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Fluke tester

ICE

ICE

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Staff member
Joined
Jun 23, 2011
Messages
13,892
Location
California
I am baffled by this. The GFCI receptacle was tripped with a GFCI tester.

It shows dead with the voltage tester.

I got the same results when tripping the GFCI with the test button.

DSCN8108.jpg


Until I place my hand as shown. The tester then lights and sounds. It stops when I remove my hand.

I tried the tester on other GFCI receptacles and it worked normally.

DSCN8109.jpg
 
My guess is the ungrounded side is not opening properly. With the neutral open you still have no effective power. If you get 0 volts line to ground it may be that it is open, but not very far so the sniffer can still "smell" the power.
 
I would never rely on those tester to test voltage. They pick up phantom voltages. I can't tell you how many times I used them and voltage was shown when , in fact, the power was off.

Now why did the unit light when your hand was on it. Not sure unless it was not making full contact until you moved it a bit but again it could be your body was creating some type of field that made the unit work.
 
I didn't move the tester. It is ok if the tester alerts when there is no voltage as long as it doesn't fail to alert when there is voltage. The anomaly that I experienced is bothersome not just for me but also the other inspectors that I have given testers to.

I thought it was odd that the testers are sold in pairs....perhaps they wear out....this one is several years old.

I sent Fluke a link to this thread. If I hear from them I'll let you know what's up. If not, does anyone recommend another brand tester?
 
In the pic the tester is gripped towards the tip where it detects; don't know if this will have any effect on yours but it does with mine; it will not illuminate when there is voltage.

Did the amount of your curiosity to solve this mystery have you try a different tester on the same receptacle?

Francis
 
No Francis, I have only one tester. Have you considered replacing yours?
 
No, it works very well when I use it for what worth . . . at home.

Only one time my Ideal tester would not trip a GFCI; found the electrician and his tester cycles 6-7 times before it did; within tolerance. I don't trust the test button for polarity though its not suppose to reset.

Francis
 
ICE said:
I didn't move the tester. It is ok if the tester alerts when there is no voltage as long as it doesn't fail to alert when there is voltage. The anomaly that I experienced is bothersome not just for me but also the other inspectors that I have given testers to. I thought it was odd that the testers are sold in pairs....perhaps they wear out....this one is several years old.

I sent Fluke a link to this thread. If I hear from them I'll let you know what's up. If not, does anyone recommend another brand tester?
Click to expand...
Any updates?

Francis
 
Francis Vineyard said:
Any updates?Francis
Click to expand...
I haven't heard anything from Fluke. I guess they're not interested. I'm still using the tester so I must not be too concerned either. Perhaps the episode was a fluke.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Out of several brands that I have owned, which included the Fluke, Greenlee, and some noname stuff, they have always had a reaction to movement, and also what you are doing there. I'm not an electrician, but use mine to determine if circuits have been shut off. I make sure I put it right against the wire or outlet, and don't move, then I trust the reading if it fails to light. But I can also bang it around a dead box and get it to light. Since it registers an electromagnetic field, I presume the small amount of static in your body can set it off in close proximity to the sensor.

But yes, all of the testers I have used exhibited the same behavior nomatter the brand or price.

Brent.
 
MASSDRIVER said:
Out of several brands that I have owned, which included the Fluke, Greenlee, and some noname stuff, they have always had a reaction to movement, and also what you are doing there. I'm not an electrician, but use mine to determine if circuits have been shut off. I make sure I put it right against the wire or outlet, and don't move, then I trust the reading if it fails to light. But I can also bang it around a dead box and get it to light. Since it registers an electromagnetic field, I presume the small amount of static in your body can set it off in close proximity to the sensor.But yes, all of the testers I have used exhibited the same behavior nomatter the brand or price.

Brent.
Click to expand...
I've not experienced anything like what you describe. I can get the tester to sound off if I rub it on my pant leg like I'm trying to start a fire. I haven't duplicated the errant display either. It was something about that particular receptacle that set the tester off.
 
The magnetic field generated by the internal electronics often does it as does that from a fluorescent tube. I've used these for 30 yrs and prefer the Fluke. Always test it on a known souce too. Coop
 
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