Function of the Test Pen

We often use a test pen to test electrical appliances to determine whether they are installed correctly. Today we will introduce the functions of the test pen.

* To test whether there is power in the line。

It is a common function of the test pen. When the light of the test pen is on, it proves that there is electricity in the circuit, and if the light is not on, it proves that there is no electricity in the circuit.

However, it is not possible to judge whether the circuit is normal only by whether the electric pen is on or off. For example, both the live wire and the wrongly connected neutral wire can light up the electric pen, but the former is a normal phenomenon, while the latter is faulty.

* The test pen is capable of measuring in-phase or out-of-phase of phase wires.

When measuring, hold an electric pen in each hand and stand on an insulating object. Touch the two electric pens to the two wires at the same time, if the brightness of the two electric pens is low, it means that the two wires measured at this time are in phase; if the brightness of the two electric pens is high, it means this When the two lines measured are out of phase.

* To distinguish between alternating current and direct current.

The electric pen can distinguish between alternating current and direct current, which can be distinguished from the brightness. The brightness of the electric pen when measuring alternating current is significantly higher than that of direct current. It can also be distinguished from the position of the brightness of the electric pen. The light-emitting body of the electric pen, called the neon tube, is a long strip shape. When measuring alternating current, the entire neon tube glows; when measuring direct current, only one end of the neon tube glows.

* Measure the positive and negative poles of direct current。

We can distinguish the positive and negative poles of the power supply through the position where the neon tube emits light. When measuring the positive pole of the power supply, the end of the neon tube close to the pen tip will light up; when measuring the negative pole of the power supply, the end of the neon tube farther away from the pen tip will light up.

When you install a smart energy meter, like single phase wifi energy meter, Wi-Fi anti-theft energy meter, single-phase LoRaWAN electric meter, three-phase LoRaWan electric meter, etc., you may need a test pen to test it before normal use. If any questions, we’d like to help to solve it.