This tester is the most inexpensive of all of the test equipment that we use for the Electrical Outlet Efficiency Testing. It can be purchased everywhere from a grocery store, big orange box, to and electrical specialty provider. There are two main differences. It can be purchased with either a red or a clear bulb. For our use I recommend the clear bulb.

The tester in the picture is a reb bulb model from Radio Shack. To make the bulb easier to see I take a razor blade and scrape the red film off of the bulb to expose the clear leans.

Normal use of this tool allows you to insert one tip into one receptacle opening and the other into another. If one is hot and the other neutral or ground then the bulb will glow brightly. This tells us that there is power but does not tell us what slot on the receptacle is actually “Hot” or “Live”.

Years ago Bill Ball taught me another way to use this tool to identify which slot of the receptacle was hot. He stressed to me that the process would only work with this cheapest of testers. It involves a one-handed technique that uses your body to complete the circuit in a way that the neon bulb will give a faint glow.

The highlighted tool is the only one to use for the EOET

WARNING: Do not attempt this process with a screwdriver type neon bulb tester because it does not have the built-in resistor that will keep you from getting electrocuted.

Using the type of tester shown above you need to hold the tester in one hand while bending back one of the leads and grasping the tip of it in your hand while inserting the other lead into each of the 3 slots. You can also touch the tip to the screw on the cover plate. When inserted into the slot that is live there will be a very faint glow of the bulb. Practice holding the tool as shown in the photos below.

	Take the red or black prong and place it under the plastic portion of the other lead. The metal tip should be in direct contact with the skin of your index finger.
	Next secure it with your thumb holding everything together with one hand. Now insert the metal tip into all three slots as described above. This process is a little awkward at first, but with practice it will become second nature.

THE 2 HANDED DEATH GRIP - DO NOT DO THIS!!!

Kurt Mitenbuller’s 2 Hand 2 Lip Death Grip