Re: Unreliable voltage detector

In article <kglv25hqd8t3t26n0i8hehrlhdggd5gh26@xxxxxxx>,
Richard Evans <infodex@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have a Greenlee GT-11 voltage detector, practically new. It's about
the size and shape of a magic marker, but instead of a felt tip it has
a flat blade with which to probe for live voltage. Stick it into a
receptacle or even touch it to the outside of a live cable and it
flashes and beeps. At least, it used to.

Last night, I applied it to a cable I was pretty sure was live and it
was mute. I then tried it in a receptacle I knew was hot and it was
still mute. I tested the batteries. They were good, but I replaced
them anyway. Still nothing. I then resigned myself to buying a new one
and tossed it into a box of batteries, where it immediately began
beeping. I took it out and started testing it again and it beeped
accurately, until I turned it off and back on, then nothing again.

So, the problem appears to be in the switch, though the thing is so
simple I don't know how it could be failing intermittently.

Bottom line: Once the thing is on and known to be working, it is
reliable until turned off. Once turned off, it has to be tested on a
known live circuit when it's turned on again. (Which is recommended
practice anyway.)

My concern now is: Once it's on and working, can I depend on it to
work for as long as it's on? Could it just stop working without
warning?

Yes, it quite readily could.


Unless someone has some simple solution, I guess I'm off to buy a new
one.

If it were mine, I'd take it apart and look for a cold or cracked solder
connection. Finding one I'd resolder it. Failing that I'd replace the
switch.
.

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