Electric Testers

[Jay Markanich]

What kind of electrical testing do you do?  I use a circuit tester, link below.

http://www.professionalequipment.com/tasco-inspector-ii-electrical-circuit-tester-insi20g/circuit-testers/

I think electrical testing is a big part of the inspection.  It's one place I don't want to screw up.  I also have a little tester to see if something is hot, but don't use it that much, only for hanging cables, fixtures without bulbs and such.  When possible I remove the panel box cover, but sometimes that is not possible.  When it isn't possible, or dangerous, or whatever, I note that on the report.

I have been using the device above for 15 years or so.  It is worth every penny, and lends a lot of confidence to buyers.

[John Adrian Sopher]

I use a poor inspectors tester.  Its an Ideal 61-501

http://www.tequipment.net/Ideal61-501.asp?gclid=CNPo66n02JUCFQpwGgodXGIcXg

What I want to get later on is something that will test AFCI's also.

[Jay Markanich]

The unit above does AFCI's too.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Oh does it!  I saw GFCI's when I glanced at the specs but didn't see AFCI's

[Jay Markanich]

Not officially with a button, but if you plug it in the AFCI-connected bedrooms it trips the circuit.  There is a way to get around that, so you can test the bedrooms completely, but it is a valid test nonetheless.  The unit puts an 80% load on the circuit to give it a complete and valid test.  (12 amps on a 15 circuit and 16 amps on a 20 circuit) That is enough load to trip an AFCI.  It is a great tester...

[John Adrian Sopher]

Ya I just went to their site, they also have a version 3 that is the same as yours but adds in the AFCI's and a digital display.  They also have one that does strictly AFCI's.  I liked the way yours was set up because of the quick glance lights on it.  Simple to read.

When I get rich and powerful off this inspection business, I will look more into them.  Right now I cant look, cuz then I'd buy.  lol

[Jay Markanich]

It evaluates 6 different things, one glance, including the wiring your "plug tester" does...

[David Macy]

I use an Ideal 61-65 Circuit Analyzer sometimes to see if there are any false grounds and to test AFCI.

I have gone thru 3 of them in about 3 years. The cords also dont last very long. I would never buy one again but at least the keep sending me new ones when the break.

I keep a greenline Voltage detector to test for live wires and energized panel covers.

I mostly use the simple electrical tester like John to test most outlets and GFCI.

I also have a simple tester for 2 prong outlets.

[Jay Markanich]

I used to use those Ideals also, but as you said, they go bad after a while.  I think either the prongs on the device or how they connect into the electric test cable goes bad.  They start to give erratic results.

I changed to the one I use now, though I still have a bunch of those Ideals laying around.  With a 3-2 adapter I can test the two-prong outlets.  Easy, peasy.

[John Adrian Sopher]

I'll tell ya, as a guy who use to calibrate, repair, and certify test equipment for nine years, I don't care much for the Ideal brand.  Although I never checked any testers like what we use, I did check multi-meters, clamp meters, etc on a daily basis.  They suck!!!  lol  And if that's any indication of the quality of the rest of their equipment, well, they suck!!!

Oh and Jay, thanks again, I hadn't thought about using a 3-2 adapter to check two prong outlets.  It just made the top of my purchase list!!!  I knew there was a reason I pay you so much. 

[Michael Doussept]

As well as a AFCI and a GFCI, and multie meter I also use a amp prob, and I show the client how much each circuit is drawing when everything is running.

[Steven Turetsky]

I have a few different testers. It all depends on what I am testing.

1. Pen style "sniffer"
2. Suretest 61-165
3. Fieldpiece multimeter
4. 3 light plug in outlet tester.

[Jay Markanich]

I have two Sure Tests, like the one I list above - two in case one fails.  But if they both die I also have the pen and outlet testers (regular and GFI) but not the multimeter.  What does that do and how?  I have seen them advertised, but never bought one.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Multimeters are measuring tools that typically measure volts, amps, and ohms all in one unit.  You can get them with tons of extra features but those are the basics of a multimeter.  I have a Fluke 77 with me on my inspections, but there is no reason to have it other than reading the voltage on a line and maybe frequency if it has that feature.

For us home inspectors, its a look good tool!!!  In my opinion, there are other tools we could actually use and still look good, like the GFCI/AFCI testers, gas detectors, IR cameras, etc.

On a side note, I've repaired MANY multimeters in my day.  If any of you do decide to get them, please be careful of how you hook them up in accordance to what you are trying to measure.  Not all meters can be repaired and they can be a little pricey!!!

[Steven Turetsky]

I use my multimeter for a number of tasks. Most are usually beyond home inspecting.

Beside as an ohm meter, they are great for detecting other problems. For instance:

I was sent to trouble shoot an electric HW heater that we had installed. The client thought it was defective. Each side of the double breaker had power, but the heater would not heat... brand new heater.

Using the tester, I was able to determine that one side of the breaker was putting out 120 volts, the other side was putting out about 40 volts.

Before I state the cause, does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem was?

The problem could be present in any 220 device... and by the way, although all of the outlets in the space were live, some were also only putting out about 40 volts.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Did you mean 40 volts or 40 amps?  I'm assuming you meant 40 volts.

So your saying its a 220V system, one leg was 120V and the other leg was 40V and then some of the 120V outlets in the space are reading 40V.

That leads me to think one leg is only putting out 40V.

Am I right so far?

[Steven Turetsky]

yes.

this happened a while ago. it may not have been exactly 40 volts. but it was a big voltage drop.

so, let's figure out what was going on. what would you do?

[Steven Turetsky]

oh, i reread my post and see i said volts and then amps. i could be cute and say i was testing you, but that would not be true. i mean't volts. i'll go back and correct it.

[John Adrian Sopher]

Okay first thing I would do is take a reading on both sides of the main disconnect.  This will determine if the problem is before the Service panel or not.

So my question is, what's the voltage readings on both sides of the main disconnect?

[Steven Turetsky]

Very good,

it is a main lug panel

one leg is 120/120, the other is 120/40