Gardner Bender GVD-3504A Circuit Alert Non-Contact Voltage Tester
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Our Price: $19.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $18.88 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gardner Bender GVD-3504A Circuit Alert Non-Contact Voltage Tester
Customer Review: Not reliable, far from professional
Summary: 2 Stars
The product is typical cheap China construction, slap it togeather so it works out of the box, no consideration for durability. With a tool that can save your life, this is NOT up to par.
Mine stopped working after about a year of light use.
I was able to repair mine, what had happened was the batteries were not connecting to the flimsy internal connection that has very little support. I had to prize the connection out, and place batteries and cap on slowly while testing it against an appliance cord. The beeping let me know that contact was finally being made.
There is no On/Off button, so if it gets "squeezed" in you tool box it will drain the batteries, since the metal clip on the outside is the "on" connection.
Like I typed, for a SERIOUS safety item like this, unacceptable construction. And good thing I tested the unit on other "known live" cables before I dug into the ceiling light electrical with a false sense of security. When you use it every few months, you tend to forget the self test chirp it is supposed to make.
I am going to spend some more money and get a pro model, electricity is not something to take lightly.
Customer Review: Unreliable design
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased the GVD-504A and was very disappointed with it. In fact, I was so disappointed, I purchased a different unit.
This one is sitting in the junk pile.
Here are the reasons:
1) There is no positive on/off switch - you have to press on the clip to turn it on. This is the main design flaw with this unit.
If you don't make a good contact it can be off while you're testing and not chirp. This is a terrible design and is, in my opinion, dangerous! My new unit has a positive on/off switch. You just twist and it's on. When you're done you twist it back and it's off.
2) Requires 2 watch type batteries. These are expensive to replace and harder to find. My new unit takes standard AA or AAA batteries (I can't remember which) that are cheap and easy to come by.
Overall I would recommend passing on this unit.
Customer Review: Best design for the money
Summary: 5 Stars
In my oppinion the clip swith is the best feature. You just squeze the clip against the contact and it is on. Put it back into you pocket protector and it is off. You never have to worry about accidentaly leaving the unit on and having dead batteries when you need to use it. Also there is a self test chirp that indicates that the clip is making contact. If you are concerned about throwing it into your toolbox and the clip being acciedntaly compressed, just bend the clip back to require more force to activate it. This is a wonderfull tool that I have been using for years and have also given away as gifts.
IDEAL Co. makes a very similar product, but it does not have the reasuring chirp when you first turn it on, so you have to test it on a live wire before using it.
Customer Review: Mine was defective - and dangerous
Summary: 1 Stars
This unit generally gets good reviews, but mine was defective and therefore, dangerous.
It chirps and lights when even close to any hot switches or outlets. Users should be able to use these types of testers to differentiate hot wires from neutral or dead. Mine chirps around all wires dead or alive. It even chirps around objects unattached to any circuits...like my coffee cup! It's true, it chirps madly at my coffee cup!
I didn't buy it to see if my coffee is "hot". I can do that with my lips!
So, buy it if you want, but don't be surprised when you have to put your electrical work on hold and cough up postage to return it for a replacement.
Customer Review: wonderful tool !!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This tool has saved me many times!! I have discovered that my lights in my living room are on TWO DIFFERENT circuits even though there is only one switch for them both. I turned the breaker off for the lights and one of the light sockets still had power going to it! I would have been shocked for sure without the Circuit Alert!! It is SO helpful because you don't have to actually touch the live circuit to test it, you only have to touch the wire, light switch or even the light socket and it will tell you if there is power going there. If you do any electrical work, it is a good tool to have on hand!!