Working of Line Tester

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Electric Phase or Line Tester – Construction & Working of Mains TesterWhat is Phase or Mains Tester?

Phase, electric mains or line tester is a basic tool which is used to test and identify Phase / Live/ Hot or Positive (+) wire / conductor in electrical installation also known as voltage or current detector.

Phase or Line Tester is also called Neon Screw Driver or Test Pin.

Good to Know: Phase, Line, Hot, Live and Positive are the same terms used for single item.

Construction of Phase or Line Tester

Following are the main parts of a typical Phase or Line Tester.

Internal Parts of a Phase Line-Tester
Internal Parts of a Phase Line-Tester

1). Metallic Rod and Mouth

It is a cylindrical metal rod. The flat end (mouth) is used as a screw driver or touch electrical conductors/wires to find phase or live wires and the other end is connected to the resistance, neon bulb, element and metallic cap screw respectively. The flat end of cylindrical metal rod is also covered with transparent insulated plastic for insulation proposes except mouth.

2). Body and Insulation

All these components (Resistance, Neon bulb, Element or metallic spring, and Metallic Cap screw) are covered in a transparent insulated body which made of plastic. The flat end of cylindrical metal rod is also covered with transparent insulated plastic for insulation proposes except mouth.

3). Resistor

Resistor is an element which opposes the flow of current through it. In a phase or line tester, resistor is connected between cylindrical metal rod and Neon bulb to prevent high current and reduces it to a safe value to protect the neon bulb. Without a resistor, high current may damage the neon bulb. Moreover it  may be dangerous to use this tool without resistor.

4). Neon Bulb

Neon bulb is connected between resistance and element (metallic spring). It is used as phase indicator bulb. When a small current flows through it, the neon bulb starts to glow. Due to neon bulb, a phase or line tester is also called a Neon Screw driver.

5). Element (Metallic Spring)

Element (metallic spring) is used to make connection between neon bulb and metallic cap screw.

6). Metallic Cap Screw and Clip

Metallic cap screw is used for to tight all the components inside the phase tester slot. In addition, metallic cap screw is connected with spring (element) and spring (element) is connected with neon bulb then. Moreover clip is used for holding the phase tester in pocket.

How does an Electric Phase or Line Tester work Construction Working of Mains Tester
Construction Working of Mains Tester

Working of a Phase or Line Tester

When we touch mouth (flat end of the metallic rod) of phase or line tester with naked Live / hot wire whereas one of our finger touch the metallic cap screw or clip of Phase/Line Tester, then circuit is completed and current start to flow in metallic rod, Hence the neon bulb inside mains tester glows.

Metallic rod is connected to the resistor which reduces high current to a safe value. The reduced current passes through Neon bulb which is connected to (metallic spring). Metallic spring is connected with metallic cap screw which is in contact of our fingers. A very small current passes through our body to earth and complete the circuit. When circuit is completed, current starts to flow and the filament of neon bulb starts glowing. This indicates that the touched wire with Phase / Line Tester mouth is Phase / Line / Hot.

If we perform the same action as mentioned above, and Neon bulb does not glow, it means that is a Neutral (-) Wire/Conductor or there is no mains supply in the phase wire or phase wire is broken in the middle.

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