Working with electricity requires verifying the absence of operating voltage. It’s dangerous, and could lead to injury or death, to work on electrically powered assets without ensuring they are properly powered down. Whether you’re testing a on two-pole or single pole breakers or other electrical circuit, you always want to test for absence of voltage before beginning any work. Using a Fluke Two-pole Voltage and Continuity Tester before beginning electrical work keeps you safe in a few ways.
1. Voltage indication four ways
The Two-pole electrical tester, voltage tester and continuity tester indicates the presence of voltage in four different ways. No matter what kind of jobsite you are working on, one of the indication methods will ensure accurate absence of operating voltage testing. Whether it’s loud or quiet, dark or light, or anything in between, one of the four indication methods will make sure you always know if hazardous voltage is present. The four indication methods are:
- Audible signal when detecting voltage or continuity
- LED lights that show the voltage level
- Digital display
- Vibrate mode
The four models for two-pole testers available each offer a different combination of indication methods.
| Features | T150 | T130 | T110 | T90 |
| Backlit LED indicator | X | X | X | X |
| Backlit LCD digital display | X | X | ||
| Continuity test—visual results | X | X | X | X |
| Continuity test—audible results | X with on/off | X with on/off | X with on/off | X |
| Vibratory indicator under load | X | X | X | |
| Indication of polarity | X | X | X | |
| Switchable load | X | X | X | |
| Single pole test for phase detection | X | X | X | X |
| Rotary field indicator | X | X | X | |
| Voltage detection with discharged batteries | X | X | X | X |
| Electrical torch function | X | X | X |
2. Adaptable probe tips
The probe tips on the Fluke Two-pole Tester's test leads are designed to adapt to the measurements you need to take. The push-on tips can reduce the metal exposed from 19 mm to 4 mm. This limits your chance of accidentally touching the wrong conductor when working in tight spaces. Those push-on caps can be easy to lose; however, the Two-pole tester has a protector and storage accessory to hold the caps and 4 mm diameter tips. As a bonus, the tool’s tip holder serves as an extra hand when opening electrical safety outlets.
The probe tips are also threaded, so you can use screw-on 4 mm diameter tips for situations where you need studier tips.
3. Tested beyond safety standards
The electrical tester is built according to EN safety standards with those standards separately approved by independent VDE test labs. The Two-pole Tester is designed according to IEC EN 61243-3:2014 regulations and HSE GS 38 for the tip caps. It can verify the absence of voltage, even with discharged batteries. To keep you safe at work, the two-pole tester is rated to CAT IV 600 V, CAT III 690 V.
Cables are often weakened with repeated bending, twisting, wrapping and constant strain. If the cable were to break on your electrical tester, voltage tester and continuity tester, it could place you at an increased safety risk. Industry standards call for the cable to be tested to withstand a forty-five-degree bend, and still work after 5000 bend cycles. Fluke puts its testers through three times what the standard demands, flexing the cable over 150 degrees in each direction.
WearGuard™ insulation is also included to keep you safe by making it easier to see damage to test leads. The two-pole tester’s rugged, durable test leads have two layers of insulation for added durability. When you do an inspection of your test leads, if the inner, contrasting-colored layer is showing, that’s a sign that the test leads have been damaged and it's time to replace them.
Related Resources
- How to test for continuity
- Electricity fundamentals
- Electrical testing safety resources
- Preparing for absence of voltage testing