An active indicator screwdriver (with a battery inside) is much more functional than a passive one, since in addition to searching for a phase, it can determine hidden wiring in the wall, the location of a wire break in the cable, and the integrity of incandescent light bulbs, fuses, and diodes. Let's look at how to use it from A to Z. Before each use, be sure to check the screwdriver, as its battery or Light-emitting diode may fail. To do this, you need to simultaneously touch its tip and the metal contact on the handle with your fingers. If the indicator lights up, then it is working normally.
Phase search
This is the main function of using an indicator screwdriver. With its help, you can distinguish a live phase wire from a neutral wire and a ground wire. To do this, simply apply its tip to the exposed wire or contact. If her Light-emitting diode lights up, it means it is a phase wire.
Determination of working zero
If you apply a screwdriver to the neutral wire and press its contact on the handle, you can determine the integrity of its wire. If it is broken, the indicator will not light up.
Cable continuity and damage detection
If you apply the probe of a screwdriver with the upper indicator clamped with your finger to the core at one end of the cable, and grab a core of the same color from the other end with your hand, the indicator should light up. If the screwdriver does not respond, then the wire is broken.
To find the location of the damage under the insulation, you need to connect one end of the damaged core to the phase. Then the upper contact on the screwdriver is pressed with a finger, and it is smoothly moved with a probe along the wire from the connected edge. The indicator will light all the time and stop above the gap. If you remove the insulation at this point, you can repair the cable.
Checking the integrity of fuses, diodes, incandescent lamps
You need to touch one contact on an incandescent lamp, fuse or diode with your hand, and the second with a screwdriver probe. After this, its contact on the handle is pressed. If the diode lights up, then the device is intact.
Finding hidden wiring in the wall
By applying the upper contact of the indicator screwdriver to the wall where the live wiring hidden in the plaster passes, it Light-emitting diode will light up. This feature allows you to check the wall before drilling or nailing to ensure that the cable is not caught. The screwdriver will work if the wiring is no deeper than 2 cm in the plaster. During this check, it is important not to rub the contact against the wall, since Light-emitting diode will light up due to static electricity.
