Continuity Tester vs Voltage Tester

A continuity tester is easy to understand since it only consists of a battery placed within a housing cover that has a probing test wire tightened to the end of the battery housing along with an alligator clip to the second end. Its usability is determined by the fact that its current is switched off in order to figure out if an electrical appliance is holding a fluent current flow within its body.

If it’s not then the continuity tester is used to figure out the root of the problem within the appliance. There is only a slight difference in the usage of the voltage tester and the continuity tester. Their prices are varied since the continuity tester is far more pricey than the voltage tester. It’s easy to find either tool at retail outlets or online since they’re popular among mechanics, but most opine that a continuity tester is far more reliable.

Usages of Continuity Tester

You have to unplug the electrical machine or appliance and open it in order to reach the part you wish to test for the problem. Tighten the clip of the tester to the single wire and simply touch the test probe to another electrical wire. If the wire receives and sends electrical signals, the continuity tester will simply light up or produce an obvious buzz sound.

But if the tester does not give any sound or light, then the appliance being tested has a problem. Make sure you do not get hurt while testing the appliance by unplugging the power circuit. It is best to tug the switch out of the wall before you use a continuity tester since electrocution may occur if the hand touches a naked wire.

Voltage Tester

Comparatively simpler in design and functionality, the voltage tester consists of a small neon bulb and has double insulated wires tighten to the lower surface of the bulb house. It is always used with the current switched on, unlike the continuity tester. It is used for current flowing through a wire and sometimes to test the proper nature of grounding of a wire. Sometimes it is used to figure out if the wire has adequate voltage. Voltage testers are ‘old school’ as compared to continuity testers and have far less complicated mechanisms.

Usages of a Voltage Tester

You have to touch the test probe of one wire or connection and the second probe of the other connection in order to find out the voltage. The light in the housing will flicker if the appliance is receiving current in its body. If the light does not illuminate, there is a fault in the mechanism of the electrical appliance. Another way to use a voltage tester is to pull it out of the wall and place one of its probes on the terminal screw and the second probe on the second terminal screw. If it flickers, there is current in the body and if it does not flicker then there has to be a blown fuse in the body. There could even be a tripped circuit breaker or the wire could be disconnected at the end of the body.