Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Years ago, electricians carried a "wiggie" in their back pocket to check for live wires.It was nothing more than a solenoid that pulled harder depending on the voltage - you read the voltage at the tip of the solenoid plunger retarded by a spring.
Now with the T5-1000 and it's cousin the T5-600 from Fluke the world is an entirely new place.The only difference in the models is the maximum voltage (1000V on the -1000 model and 600V on the -600 model) - I bought the 1000 primarily because I was doing high power testing at 50 hz with a 5 megawat motor/generator and had to adjust the field coil in the generator with a rheostat which affected the output voltage - often it was much more than 600 volts.If you are just working around a house the T5-600 model will work fine.If you work on high power energized circuits, the 1000 is the way to go.
One feature I really liked was the ability to put a ground clip on the negative lead, tie it off to the neutral or ground bus, insert the positive lead into the T5's holder (so I wasn't holding the lead!) and then probe inside the racks I worked on.It is very ergonomic and strudy, plus the T5 body holds the probe instead of your gloved hands.All the controls work well with gloves on, and there is very little setting to deal with which simplifies life.
The "knob" sets ohms, volts, or amps.The T5 WILL NOT measure DC current, but it's simplicity in measuring AC current is much appreciated -there is no lever to open the jaws like on most amp probes.Instead you just poke the forked opening over the conductor to test, press hold and retract the assembly - the current in the wire is held in the display.This feature is much easier to use than the old "clamp on" meters.
Second, the volts setting automatically determines ac or dc for you (and indicates it in the display) - so if you are working on your car, it will show DC automaticlaly, at home, AC and you don't need to adjust the dial.That's a smart innovattion.
As for Ohms, it's meant more for the electrician who needs to ohm out motor coils and long runs of wire - 1000 ohms and less.Above 1000 ohms it shows open circuit, so just keep this in mind and have a regular meter somewhere if you need to measure high impedances.
Most of the time I toss the T5 in my tool kit because it saves space, runs a long time on 2 AA batteries, and is easy to use.It's only lacking points are low precision on voltage measurements (i.e. 12.43 VDC will show up in the display as 12VDC) and the 1000 Ohm limit.If you are aware of these limitations then it is a great jobsite meter that will keep your hands far from live circuits.The test probes are also permanently installed and made of a high voltage silicon insulation so they don't develop cracks that might otherwise fault to ground.
I'd say 90% of my troubleshooting is done first with the T5 - 9% with my 289 meter, and 1% with my scopementer.Given this, it's an excellent value.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Fluke T5-1000 1000-Volt Continuity USA Electric TesterProduct Description: Features and Benefits:
Electrical tester with OpenJaw™ current
The T5 electrical tester lets you check voltage, continuity and current with one compact tool
All you have to do is select volts, ohms, or current and the tester does the rest
OpenJaw™ current lets you check current up to 100A - without breaking the current
Its tough test leads stow neatly in the back of the tester, making it easy to tote the T5 in your tool pouch
Detachable SlimReach™ test probes are customized for national electrical standards. The test leads accept optional accessories such a clips and specialty probes.
Want to buy Fluke T5-1000 1000-Volt Continuity USA Electric Tester at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:
