UK and only came up with devices like this:

Rapitest CT113 Circuit Tester

[lopburi3]

Believe you could use any multi-meter to test as well as that LED tester. L(Hot) to N or G should read full voltage and N to G zero (or very close). The only advantage of the plug in (other than faster) is they check wires are on the right terminals (polarity) but you can do that manually.

A cheap meter from Lotus is only a couple hundred baht. But have the electrician do the testing if you are not familiar with meter use on live circuits - just observe that he checks the hot to ground (as many don't have a clue).

[Crossy]

I brought one from the UK, had to make an adaptor that correctly connects L and N otherwise works fine, and much more convenient than using a meter.

They are actually a piece of cake to make, I've seen instructions on the web, when I get a minute I'll search out the link

EDIT Here we are http://web-ee.com/schematics/electronic_projects/test_plug/

Edited June 12, 2008 by Crossy

[longball53098]

Does anyone care to venture a guess or speculate what will happen if you use the US style plug in socket tester that is rated for 125 volts into a Thai socket at 240 Volts?

Will the Neon lamps burn very brightly for a minute before burning out? Will the resistors in the circuits not work correctly?

The designer of the test box indicates if using on 120 volts to reduce the size resistors to about 68k so if a US model is used I suspect that the lamps will get very bright?

The test box is very simple to build I think and modify the design to use with a pigtail cord and plug rather than mounted directly to a plug.

[longball53098]

OOps! Sorry for a double post.

I had a system glitch just as I was psoting

Edited June 12, 2008 by longball53098

[Valjean]

Thanks for the help and tip on how to use the voltage meter to check ground.

I looked at the do it yourself instructions - and had a chuckle over what "piece of cake to make" means. For you maybe

Meanwhile I guess it's time to start importing these as my next business idea!

[Crossy]

Do remember that these testers will NOT find L-N reversed at the incoming if you have a MEN link (nasty fault, grounded metalwork could become live).

Use your neon screwdriver to ensure L really is live.

[Valjean]

Do remember that these testers will NOT find L-N reversed at the incoming if you have a MEN link (nasty fault, grounded metalwork could become live).

Use your neon screwdriver to ensure L really is live.

OK thanks

[Crossy]

I have a few (3) of these testers that I got from the Good ol' US of A (courtesy ebay). I've modified them for 220V and checked they work.

Anyone wants one PM me, 350Baht (deposited to my Bangkok Bank account) will cover my costs including postage within Thailand

First come, first served obviously.

If there's demand I can get some more but this is never going to be a money making venture (postage from US is nearly twice what the beasties actually cost)

[JAS21]

I have a few (3) of these testers that I got from the Good ol' US of A (courtesy ebay). I've modified them for 220V and checked they work.

Anyone wants one PM me, 350Baht (deposited to my Bangkok Bank account) will cover my costs including postage within Thailand

First come, first served obviously.

If there's demand I can get some more but this is never going to be a money making venture (postage from US is nearly twice what the beasties actually cost)

I've PMd you....thanks

[elkangorito]

You can also build a "safety switch" (aka RCD) checker.

http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2813/article.html

[Crossy]

You can also build a "safety switch" (aka RCD) checker.

http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2813/article.html

Well spotted that man

I'll probably knock one up for myself.

The testers I got are made in China, but that's all it says. I'm sure the makers will do a 220V one (for a price and minimum order) if only we could suss who they are

[elkangorito]

The RCD tester will work on 220 volts (about a 37mA test current).

Please be advised that this tester DOES NOT in any way, test your earth, earthing system or earth fault loop impedance. It simply indicates that a functioning earth wire is connected to the power outlet being tested & that the RCD protecting the outlet, has tripped.

It will also not validate/test RCD response time, which in some cases, may be too slow due to cable impedance etc.

[elkangorito]

Just as a comparison, here is a link to some "real" test equipment.

http://www.hlpcontrols.com.au/Electrical%2...l%20Testing.htm

[Crossy]

I have a few (3) of these testers that I got from the Good ol' US of A (courtesy ebay). I've modified them for 220V and checked they work.

Anyone wants one PM me, 350Baht (deposited to my Bangkok Bank account) will cover my costs including postage within Thailand

First come, first served obviously.

If there's demand I can get some more but this is never going to be a money making venture (postage from US is nearly twice what the beasties actually cost)

I still have one of these beasties left, and I'm off back to India next week so if you want one PM me ASAP

[longball53098]

Hey Crossy do you still have a tester for sale? If so PM me your account number and I will take it

[Crossy]

I have a few (3) of these testers that I got from the Good ol' US of A (courtesy ebay). I've modified them for 220V and checked they work.

Anyone wants one PM me, 350Baht (deposited to my Bangkok Bank account) will cover my costs including postage within Thailand

First come, first served obviously.

If there's demand I can get some more but this is never going to be a money making venture (postage from US is nearly twice what the beasties actually cost)

I'm back in LoS next week after an extended foray to sunny Bangalore.

I have couple of these units left if anyone wants one please PM me. First come first served

[longball53098]

Crossy,

I'm still interested but I want to cut a deal.

I have an unmodified unit that a friend carried from the US over to me. Never been used.

Can we work out some trade or something?

[Crossy]

I'm still interested but I want to cut a deal.

I have an unmodified unit that a friend carried from the US over to me. Never been used.

Can we work out some trade or something?

For a fellow TV'er I'll do a straight swap. Cost of modification is about 10 Baht (6 resistors) and a few minutes of my time (the hardest part is getting the bloody thing open).

If you're local to BKK / Pathum Thani we can have a beer whilst performing the exchange of prisoners, otherwise I'll bung it in the post (PM me your details)

I'm theoretically back on the 20th IF I can get a flight and the PAD don't close the airport again

[longball53098]

I'm still interested but I want to cut a deal.

I have an unmodified unit that a friend carried from the US over to me. Never been used.

Can we work out some trade or something?

For a fellow TV'er I'll do a straight swap. Cost of modification is about 10 Baht (6 resistors) and a few minutes of my time (the hardest part is getting the bloody thing open).

If you're local to BKK / Pathum Thani we can have a beer whilst performing the exchange of prisoners, otherwise I'll bung it in the post (PM me your details)

I'm theoretically back on the 20th IF I can get a flight and the PAD don't close the airport again

Happy trails to you and hope your trip is smoooooth and trouble free.

Be happy to do a swap.

The beer sounds good but not the trip to BKK. I'm in the Sattahip Banchang area about 10 minutes east of Utapao. So I guess the beer and war stories session will have to wait.

Here's a pic of what I have and I agree about getting it open. I can't see any way of opening short of using a small Dremel type tool to cut it open.

[Crossy]

Here's a pic of what I have and I agree about getting it open. I can't see any way of opening short of using a small Dremel type tool to cut it open.

I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you, it requires lateral thinking

PM me your details, I'll drop the beastie in the post when I get home along with my return address