Working near electricity can make even the bravest soul a bit squeamish. No one enjoys getting accidentally “zapped,” especially if your project doesn’t involve any electrical work at all. There are times, however, when basic household repairs can place one close to live wires (example: behind a wall) whose precise location just can’t be foretold.

Professionals have long taken precautions such as pulling the fuse or tripping the circuit breaker before a repair, and most will also take the additional step of quickly testing the actual circuit they’re working on before they begin.

One very popular voltage detector that has been around for years is the “tick” tester. The beauty of this tool is that it can sense voltage without actually contacting it. When placed near any hot wiring, it makes an audible “tick” and the unit’s LED lights up.

The folks at Gardner-Bender, a venerable manufacturer of tools and supplies for the electrical industry, recognized that this simple technology could be inserted into common tools like pliers, screwdrivers, and utility knives. They have now come out with an assortment of tools that are designed to accept a dedicated sensor module that turns them into “tick” tools. This module runs on two button batteries, snaps inconspicuously into the handles of the tools, and operates as advertised, making these common hand tools safer, providing a little more peace of mind. $15.99 to $23.99

All products listed here are available at
W.C. Winks Hardware
200 SE Stark St., Portland, OR. Call 503-227-5536 for more information.