Got a spark when testing for live voltage at ceiling light.


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Old 01-19-19, 01:21 PM
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Got a spark when testing for live voltage at ceiling light.

I was testing for live voltage at ceiling light fixture when changing light fitting. I just touched the live wire with manual live volt testing screw driver and got a big spark and circuit breaker tripped. Now the light won’t work but bulb is ok. I don’t want to test for live voltage at source in case it sparks again. Any idea on why it would have sparked and what might have gone wrong
 
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Old 01-19-19, 01:42 PM
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Welcome to the forums.

Either your tester is shorted or your probe hit a live wire and ground or neutral.
Test your tester in a receptacle to make sure it's working properly.
 
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Old 01-19-19, 01:48 PM
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Thanks. Is it possible that I might have damaged the dimmer light switch
 
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Old 01-19-19, 05:42 PM
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It is very likely that the spark killed the dimmer.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 06:25 AM
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What is the voltage rating on that manual live voltage testing screw driver? Post a pic as I have never seen one for line voltage testing.
Geo
 
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Old 01-20-19, 06:55 AM
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You need to spend $8-$15 on an analog (not digital) multimeter. Then you can do some serioue testing.
 
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Old 01-20-19, 03:15 PM
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Your hand slipped and the end of the screwdriver or probe touched two things instead of one. Or you pushed the wire instead of just touching it causing it in turn to touch something else. You might want to tape over all but the last 1/8 inch of the tip of the probe to cut down on such accidents in the future.

Looking carefully you might see burn marks or metal melting showing exactly where things touched that should not have.
 
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Old 01-21-19, 10:50 AM
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What is the voltage rating on that manual live voltage testing screw driver? Post a pic as I have never seen one for line voltage testing.
Geo

I have one that I believe is rated at 600 volts and always loved it. I haven't used it regularly for 35 or more years. Can't remember the last time I saw one for sale.
 
 

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