Aboutcleggsan Expertise All technical areas of Electronics Engineering.
Experience BSEE, MBA, Design, R&D, University Research.
Senior Life Member of IEEE. Life Fellow of AES.
Organizations IEEE, Consumer Electronics Society, Audio Engineering Society.
Broad teaching experience; work experience mostly in consumer electronics and conversion from analog to digital technologies. Pioneer in digital audio at all levels.
Question I have a mains tester screwdriver with neon indicator. In trying to trace a mains wiring fault I was disturbed to see the lamp lightup brightly when touching the earth wire and a much dimmer reading from the neutral. Assuming a crushed cable I replaced the section of cable. In testing this before final connection (just to make sure...) I was disturbed to find the tester lit up brightly when touching the earth wire when it was still unconnected at both ends! Is it possible for the body's own potential to light the neon? Or is mains power inducing current/voltage in adjacent wires so as to give a false indication of a problem? The lighting circuit involved now works perfectly but still with a 'live' earth and neutral! Many thanks
Answer Yes, to the above questions. I do not like or trust these little neon testers as they give false indications too easily.
I rather recommend you to purchase a small, inexpensive vom. They are usually available at any electronics shop or even good hardware store for under 5 pounds.
With a voltmeter you are more sure of the potential on the line you are testing.
