ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Electrical Theory and Applications How does hot wire tester works?

First,I appreciate all the above answers!Thank you!

But I still don't understand.Which is the main cause to light up that small neon bulb?

The circuit consists of AC hot wire,tester(neon screwdriver),testee(person)and ground? OR the "Capacity Coupled to the AC supply through the Tester and Testee (pun, definitely intended!)"?I was confused!Because I have done the experiment that suggested by pauluk.But this experiment can not tell which one is the main cause!!!

Further more, does the capacity effect mentioned by Scott35 realy exists?As you know,hot wire,tester and testee can NOT form a circuit without ground!!!So,I am confused!!

If I could made this question clear,I would quite understand the theory of AC power system.So this question is very important to me,Can anybody help me??!!!Thank you again!!



[This message has been edited by peterpang (edited 01-13-2005).]