screwdriver tester

Oct 08, 2007 22 Replies

Yes; however, the "screwdriver tester" with the NE-2 bulb has an insulated handle - the only current that can flow is through the bulb, and there's probably a current-limiting resistor in series as well.

But, as long as you're only touching the plastic part, you'll be OK - the reason for the safety warnings is becase if one hand is grounded, or you're standing in water, and your hand slips and contacts the HV AC, it can kill you.

The point is to not give the current any path through yourself, but like I say, the little neon testers should be OK, if you're only holding the plastic part.

Hope This Helps! Rich

More specifically, the "one hand in your pocket" rule is intended to prevent the situation where the "active" hand touches live while the "spare" hand is resting on a grounded case, resulting in a relatively low-impedance path which goes in one arm, across your chest (through the heart), and out the other arm.

If the spare hand is out of the way when you touch live, the current faces a relatively higher-impedance capacitive path, and most of it avoids the heart.

It all make sense now.Thanks to Rich and Nobody and also the rest for all the clarifications given. Really appreciate that.

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