Testers for Homeowners (e.g. non professionals)

[duckie]

Hi - Sometimes a normal person would need to check and test their electrical connections. There are testers which claim to help do this job - my question is are they OK to use as a starting point to figuring if there is a problem in the first place? e.g. socket earth wire not connected which can be quickly tested with the socket tester

Here's one I purchased recently from Amazon that helped me find a socket which did not have its earth wire connected which I thought was a good use of the tester. Tester on Amazon

 

[Andy78]

Things like this can be useful but only really scratch the surface of testing the condition of a circuit.

 

[telectrix]

Hi - Sometimes a normal person would need to check and test their electrical connections. There are testers which claim to help do this job - my question is are they OK to use as a starting point to figuring if there is a problem in the first place? e.g. socket earth wire not connected which can be quickly tested with the socket tester

Here's one I purchased recently from Amazon that helped me find a socket which did not have its earth wire connected which I thought was a good use of the tester. Tester on Amazon


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useful as you describe but as Andy said, limited. e.g. they won't detect a N-E reversal. but end of the day, a useful DIY tool. we all carry one in addition to "proper" test gear. main use we find is checking which sockets are fed by each MCB without the encumbrance of a Megger.

 

[Pete999]

Dangerous in the hands of an amateur, in my opinion.

 

[The Ghost]

What is it you are trying to achieve with these testers? Are you regularly using them? Just diying or more at home or elsewhere???