bought and used several moons ago a metal/ Electrics detector type you pass over the area on the wall, not pen type. Tested by passing over a socket and it beeped like mad. 9 " away where I would be drilling, tested, silence, not a squeek. Got drill out 2mins later flash bank wallop, what a picture, what a photograph. What happened ER indoors exclaimed. I replied the voltage locator lied. It seems not up to the mark of locating cables at depth of 1.5-2 cm. I used a friend's Budgie BD725 it shows the whole wall is live beeping everywhere
Q: What is the best buy for DIY home use that's capable of locating in depth. Or reasonable priced professional one?
Foot note: I am very aware electricity takes no prisoners. It was not me being reckless the tester let me down. Thanks to all in advance.
Cables in walls run vertically & horizontally in line from sockets & switches. When you drilled 9" away from the socket, was it directly above, below or on either side.
There are some two part testers which can detect cables buried 2 meters under ground, but most the cheap testers you have to use to trace cable rather than spot check.
So cable from a device like a socket should go vertical or horizontal about best the tester can do is tell you which, even then caught out where a light switch had one vertical and one horizontal even when no safe zone in horizontal direction.
You can get the meters but not at a price that a DIY guy will pay, and even with a RCD you still get a nasty belt even if only for 40 ms.
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