used voltage tester and part of it melted

i used a voltage tester to see if this wire was live or not like i always do but when i touched it to yellow romex it sparked and blew a breaker i think and it melted what loooked like to be brass part of the tester. why is that is it because the wire i was testing had more voltage than it counld handle or what it kinda scrared me. it was a garden bender.

After all the warnings you received on your other post and you're still at it?

I remember when my son was messing around with an electrical outlet and got shocked. He learned a valuable lesson that day and at 2 years old was smart enough to leave the dang things alone.

What's it going to take for you?

Like the above said. Check to make sure it's on ac. Also I've seen meters that were for DC only and fried one. wasn't mine and a client handed it to me and sparks went flying when i tested an outlet Sounds like you just need to go buy that tester that you touch the wire to test voltage through the insulation

Originally Posted by jimicrk

After all the warnings you received on your other post and you're still at it?

I remember when my son was messing around with an electrical outlet and got shocked. He learned a valuable lesson that day and at 2 years old was smart enough to leave the dang things alone.

What's it going to take for you?

One of my older brothers taught me that lesson when I was 6, the hard way!
Older brothers ain't they the best. Of coarse he thought it was funny.

Op. Stop ! Listen to what people are telling you. There's a whole lot of safer way to make money scrapping.

There's a "KNOWN" standard in ANY workplace (that wants to stay in business and keep their people healthy/living), this procedure is utilized by "TRAINED" electrical workers. This "STANDARD" is to locate and de-energize all live circuits FIRST, that workers "MIGHT" be exposed to!

This simply means to locate a means of shutting-off or isolating the power source first. This is done before any type of "TESTING" or work is done. This done for safety and to limit the possibility of causing more equipment problems. Until you are familiar with the circuits or individual devices, you need to know how to turn the power OFF!

So you need to locate where does the power come into the circuit, its power source (no it's not the electric company). Turn off all switches and/or breakers first. Do this before any testing or checking for "ABSENCE of VOLTAGE". The assumption has to be made by the worker that there is a possible problem and the potential for harm in all electrical work.

You do most electrical work in a "Reverse Order", working backwards in the circuit and towards the device (wire in your case) to be evaluated. IMOP you did your "TESTING" completely "Back A$$ Wards"! I'm not trying to be mean or funny, working with electricity is serious work. This should not be done unless you are familiar with the "basic" knowledge of electrical work. This would include how, limitations and setup of the test equipment.

Trust and believe electricity will "REACH OUT and TOUCH YOU", if you let it. You are fortunate that it was only your "Garden Bender?" that got fried, next time it might be you!

Remember a circuit that is turned off, could still have a "Charged or Energized" condition until properly grounded.

Instead of killing yourself or burning your house down why don't you take your fried volt meter and do a scrap breakdown of it. Be sure to include pictures. We like pictures.

This post reminds me of why we have warning labels on hair dryers and hot coffee. Oh and personally I try to lick all outlets before working on them you know just to make sure the are good

A man shopping at Home Depot once told me the "Electrical" was French for Don't F**K With it!. Wise man