The internet has brought information very close to homeowners and this information has made it possible for them to perform tasks they once thought were the preserve of trained professionals. One such task is carrying out simple electrical repairs or installations around the home. You need a variety of tools in order to perform those tasks safely and accurately. This article discusses three important electrical testing tools that homeowners need to have in their toolkit.
A Voltage Sensor
This tool is very useful because it helps you to detect whether there is power flowing through a given wire or wall. Test the sensor on a wire that you are sure is live. If you place the tip of the sensor on a wire carrying power, the sensor will glow. This will confirm to you that it is working, as it should. This tool will help you to find out whether a fixture (such as an electrical socket) has failed to work because it is not receiving power, or another problem (such as a blown fuse) is stopping your gadgets from accessing power from that socket.
A Continuity Tester
This tool allows you to be sure that there is a path for power to flow. For instance, you can use it to find out if there is a break in a wire. Such breaks can cause fixtures to fail to function, such as what happens when rodents gnaw a wire and cut it. The tester should be used when the power supply to the fixture being tested has been turned off. All you have to do is to move the tester over the wire or fuse and once it stops lighting then take that as a sign that there is a break in the wire or fuse at that point where the tester light has gone off.
A Multi-Tester
This tool is two-in-one since it can perform the role of a voltage tester and a continuity tester. It is better for you to get the digital version because it will be easier for you to interpret its readings. It is good for testing low-voltage applications (such as the wiring of your door chime) because it is very sensitive to minute amounts of power.
The tools above are readily available in electrical stores or online. Buy them and you will bring a touch of professionalism to your DIY electrical projects. Do not hesitate to consult an electrician like Accord Electrical in case you are not sure about something that has gone wrong with your electrical system.
Share29 January 2015
Welcome to my blog! My name is Richard and my big passion in life is looking for old buildings to restore. My love of old buildings started when I was seven years old and I visited my grandparent's house in Alice Springs. It was a large Victorian building which looked magnificent even though it was in a bad state of repair. Once I grew up and made some money, I decided I would like to invest in old buildings to bring them back to life. I hire a range of different contractors to complete the work on my behalf but I take a keen interest and I have learnt a lot of things.