TAC STICK voltage detectors

[nucrunner]

Looking for info on TAC STICK voltage detectors.

I did a search, and the last time the topic was discussed on these forums was back in ’02. I’m looking for any current experience with them. The Tac Stick is a specific voltage detector; we would like to hear of any recent experience with any brand/make of AC voltage detector.

From what I can gather so far, they seem to be a worthwhile piece of equipment, but only if coupled with a good SOG/SOP to use it as a back-up means for confirmation of a load being de-energized.

Do you have one?
Do you use it?
Do you have any specific rules as far as relying on information obtained with the detector?
Are they a calibration nightmare? High maintenance?

Thanks for any info.

[captaincvfd]

We use TAC stick by wilburt as a back up to make sure a line is de energized
and to look for hidden dangers, they let us know if a line is off but untill linemen ground out the section you dont know if someone kicks a generator on in there home and reenergized that section,very easy to use only good for AC

[Weruj1]

yes
no
no
no , no

[Mulldog]

Yes we have one. It is the Wil-Burt Tac Stick. It is not used that often but when it is it is a good tool. We do not use it for downed wires, instead we provide a safe area and wait for the Utliity company. It is good for ensuring a circuit has been isolated prior to leaving, water problems, building collapses, fences. A good general rule is to use it on High sensitivity so the littlest thing will throw a red flag at you and then you can narrow it down from there. If there is no real need for action then it is always best to lwait for the Utility company as they are the most profficient but sometimes the stick maybe all you have.

[fddd160]

We use a tac stick. We have seen them give false readings on some cable lines. They usually warn of a dangerous situation but do not depend totally on the tac stick. All wires are hot untilthe utility company says they are safe. Even then don't trust downed wires.

[BirkenVogt]

Even if a downed wire is dead, what is to say it will not go hot again?

Around here the electric company's equipment automatically re-energizes wires several times to test if the fault is cleared, several minutes apart, before it finally gives up. And even then the troubleman may come out a half hour later and re-energize once more, manually. This happens quite regularly around here.

Birken

[LIEU4LIFE]

Never used on in a actually incident. However, one of companies across town has one and I played with it in the firehouse. When placed up to outlets and wires with known current, it activated.

As for downed electrical wires, even if is was accuarate, it wouldn't be worth the risk. As we all know, electricity is a whole other ball game.