Electrical Tests at Home

Most of us tend to take electricity for granted. Whe we flick a switch, we expect the power to be there. We expect that power to be safe and constant. That is not always the case, especially here in the Philippines where almost everyone can be an electrician and will claim to know everything when it comes to electical work. Power often fluctuates with surges or drops in voltage. Your house wiring also can have problems that can be a threat to your personal safety. That’s why it’s important to know how to test the circuits in your home.

Making electrical tests sounds complicated and expensive, but it’s not. You can buy a few simple testers that are easy to use for less than Usd20 (Php600).

You can start with a circuit analyser, which is a small gadget, almost the size of an electrical socket adapter. It can be purchased at most home centers or electronic supply stores. You use the circuit analyser by plugging it into any wall outlet. Lights/LED in the instrument will light in different patterns to reveal in any problems exist in that circuit. For example, the analyzer will tell you if the circuit is improperly grounded or if the hot and ground wires are reversed. Either of these can give you a nasty shock.

We often assume that plugging a three-pronged plug into a socket automatically grounds the appliance. That is not always the case because the outlet may not have a ground connection. A circuit analyser will show this. You should check all the outlets in your house, particularly those in the kitchen and the bathroom.

You’ll also want to buy a circuit tester. The circuit tester is basically a bulb with two test leads that is used to indicate the presence of electricity. If for example, you want to replace a wall switch, the first step is to shut off the power to the circuit (never work on a circuit until you are certain that the power is off).

To use the circuit tester, grasp the leads by the plastic collars - do not hold the metal tips - and make three tests. First, touch one lead to the screw erminal holding the black or hot, wire and touch the other leaad to the metal junction box or the green ground screw. For the second test, touch one lead to the white, or neutral, wire screw terminal and the other to the ground. For the final test, connect one lead to the black-wire screw terminal and the other lead to the white-wire screw terminal. If the bulb lights during any of those tests, the circuit is hot, and it’s not safe to proceed with the repair.

Another piece of testing equipment that can help save time and money is the continuity tester. It tells whether or not a circuit is complete - whether a switch or wire has broken internal parts. The continuity tester has its own power supply so make sure that power in the circuit is off when you use the tool. The tester has a metal probe on one end and a wire with an alligator clip on the other. You can use it to test switches, wires, and fuses. Use it to isolate malfunctioning components systematically and end trial-and-error replacement. The circuit tester also can be used to check newly installed wiring. Use it before you turn on power for the first time. It will tell you if any shorts must be repaired before the circuit is activated.