Plug in Electrical socket outlet tester.

anotherquestion

Just after reading a post in another site where it states that it's a good idea to have a plug in outlet tester to check if plug not wired properly.

Just after looking at this one on Amazon,

KLEIN TOOLS GFCI Receptacle Tester RT210, Pack of 1 : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Probably don't want to pay much more than this, 

If you know of a better one around same price, would be grateful if you would let me know.

Thanks and Happy Christmas.

Ajmason42

That looks American try Screwfix or toolstation for uk 

Ebe_Scrooge

I'm a little confused as to the motivation behind this question.  Are you meaning you want to check if a socket is wired correctly?  If so, is there any reason why you suspect it isn't wired correctly?  Seems a somewhat pointless purchase to me, unless I'm missing something?

I can sort of understand the logic behind it, I think - but if you plugged an appliance into an incorrectly-wired socket, the circuit breaker would trip in pretty short order, and it's a simple matter to remove the socket faceplate and visually check the connections.

(As an aside, I've never heard the term "receptacle" used in this context before - is it a Canadian thing, judging from the reviews???)

Section62

anotherquestion said:

Just after reading a post in another site where it states that it's a good idea to have a plug in outlet tester to check if plug not wired properly.

Just after looking at this one on Amazon,

KLEIN TOOLS GFCI Receptacle Tester RT210, Pack of 1 : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Probably don't want to pay much more than this, 

If you know of a better one around same price, would be grateful if you would let me know.

Thanks and Happy Christmas.

Assuming you are in the UK then you need one with a BS1363 ("13 Amp") arrangement of pins - the one in that link isn't suitable.

One like this will do the basic job, and is cheaper....

https://www.toolstation.com/socket-tester/p82826

Section62

Ebe_Scrooge said:

I can sort of understand the logic behind it, I think - but if you plugged an appliance into an incorrectly-wired socket, the circuit breaker would trip in pretty short order, and it's a simple matter to remove the socket faceplate and visually check the connections.

Not necessarily if (say) the 'live' and 'neutral' are reversed.

Using a tester also avoid the risks involved in isolating the circuit and removing the faceplate - not just the risk of electric shock, but also the risk of damaging the decor, and also of pinching/nicking one of the wires when putting the faceplate back on.

It doesn't really get easier (or safer) than using a plug-in tester (so long as it complies with safety standards).  I routinely use one to check sockets before and after work, and also test any extension leads I'm going to use.

FaceHead

Agree with the screwfix recommendation e.g. 91596 for £7.49

It's such a simple test that takes no time at all, and checks that you haven't had a moment of madness and got it wrong, pinched something or similar. It seems to me like a proportionate and simple test when you're a DIY-er without all the proper testing gear.  

For example, I replaced a socket faceplate, put the plug in tester on and it showed live and neutral reversed - a fairly dangerous fault as it prevents the socket being switched off. Without the tester, I would have never known, as I had followed the usual colour convention 'correctly'. However, the previous person who has extended the radial had connected red to blue and black to brown at a junction box to extend the circuit, making the brown wire at the socket neutral and the blue the live. When I put a faceplate on following the usual convention the fault emerged. It took me me a while to trace the wire back and find the culprit. 

Summary: always test your work in a way that is proportionate to the job you're doing. You never think you've done it wrong, but sometimes a connection might slip out, or there might be something unseen going on. A plug in tester is so simple and fairly cheap that I'd recommend it to be part of a DIY toolbox when doing electricals.  

Ebe_Scrooge

Section62 & FaceHead - thanks, I've learned something new today.  Guess I'm so used to double-and triple-checking my own work, but like you say, it could highlight someone else's !!!!!!-up as well

donemedosh

As others have said the screwfix tester (91596) for less than £8 is cheap option. But if there is anything wrong with the sockets then the MCB or RCD should trip if anything is plugged in.

Section62

donemedosh said:

But if there is anything wrong with the sockets then the MCB or RCD should trip if anything is plugged in.

Not necessarily (as I mentioned above) - another example where nothing would trip if you just plug something in is if there is no 'earth' connection.  The RCD wouldn't 'see' this fault unless the appliance is also faulty when it is plugged in.

anotherquestion

Thanks a lot everybody, just ordered the Screwfix one.

bris

donemedosh said:

As others have said the screwfix tester (91596) for less than £8 is cheap option. But if there is anything wrong with the sockets then the MCB or RCD should trip if anything is plugged in.

It will trip under fault conditions but it wont trip for a missing earth or reverse polarity or any of the other faults it looks for.