How to Use an Electrical Tester

If you don’t claim to have electrical experience, attempting to work with electricity can be daunting. While it can be a great idea to trust the best electricians to do any electrical work within your home, there are some times when only minor electrical issues may need to be addressed. For instance, maybe an outlet isn’t working or a light switch isn’t functioning as it should. These small problems may not require a call right away to the best electricians in town for an immediate fix. If these types of problems occur, you may be able to diagnose if there is an issue or not on your own using an electrical tester. Read on for more information about how to properly use an electrical tester.

Non-Contact Voltage Tester

The cheapest and most basic voltage tester is the non-contact voltage tester. This can be a great tool to have in your home for a quick electrical test. When electrical power is live, the voltage tester will alert you with beeps and lights.

It will also let you know if there is no power to an electrical component. You can test light switches, wires, outlets, or lights, all with a non-contact voltage tester.

Testing Switches

To test a light switch for live power, first flip the light switch on and off to see if any lights come on. If not, then be sure to turn off the main power before continuing. Remove the light switch cover by removing both screws at the top and bottom of the cover. Place the voltage tester in front to see if any lights flash or beeping occurs to show power is live. If nothing happens, there is no power to the switch. Detach the switch and pull it away from the wall so you can test each wire. Again, make sure nothing lights up or beeps to ensure power is off. If nothing happens, then the wire is not hot. The same process can be repeated for outlets as well.

Contact the Best Electricians

While an electrical tester may seem easy to use, not everyone feels comfortable using any kind of tool near electricity. Any time you have an electrical issue that you want looked at by a professional, call the best electrician at Benbrook Electric. No matter what your electrical issue is, our best electricians are here for you.