Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review

Have you ever turned a circuit breaker off to a room, and found out that there was still an energized wire in the room? This can be especially common in buildings that have been added on, or not built in accordance with local building codes. Even when dealing with low voltage (under 120VAC) it is important to make sure the circuits are de-energized. This Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review will explore Klein Tools’ Dual-Voltage Non-Contact Voltage Tester, which will allow you to make sure that those circuits are indeed safe to work on.

Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review Overview

The purpose of non-contact voltage testers is exactly what it sounds like. They sense and alert you to the presence of voltage without having to physically make contact with the conductor. This contrasts with using a voltmeter, where the probes need to actually touch some piece of material that is “hot.”

Although the voltage testers do not generally tell you how many volts they detect, that is not their purpose. The purpose is just confirming a simple “hot” or “not” on a particular wire or circuit. This type of tool isn’t just for Electricians, homeowners, as well as other professionals, can benefit from the extra step to ensure safety before continuing their work.

Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review Features

The two modes are distinguished by the color of the light at the tip while the power is on. Blue denotes the mode that will alert to 12-48 VAC with a low-pitch beep and flashing red light or 48-1000 VAC with a continuous beep and a steady red light.

Green means that the tester will only alert to 48-1000 VAC with a continuous beep and a steady red light. It will not alert for 12-48 VAC.

In the dual-voltage mode, the tester is a lot more sensitive and will start to alert with the low voltage beep and flash when you are a few inches away from an energized 120 VAC wire.

The instructions are easy to read & follow and fan fold out into multiple languages. Even if the instructions are not easily accessible, the different alert modes are also explained on the tester itself.

The tester runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included.

Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review Performance

The Klein Voltage Tester worked just as advertised, I tried it on 120 VAC and 24 VAC with success. The LED lights are bright and easy to see, even in daylight. The beeping is easy to hear and distinguish which type is being emitted (pulsing vs. continuous). The single button to turn on and off is easy to press. Changing modes with the single button is tricky at times. Holding down either shuts the tester off or changes modes. Deciphering how long of a press for which, is a bit confusing at times.

The tester body’s size is big enough to hold even with gloves, but not cumbersome. The weight is well balanced and the shape makes it easy to hold.

Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review Value

Home Depot offers this Klein Tools Dual-Range Non-Contact Voltage Tester (model NCVT-2) for $29.97. When you think about it not only in terms of making jobs easier but from a life safety standpoint, that’s really a bargain.

There are other model testers on the market, for cheaper, but they do not have as many features as this. In most instances, I am not a fan of bells and whistles, but this is a rare case when I am glad to have them. I am not a fan of getting shocked, and really feel comfortable knowing for sure that I am working on and around de-energized equipment and wiring.

Klein Dual Range Voltage Tester Review Final Thought

As expected, Klein Tools has not disappointed. They packed some useful features into a great little Voltage Tester. To top that off, the price is right as well as the design and performance. If you encounter electricity in any capacity, a voltage tester like this one from Klein is essential to have in your toolbox.