Products > Test Equipment
Is NON-CONTACT VOLTAGE feature worth it?
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floobydust:
NCV sensitivity depends on how you hold the instrument. It's relying on your body capacitance as the other electrode. Always be careful with how/where you're holding it.
Also if the probe "can get in there", anything shielding wires will thwart it.
I use NCV only when it's not possible to measure voltages and to confirm the junction box does not have multiple power sources. For when you shut off a breaker but there's still hazardous live wiring in there.

I got a cheap NCV probe from Aliexpress I think it was $1 possibly a Fluke knockoff. Hmmm it didn't work very good at all, poor sensitivity. Took it apart, the problem is the probe tip was missing the metal flag and somebody put a resistor lead in place. It uses a 74HC14 and very high Z input impedance 12x22MEG (264MEG) to GND. Works great now.

NCV in multimeters, the electrode looks not well thought out, a PCB trace next to a bunch of other traces and nowhere near 264MEG input impedance. so I expect the feature to not work as good as a dedicated probe.
ejeffrey:
Yes NCV is handy.  I use it somewhat regularly.  I wouldn't make it a major factor in a DMM decision but it's a nice to have feature if it's there.  But it's easy enough to get a stand alone tester if you prefer a different meter.
Simon:
Fluke are seriously overpriced. A 179 now goes for £450 when a few years ago it was £250, you are literally buying a pantone colour.
2N3055:

--- Quote from: Simon on March 15, 2024, 07:20:37 am ---Fluke are seriously overpriced. A 179 now goes for £450 when a few years ago it was £250, you are literally buying a pantone colour.

--- End quote ---

Even £250 is too much.

179 is a 6000 count meter with DC accuracy of 0.1% (0,09% in sales talk) and in the rest of the measurements it is not better than 1%.
AC BW is 1 kHz.

While at the same time you can get 3 pieces of Brymen BM857S/867S/789.
Or a BM869, a BT75 and a good Brymen current clamp of your choice.
That complement of instruments would be much more usefull.
Simon:
well I just sold mine for £120 on an ebay auction. the guy actually messaged me to confirm I was happy with the price before he paid. I said yes. people had them up for a little more and the fact that they were just sitting there meant no one was interestd.
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