Triplett Sniff-It – PN: 9602 - Manual

Features
Detects AC Voltage without making contact
Sensitivity, from 30 to 600 Volts AC
Light flashes & beeper chirps when AC voltage is present
Economical, Non-Contact probe is safe and simple to use
Flashes & Beeps faster as AC voltage is approached
Beep Rate Indicates the Magnitude of Voltage (low or high voltage)
Pocket-Sized with Pocket Clip
Uses 2 AAA Batteries (Included)
Uses for the Triplett Sniff-It:
Tests for AC voltage on:
Outlets AC Motors
Light Bulb Sockets Telephone and Cablevision
Extension Cords Light Switches
Appliances House Trailer Siding
Power Tools Many, many more . . .
Circuit Breakers
Identify “hot” side of AC receptacles
Find and trace electrically “live” wires or objects inside walls
Determine if metal surfaces are “live” or “ground”
Detect presence of high voltage electric fields
Detect “ringing” telephone lines
Test fuses (axial type)
Find breaks in AC wiring
CAUTION: The Triplett Sniff-It does NOT detect DC Voltage
Built-in Flashlight
Ruggedized Non-slip Case
5 year warranty
WARNING!!!
The Power Up Beep can operate even though the batteries are low and the
LED has stopped flashing. The Sniff-It may appear to work OK (except for
the LED), but it may fail to detect dangerous AC voltages or it may falsely
indicate the presence of AC voltage.
Replace the batteries when the LED stops flashing or the flashlight becomes dim!
WARNING!!!
If using the Sniff-It without testing on a known voltage source, the Sniff-It
may fail to beep or flash when a "live" circuit or object is tested. Take
precautions to prevent user injury in the event that the tested
circuit or object is unexpectedly "live".
WARNING!!!
The Sniff-It, like all similar products, may not detect AC voltage under
all circumstances. This is rare, but possible. To reduce the possibility
of this occurring, move the tip of the Sniff-It back and forth, or up and
down, between any suspect circuits or objects when no voltage is detected.
This may move the tip outside of the "null field" and may allow detection of the voltage.
WARNING!!!
The Sniff-It, like all similar products, may detect a GROUND instead of AC voltage.
This is rare, but possible. If the Sniff-It appears to detecting a ground instead of a
"live" circuit or object, use extreme caution. The user may be "live", and touching a
grounded circuit or object may result in user injury.
Safety Precautions and Warnings
1) Always test the Sniff-It using a known AC voltage source, before using it to
determine if a circuit or object is "live". Failure to observe this precaution may
result in user injury.
2) The Sniff-It may not detect the presence of AC voltage in all situations. In
particular, a twisted 3 phase cable tends to cancel out its electrostatic field, which
can make the cable appear to be "dead". Use caution and good work practices at
all times, even when the Sniff-It indicates that AC voltage is not present. Failure
to observe this precaution may result in user injury.
3) The Sniff-It may detect the presence of AC voltage when none appears to be
present. If testing for potentially dangerous AC voltages (like 120VAC, 240VAC,
480VAC, etc), and the Sniff-It seems to be indicating that a circuit or object that
should be grounded is "live", use extreme caution. Its possible that the user is
"live", and coming in contact with a ground may cause user injury. This situation
most often occurs in house trailers or construction site trailers.
4) Do not place your finger, or any other object that you are holding, near the tip
when trying to use the Sniff-It. Doing so can interfere with the sensing ability of
the Sniff-It, making a "live" circuit seem "dead". Failure to observe this
precaution may result in user injury.
5) The Sniff-It may not detect voltage if it is wet, or if a surface between the Sniff-It
and the voltage source is wet. Water is conductive and acts like a "shield",
preventing the detection of voltage. For example, the Sniff-It will not detect live
wires in walls if the wall is wet. The Sniff-It will not detect voltage in a wire that is
wet. Keep in mind that the wire may not be wet on its exterior surface, but wet
inside. For example, "Romex" wire that has been allowed to get wet will soak the
water into the paper separator. The wet paper acts like a shield preventing the
Sniff-It from detecting any voltage on the wire…. even though the exterior of the
Romex may be dry. Failure to observe this precaution may result in user injury.
6) The Sniff-It does not detect DC voltages. There may be dangerous high voltage
DC present that the Sniff-It will not detect. Use caution and good work practices
at all times, even when the Sniff-It indicates that AC voltage is not present.
Other dangerous voltages or currents, undetectable by the Sniff-It, may be
present. Failure to observe this precaution may result in user injury.
7) Do not assume that a wire or conductor that does not have a voltage on it is
harmless. The wire may be a Neutral or Ground wire, and significant current could
be flowing. Opening the circuit could cause dangerous voltages to appear, and
may result in user injury.
8) The Power Up Beep feature is provided to indicate that the Sniff-It is turned on. It
DOES NOT indicate that the Sniff-It is fully operational and waiting to detect a
voltage. The user must verify that the Sniff-It is operational by testing it on a
known AC voltage source.
