Unreliable voltage detector

Richard Evans · 2009-06-10T16:02:20+00:00

I have a Greenlee GT-11 voltage detector, practically new. It's aboutthe size and shape of a magic marker, but instead of a felt tip it hasa flat blade with which to probe for live voltage. Stick it into areceptacle or even touch it to the outside of a live cable and itflashes and beeps. At least, it used to.Last night, I applied it to a cable I was pretty sure was live and itwas mute. I then tried it in a receptacle I knew was hot and it wasstill mute. I tested the batteries. They were good, but I replacedthem anyway. Still nothing. I then resigned myself to buying a new oneand tossed it into a box of batteries, where it immediately beganbeeping. I took it out and started testing it again and it beepedaccurately, until I turned it off and back on, then nothing again. So, the problem appears to be in the switch, though the thing is sosimple I don't know how it could be failing intermittently.Bottom line: Once the thing is on and known to be working, it isreliable until turned off. Once turned off, it has to be tested on aknown live circuit when it's turned on again. (Which is recommendedpractice anyway.)My concern now is: Once it's on and working, can I depend on it towork for as long as it's on? Could it just stop working withoutwarning?Unless someone has some simple solution, I guess I'm off to buy a newone.

Jun 10, 2009 21 Replies

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Paul 7 years ago

replying to Richard Evans, Paul wrote: I threw mine in the trash after having it for ten years. I pulled it out to use it and put fresh batteries in it after leaving it battery free for a year and half the time it worked and half the time it doesn’t. Smash it with a hammer and throw it in the trash. I got on a few forums with real life electricians and they all had issues with all of these no touch voltage detectors.

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gfretwell 7 years ago

It just depends on if you bought a good one to start with. That thing in the drop bin at Northern Tools is junk.

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