10 dumb things smart people do when testing electricity

Proper digital multi-meter use helps protect both the user and 
the tool

by Clair D. Urbain

Anyone who makes their living by working with electricity quickly develops a healthy respect for anything with even a remote chance of being “live.” Yet the pressures of getting a job done on time or getting a critical piece of equipment back on line can result in carelessness and uncharacteristic mistakes by even the most seasoned electrician.

Fluke Corporation has developed a list of commonsense, but very important, “Don’ts” that anyone taking electrical measurements should follow:

1) Never replace the original fuse in your digital multi-meter (DMM) with a cheaper one. If your DMM meets today’s safety standards, that fuse is a special safety fuse designed to pop before an overload hits your hand. When you change your DMM fuse, be sure to replace it with an authorized fuse.

2) Never use a bit of wire or metal to get around the fuse altogether. That may seem like a quick fix if you’re caught without an extra fuse, but that wire could be all that ends up between you and a spike headed your way.

3) Don’t use the wrong test tool for the job. It’s important to match your DMM to the work ahead. Make sure your test tool holds the correct CAT rating for each job you do, even if it means switching DMMs throughout the day.

4) Don’t grab the cheapest DMM on the rack. You can upgrade later, right? Maybe not, if you end up a victim of a safety accident because that cheap test tool didn’t actually contain the safety features it advertised. Look for independent laboratory testing.

5) Never leave your safety glasses in your shirt pocket. Take them out and put them on. It’s important. Ditto for insulated gloves and flame-resistant clothing.

6) If at all possible, don’t work on a live circuit. De-energize the circuit if you can. If the situation requires you to work on a live circuit, use properly insulated tools, wear safety glasses or a face shield and insulated gloves, remove watches or other jewelry, stand on an insulated mat and wear flame-resistant clothing, not regular work clothes.

7) Always use proper lockout and tagout procedures. That’s a pretty straightforward piece of advice.

8) Never put both hands on the test instrument. When working with live circuits, remember the old electrician’s trick: Keep one hand in your pocket. That reduces the chance of a closed circuit tracing across your chest and through your heart. Hang or rest the meter, if possible. Avoid holding it with your hands to minimize personal exposure to the effects of transients.

9) Never neglect your leads. Test leads are an important component of DMM safety. Make sure your leads match the CAT level of your job as well. Look for test leads with double insulation, shrouded input connectors, finger guards and a non-slip surface.

10) Don’t hang onto your old test tool forever. Today’s test tools contain safety features unheard of even a few years ago. These features are worth the cost of an equipment upgrade and are less expensive than an emergency room visit.

Clair D. Urbain is the editor of Contractor Tools and Supplies, a sister publication of MRO Today. Visit www.contractortoolsandsupplies.com or e-mail .

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