has anyone come across an ...

[Phil Pascoe]

electrical test screwdriver that is actually serviceable as a screwdriver? Every one I've ever owned had been made of Edam.

 

[Spectric]

Thats because they are DIY, a screwdriver is a screwdriver and a tester is a tester, would you actually trust it with your life! If you do not want a proper tester then rig up a simple bulb arrangement using a filament bulb of around 5 to 10 watts.

 

[Rorschach]

No, but then the neon ones scare me do I don't use them lol.

 

[Jelly]

electrical test screwdriver that is actually serviceable as a screwdriver? Every one I've ever owned had been made of Edam.

I discovered today that Wera make one... Coming from them I presume that it's actually a good screwdriver, even though it's a terrible idea.

Notably, it was about £17 from what I saw, whilst the cheapest dedicated two probe tester on the market is £19

I am sufficiently horrified by the idea of making myself the path to earth in a mains circuit, to have not enquired any further, and will stick with my cheapo tester and separate screwdrivers.

Edit: Just looked them up, they're actually only about £5, but the point about cheap dedicated tester stands.

 

[John Brown]

Surely neon screwdrivers serve a different purpose to "two probe testers" or light bulbs. For example, what if there's a break in the neutral? Your neon will still tell you the live is live. I always test a neon screwdriver immediately before relying on it, and I have a cheap non-contact tester as well, but I wouldn't trust the non-contact device with my life.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have a half decent tester, a screwdriver tester is just handy sometimes.

 

[TheUnicorn]

As they are made of chedder, and essentially not designed for use as a screwdriver, you have to wonder why they don't just have a tapered tip, like the probe on a multimeter

 

[Jelly]

Surely neon screwdrivers serve a different purpose to "two probe testers" or light bulbs. For example, what if there's a break in the neutral?

If you're following safe isolation procedures, you would surely be testing at the source of the circuit, then locking out prior to working anywhere else; finding out if there was a break is then a case of running continuity tests on the individual conductors, (or by looping LN, NE, LE if it's more convenient).

Your neon will still tell you the live is live. I always test a neon screwdriver immediately before relying on it, and I have a cheap non-contact tester as well, but I wouldn't trust the non-contact device with my life.

This is pretty much the only acceptable use for a neon screwdriver, proving Live; even then they're not 100% reliable, and are all but superceded by the non-contact type tester for that purpose.

The volt-stick and neon screwdriver should both be regarded with similar levels of suspicion when it comes to proving dead as neither is even close to foolproof.



I don't like to get all holyier than thou over safety on forums like this, as I'm aware that sensibilities around safety honed in an industrial environment are not necessarily reasonable in a hobby/DIY context, where personal risk appetite will vary...

So if it's good enough for you, then fair enough!

But what I would say is that whilst there are some scenarios where they're appropriate, I would absolutely kick a Spark or IC Tech off site if it came to my attention they were relying on one as their only or primary means of proving dead.

 

[John Brown]

If you're following safe isolation procedures, you would surely be testing at the source of the circuit, then locking out prior to working anywhere else; finding out if there was a break is then a case of running continuity tests on the individual conductors, (or by looping LN, NE, LE if it's more convenient).




This is pretty much the only acceptable use for a neon screwdriver, proving Live; even then they're not 100% reliable, and are all but superceded by the non-contact type tester for that purpose.

The volt-stick and neon screwdriver should both be regarded with similar levels of suspicion when it comes to proving dead as neither is even close to foolproof.



I don't like to get all holyier than thou over safety on forums like this, so if it's good enough for you, then fair enough...

But what I would say is that whilst there are some scenarios where they're appropriate, I would absolutely kick a Spark or IC Tech off site if it came to my attention they were relying on one as their only or primary means of proving dead.

Thanks. I accept all that, but most of my experience has been with existing wiring, when I have no idea whether it's been installed properly, or if standard colour codes have been observed. My point was that using a two probe test, or a lamp, only tells you anything if you are referring to a known good ground or neutral, whereas the neon screwdriver(if it's working properly) tells you what could happen to you.
I shall shut up now, as I'm not a qualified electrician, and I would not want anyone to get hurt as a result of anything I say.

 

[Jelly]

Thanks. I accept all that, but most of my experience has been with existing wiring, when I have no idea whether it's been installed properly, or if standard colour codes have been observed. My point was that using a two probe test, or a lamp, only tells you anything if you are referring to a known good ground or neutral, whereas the neon screwdriver(if it's working properly) tells you what could happen to you.
I shall shut up now, as I'm not a qualified electrician, and I would not want anyone to get hurt as a result of anything I say.

That's reasonable, as I've 100% seen the kind of ancient and botched installations you're talking about!

Having thought more about it, I can see a good argument that it's being appropriate to use them as an additional "layer of protection" in those situations, although personally would prefer a volt-stick for that purpose.

 

[Sandyn]

test screwdriver that is actually serviceable as a screwdriver? Every one I've ever owned had been made of Edam.

I always have one in my pocket, Some are better than others, but they are never great. I tend to use the test screwdriver for screws which are too large , so gets damaged, then I just get a new one. The last one was just over £1