Installing Batteries
Remove the battery cover by gripping the case with one hand in front of the power
button, and gripping and pressing on the pocket clip just in front of the flashlight
button with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, then moving your hands apart
to slide the case open. Install 2 AAA batteries in the polarity indicated in the battery
compartment. Replace battery cover by aligning the slots in the plastic and sliding it
back into closed position.
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General Operation
The Sniff-It is turned on by pressing and holding the black power button. When first
turned on the Sniff-It should flash and beep momentarily (Power Up Beep). If this
does not happen, turn the Sniff-It off, and turn on again. If the proper response is not
obtained, check the batteries for proper polarity, and/or replace the batteries with a
fresh ones. When the flasher or flashlight becomes dim, or stops flashing (the beeper
may continue to sound), replace the batteries. The tip of the Sniff-It lights up green
when it is on and waiting to detect a voltage. When AC voltage is detected, the tip
flashes red.
The ability of the Sniff-It to detect AC voltage is affected by both distance and the
magnitude of the voltage. That is, to detect a low voltage, it is generally necessary for
the tip of the Sniff-It to be close to the voltage. A high voltage can be detected at a
distance. The Sniff-It beeps slowly when close to low voltages, and quickly when
close to high voltages. At a distance, a high voltage will cause the Sniff-It A to beep
slowly, and to gradually beep faster as the source of voltage is approached. This
allows the user to "home in" on the source of the voltage…. and once found, make a
judgment about the voltage's magnitude (i.e. low voltage or high voltage).
The gain some experience with using the Sniff-It, try it on several sources of known
voltage. A common 120V AC household outlet will cause the Sniff-It to beep at a
medium speed. A low voltage circuit, like a typical doorbell or thermostat circuit, will
cause the Sniff-It A to beep slowly. A 220VAC circuit will cause a medium fast beep.
At 600VAC, the Sniff-It A beeps so rapidly that it seems to be beeping continuously.
Note: Due to the high sensitivity of the Sniff-It's circuitry, it may appear to detect
voltage when the tip is rubbed or bumped, or when the tip is moved around against a
surface or in the air. Carpeted floors are notorious for generating static charges.
When walking on carpeted floors, the Sniff-It may beep erratically, or may fail to beep
in the presence of voltage, until the static charge dissipates (usually takes only a few
seconds).
Checking 120VAC Outlets for proper polarity
The following test is not conclusive. If Sniff-It detects a problem, test the outlet using
conventional means (a meter, test plug, etc.). This test can only be performed on a
"live" outlet.
Test the Sniff-It on a known 120VAC source before performing the polarity test.
Turn on the Sniff-It and insert the tip into the slots of a "live" 120VAC receptacle. The
small slot (this is supposed to be the Hot side) should cause the Sniff-It A to beep
more quickly that the large slot. If the Sniff-It A beeps more rapidly in the large slot,
the outlet may be wired incorrectly (Hot and Neutral may be reversed). Remove the
tip from the slots and insert it (as far as possible) into the Ground opening. The
Sniff-It A should beep more slowly than when inserted in the small slot. If it does not,
the outlet may be wired incorrectly (the Ground may be incorrectly wired or not
connected).
Checking light bulb sockets for unexpected voltage
Light bulb sockets are sometimes wired incorrectly. While the light may turn on and
off when the wall switch is operated, there may be dangerous voltage at the socket
even when the switch is off. This can happen when the light bulb circuit is incorrectly
wired, or when the circuit is an old "3 way" type (new 3 way wiring should not allow a
"live" bulb when the light is off). This can pose a danger to someone changing a light
bulb, who may be accidentally shocked and injured by this unexpected voltage.
Test the Sniff-It on a 120VAC source (like an outlet) prior to performing this test.
Turn off the light switch. Remove the light bulb from its socket. Turn on the Sniff-It
and place its tip into the socket. If it begins beeping and flashing, AC voltage is
present. Use caution. A shock hazard is present.
Checking Appliances for Ground
The metal housings of appliances like washing machines and dryers are supposed to
be grounded. When they are properly grounded, any dangerous voltage that might
appear on the metal housing is diverted to ground. An ungrounded appliance may
work correctly, but a shock hazard may be present. The Sniff-It may be used to detect
any dangerous AC voltage that might appear on the housing of the appliance. Tap
water conducts electricity. It may be found that voltage is only present when the
appliance is wet.
Test the Sniff-It on a 120VAC source (like an outlet) prior to performing this test.
Turn on the Sniff-It and hold its tip against the metal housing of the appliance. If it
begins to beep and flash, it may be that your body is charged with AC voltage. Using
your other hand, touch a grounded object (a metal water pipe, the concrete floor, the
screw on an outlet cover, etc) while holding the Sniff-It up to the appliance housing
(do not touch the appliance until it is certain that no dangerous voltage exists). If the
Sniff-It still begins to beep and flash, dangerous voltage may be present. Check the
appliance's ground connections, or, if ungrounded, add a ground wire to the
appliance to eliminate a possible shock hazard.