What is the best way to wire ceiling lights?

Oh dear, I seem to have landed on a controversial point here, though it was not entirely unexpected. Thank you, Legh, for the links, which I have browsed with interest.


I am not, of course, in any way anti "approved testers"; indeed I would expect every practising electrician to have one. I would however make these points

• The argument that it is dangerous to use a screwdriver tester if it has become wet applies to ANY tester; indeed ANY device that uses mains electricity.

• Not every situation will provide a convenient earthing point.

• Even where an earthing point is available, it is sometimes more convenient to use a one-handed tester. Not every earthed conductor will take a clip easily. Besides, up a stepladder, it may be desirable to use one's other hand either to handle some dangling component under test or to steady oneself by holding on to the ladder or some other reliable support.

• I should be interested to know if there have been any recorded cases of the 1 megohm resistor inside the screwdriver spontaneously going short-circuit.

I treat the screwdriver tester as an alternative to the "approved", not a substitute. When I work with electricity I turn off the subcircuit by withdrawing the fuse and make sure that I am standing on an insulating surface. As an added precaution, I leave a light or other device on the subcircuit switched to the ON position for monitoring. I only access a live circuit for testing. If I am conscious that I am working in a damp environment I take extra precautions, and this is a situation where I would think twice about using a screwdriver tester.


I am well aware that screwdriver testers are useless in places like high voltage grid sites or RF transmitter stations, where induced e.m.f.s abound.


By all means, let us hear more views on this.

Oh dear, I seem to have landed on a controversial point here, though it was not entirely unexpected. Thank you, Legh, for the links, which I have browsed with interest.


I am not, of course, in any way anti "approved testers"; indeed I would expect every practising electrician to have one. I would however make these points

• The argument that it is dangerous to use a screwdriver tester if it has become wet applies to ANY tester; indeed ANY device that uses mains electricity.

• Not every situation will provide a convenient earthing point.

• Even where an earthing point is available, it is sometimes more convenient to use a one-handed tester. Not every earthed conductor will take a clip easily. Besides, up a stepladder, it may be desirable to use one's other hand either to handle some dangling component under test or to steady oneself by holding on to the ladder or some other reliable support.

• I should be interested to know if there have been any recorded cases of the 1 megohm resistor inside the screwdriver spontaneously going short-circuit.

I treat the screwdriver tester as an alternative to the "approved", not a substitute. When I work with electricity I turn off the subcircuit by withdrawing the fuse and make sure that I am standing on an insulating surface. As an added precaution, I leave a light or other device on the subcircuit switched to the ON position for monitoring. I only access a live circuit for testing. If I am conscious that I am working in a damp environment I take extra precautions, and this is a situation where I would think twice about using a screwdriver tester.


I am well aware that screwdriver testers are useless in places like high voltage grid sites or RF transmitter stations, where induced e.m.f.s abound.


By all means, let us hear more views on this.