Reinventing the classic neon tester
Added 2023-06-22 02:14:25 +0000 UTCAn experiment to see if modern sensitive LEDs are a good substitute for the neon bulb in a classic electrical test screwdriver.
These screwdrivers rely on the person holding them to complete a circuit to ground, so the environment will determine how bright they are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJJtlWjKUas
Comments
Although you may have a high (dry) skin resistance, the biggest factor in current leakage through the body is your environment. Shoes, carpet and wooden floors are all relatively good insulators (but should not be relied on for isolation.) The resistor in the driver is designed to limit the current to a level where a tingle will not be felt from the driver when the user is strongly referenced to ground.
Big Clive
2023-06-26 15:56:49 +0000 UTCHere in Belgium with 230V/240V mains, those Neon testers are much brighter. Some people hate them, but i love them, and use them for years. In my case when i use these, they are not that bright, because it seems that i have a higher body resistance. When i touch the live wire of the mains with my finger, only 11µA of current is flowing. So with the Neon tester with extra 1M resistor, the current is even lower then 11µA.
Bjorn V
2023-06-26 11:57:03 +0000 UTCThe minimum voltage is limited by the strike voltage of the neon bulb. They strike at around 90V.
Big Clive
2023-06-25 16:36:39 +0000 UTCThat's a nice idea - but in this context, difficult.
Mike Page
2023-06-24 22:52:55 +0000 UTCWith the proud claim in the listing "as seen on big clive" but they substituted some of the parts
Matt Cocker
2023-06-24 19:08:03 +0000 UTCI have a simple neon tester from the 1950s that I keep in my kit. It still works. But the minimum voltage is 90v.
JordiSnowman
2023-06-23 19:23:34 +0000 UTCGiven that there's such low current to start with, it could complicate that.
Big Clive
2023-06-23 17:32:55 +0000 UTCCould you use different leds to determine different voltage levels? Maybe using resistors to tune the necessary voltage for each individual led? That would be an awesome thing to see if you built it
Eric Weimar
2023-06-23 04:41:15 +0000 UTCThe LEDs are brighter and on two sides. They could also use the Xmas light style side emitting LEDs.
Big Clive
2023-06-23 00:38:17 +0000 UTCThe neon can be seen from any angle.
Nuts 'n' Proud
2023-06-23 00:08:02 +0000 UTCI suppose you have to play down to the lowest denominator, but the fact it lights at all without batteries should hopefully be a clue.
Big Clive
2023-06-22 23:58:52 +0000 UTCDo you think that the novice might mistake the green as meaning it is safe to work on? I thought about that when I bought a tape full of amber LEDs for indicators.
John Lundgren ~ Acme Fixer
2023-06-22 20:24:06 +0000 UTCI Know it's only a few Micro amps, 0.00024 @ 240 Volts. but these things just sound like a horrible idea.
Jonathan Hughes
2023-06-22 17:15:41 +0000 UTCTaking bets on how long it takes to show up on aliexpress.
rune
2023-06-22 15:20:49 +0000 UTCIt's a carbon film resistor. But an exposed one.
Big Clive
2023-06-22 13:59:57 +0000 UTCIt would be interesting if they did.
Big Clive
2023-06-22 13:59:18 +0000 UTCClive great idea. Think i'll make one myself. also manufactures will surely take this up once they see your video.
george spilling
2023-06-22 13:18:28 +0000 UTCIf these really are the test equipment of choice for DIYers, then they really need to find something safer, or call an electrician in.
Gadgetman
2023-06-22 09:00:14 +0000 UTCBigClive: "It's different." That's all we need to know.
Curtis Hoffmann
2023-06-22 04:52:44 +0000 UTCI still have my ancient 1980 neon screwdriver. I wondered what the wire wound resistor was.
Nuts 'n' Proud
2023-06-22 03:41:36 +0000 UTC
