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#23068 03/11/03 02:20 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
What on earth is a Wiggy?.
I've heard this term used around the Gen.Disscusion Forum.
Is it a tool or a technique or something else?.
Could some-one please help?. [Linked Image]

#23069 03/11/03 02:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 939
F
Member
ahh the wiggy is a voltage tester with electic solonid inside it will buzz when apply to voltage the higher volts it will buzz more rapaid also it will tell between ac and dc by the light on the tester too


merci marc


Pas de problme,il marche n'est-ce pas?"(No problem, it works doesn't it?)

#23070 03/11/03 02:36 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 333
S
Member


Steve
#23071 03/11/03 02:39 AM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
Likes: 3
Trumpy Offline OP
Member
Thanks, Marc,
So a Wiggy, is just a Duspol(Brand name)Voltage Indicator, you would know them, from working in France, they are more or less a European thing, but they are very popular over here in New Zealand, most, if not all Sparkies over here carry them as part of thier kit, they are robust, dependable, and never fail, I've had my set for close on 10 years, but they have never let me down.
Real Quality,eh!. [Linked Image]

#23072 03/11/03 02:46 AM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
Trumpy,

Here's a picture from Klein Tools:

[Linked Image from klein.sgsnet.com]


Bill
#23073 03/11/03 03:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 939
F
Member
trumpy:
indeed i used in both usa and france and it is very popular device i have one with me for over 15 year both duspol and amprobe devices and i have good luck with them. and alot of american electican use wiggie also. almost all have them oneway or other includeing hvac contracters use them too . ( sorry i try to scan a pic but my scanner wont work on me [swearing in french ])

merci marc


Pas de problme,il marche n'est-ce pas?"(No problem, it works doesn't it?)

#23074 03/11/03 08:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 46
B
Member
Hello Trumpy,

I seem to remember something from my industrial days about how Wiggy's could detect a grounded or "dark" leg of an ungrounded three phase delta system. I can't remember the specifics but I remember the old timers telling me that my VOM was pretty much useless and would get me killed. The input impedence of a Wiggy is very low compared to a standard VOM, allowing it to detect voltages that a VOM does't even know are there.

I wish I would have paid more attention to these old sparky's but booze and women were all I cared about then.

#23075 03/11/03 09:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 228
J
Member
I have one of the Ideal testers model 61-092, can be found here under digital voltage testers http://www.testersandmeters.com/tm/ElectricalTesters.nsf/ElectricalTesters?OpenF rameSet

I also have a wiggy but when I saw the Ideal I figured I could give it a try, so far so good. Anybody else out there using them?

[This message has been edited by JCooper (edited 03-11-2003).]

#23076 03/11/03 11:55 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,520
P
Member
Don't worry Trumpy -- I asked the same question when I first joined ECN as I'd never heard of a Wiggy either!

The low impedance makes the solenoid-type tester much better for testing whether a circuit is actually energized or not.

DMMs are so popular these days, but the high impedance (typically 10 MEG) means that capacitive coupling effects can give rise to all sorts of confusing readings. If you look back through the archives you'll see several threads relating to this.

#23077 03/11/03 09:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 33
C
Member
Also good for checking window indicator-type fuses so common anymore, they often can open but the high input impedance of the DMM can be fooled by reading voltage through the indicator. However the wiggy is never fooled this way.

Rich

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