Indicators

Many have probably heard that a real electrician is not one who is not afraid of electricity, but one who is able to avoid direct contact with electricity. According to statistics, electricians with an experience of ten or more years die most often from electric shock. It is at this age that the sense of danger is dulled. Some experienced electricians check the presence of electricity by touch, yes, it is by touch. But why risk your own life when there are devices that show the presence of voltage?

There are a lot of devices showing the presence of voltage - from the simplest voltage indicator on a gas-discharge light bulb (neon) and ending with devices showing not only the presence of voltage but also many other parameters.

In this article, we will consider voltage indicators and indicators that are most often used in their practice by both professional electricians and home craftsmen.

Relatively recently, we have appeared voltage indicators that allow us to detect the presence of voltage without direct contact with a live conductor.

An example of this type of device is the indicator of Chinese production (although it is written everywhere that it was made in Germany) - MS-18, MS-58, etc.

With electricity you need to be on you 

Such indicators consist of an LED, two miniature batteries and a pair of radio components. Such indicators can be used safely, having enough experience and knowledge in electricity, since these indicators react to everything. For novice electricians and people without experience, it is undesirable and even dangerous to use these probes.

The most popular among novice electricians and home craftsmen is the indicator screwdriver. Surely every home craftsman has such a tool.

There are many varieties of such a voltage indicator. The simplest ones consist of a neon light bulb, resistance from several hundred kOhm to 1 megohm, a transparent body and a screwdriver blade.

It is enough to use such a probe with just a screwdriver - touch a bare conductor or live part of the equipment, touch the metal part of the probe with your finger, it can be a small ring or just a piece of tin on the cap. In the presence of voltage, the neon lamp lights up. Indicators have a lot of such names - INO-70, IN-91, etc.

The next most popular among electricians are two-pole voltage indicators. Such indicators consist of two parts. One of the parts contains the entire filling of the device, the second part contains the probe. There are many types of such indicators. They also differ in functionality.

The simplest indicators show only the presence of voltage. An example of such an indicator can be called devices of the PIN-90 (-2m, -2m) series, UN500, -453, UNNU-1, etc. More advanced models - the ELIN-1 series (-SZ, -S3 IPM, -C3 Combi) and many other devices show not only the presence of voltage on the investigated section of the circuit, but also its nominal value, voltage polarity.

Used as an indication: neon bulbs, LEDs of various colors, digital and indicators. There are also combined indicators, where, along with the light indication, there is also a sound one, which makes working with the devices more comfortable and safe.

Unlike single-pole indicators, in order to find out about the presence of voltage with data (two-pole) devices, it is necessary to use two probes. The use of such devices gives a more complete picture of the presence or absence of voltage, which is undoubtedly very important in the work of electricians.

In addition to checking for the presence or absence of voltage in the section of the circuit under investigation, some two-pole indicators can be used as a "continuity", that is, to check the circuit for an open.

Also, digital devices - multimeters - testers are quite popular among electricians. These versatile instruments allow you to check voltage, resistance, etc. A digital display, sound and light indication is used as an indication.

Some models are equipped with "clamps" that allow you to measure the current without breaking the conductor insulation. Also, many models of testers are equipped with a temperature sensor, with which you can measure the temperature of equipment - transformers, motors, power switches.

In any case, using indicators and voltage indicators, knowledge and skills are required when working with them. Also, do not forget about safety precautions. And, trust the professionals, electricity, as you know, does not forgive jokes and mistakes.