pat360•1mo ago

Dropped $80 on a Klein Tools NCVT-3IR non-contact voltage tester with IR thermometer

It seemed like overkill at first, but it saved my butt on a panel swap in a Phoenix garage last Tuesday. The IR function showed a hot spot on a breaker that wasn't tripping but was running 20 degrees hotter than the rest. Cost me about $80, but catching that probably saved a callback and a fried breaker. Anyone else use a combo tool like this, or do you stick to separate devices?

2 comments

2 Comments

lisa_wilson871mo ago

Honestly, I always thought those combo tools were a gimmick. Until I found a loose neutral on a dryer outlet that was just warm to the touch, not hot. The IR spot showed it was way hotter than it should have been. Now I keep mine in my main bag.

barbararamirez1mo ago

Same thing happened with a flickering light, the thermal camera caught a bad connection I would've missed.