What is the distance from which I can detect voltage using a hot stick tester?

The distance of detecting voltage will depend on how high the voltage is, and how much of an area is exposed and not covered by shields.  The higher the voltage is, the larger the distance will be for detection.  A car in contact with 120 VAC is detected from about 8 feet, but a “hot” 7500 V overhead distribution line can be picked up from 200 feet away.

What batteries does the AC Hot Stick Tester run on?

Hot stick testers run on four AA batteries, and will last for about 300 hours of continuous use.  A good rule of thumb is to switch the batteries every year.

Does the unit require recalibration?

The unit does not require recalibration, for it runs a three second self-test.  The battery voltage is also monitored continuously.  When and if the batteries run down, a continuous tone is heard.

How do I know when AC is present?

The hot stick tester will start to beep and an LED will blink when AC is present.

How do I locate the source of the AC?

When locating the source of AC, the hot stick tester will beep faster as the front part of the AC Hot Stick is moved closer to the source. The sensitivity can be changed between high and low to narrow in.  In a third setting called “Front Focused” the unit is made directional and picks up primarily from the front.

Can I detect live wires in the ground, in metal conduits or inside walls?

Live wires in the ground or in metal conduits cannot be detected.  The hot stick tester will give a warning however if the current is running in the soil or a metal conduit becomes ungrounded.  Plastic enclosed wires which run in dry walls can usually be traced.

How sturdy is the unit? Is it fireman proof?

Hot stick testers are not fireman proof, but they are “firemen resistant” and can easily take dust, shocks, vibration, splash water, and high and low temperatures.

Can I overload the unit electrically?

The unit can not be overloaded for it is protected against damage from high voltage nearby.

Does the AC Hot Stick Tester indicate DC e.g. from a car battery or the third rail of a subway?

The hot stick tester will not detect DC voltages.  At times, electrostatic charges from rubbing on clothing or even leaves on trees can produce irregular beeps.  These beeps will stop when the hot stick tester is held still.

Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV): This value is presented in calories per square centimeter and represents the maximum capability for arc-flash protection of a particular garment.  This rating also applies to fabrics.  A garment made from more than one layer of arc-flash rated fabric will have a calories per square centimeter rating greater than the sum of the ATPV ratings of the original fabrics.  The calories per square centimeter rating of most arc-flash protective suits, coveralls, and coats is commonly sewn into the fabric in large letters on the outside of the garment.

Flame Resistant (FR): Flame resistant can describe a fabric naturally resistant to burning but also can represent a material with special treatment applied to the fabric.  Occasionally, the letters FR are used to represent flame retardant. This can lead to some confusion because a flame-retardant treated fabric is flame resistant, but a flame-resistant fabric is not necessarily flame retardant.

Flame Retardant: This term could be used to describe a fabric made up of a flammable fabric treated in such a way that it will provide arc-flash protection.

Fabric Weight: This is usually represented in one of two ways: ounces per square yard or grams per square meter. Both of these values essentially refer to the thickness of the fabric. The more ounces per square yard, the more material exists in the same square yard of fabric.

Heat Attenuation Factor (HAF): This is the amount of heat blocked by the fabric. Even though a fabric may be 100 per cent flame resistant, that does not mean it will block all of the heat to which it is exposed. An HAF of 85 percent means that it will block 85 percent of the heat the fabric encounters. This applies to a short burst of heat – typically less than one second. In the event of prolonged heat exposure, the HAF would be much lower.

Calories per Centimeter Squared: This is a number identifying the amount of energy that can be delivered to a point at a particular distance from an explosion. Once this value is known, the ATPV rating of the required for work at that distance from the potential flash hazard is also known.

Energy Break-Open Threshold (EBT): Primarily, this addresses the physical strength of the fabric with respect to thermal energy and at what value the fabric will fail.

Hazard Risk Category (HRC): This is a 2004 NFPA 70E rating of exposure levels for particular types of equipment. The values range from zero to four, with a zero HRC with a zero HRC not requiring any ATPV-rated. The minimum ATPV rating for Categories One through Four are as follows:

• Category One: five calories per square centimeter
• Category Two: eight calories per square centimeter
• Category Three: 25 calories per square centimeter
• Category Four: 40 calories per square centimeter

Clamp meters allow for measurement of current, without needing to disconnect the wires where the measurement occurs.  By simply clamping the wire, you can get the measurement, and not cut the circuit.  When using a multitester or a digital multimeter, the circuit has to be cut.  In contrast, using a clamp meter, current can be measured by clamping a live wire over its sheath.  In addition to its simple operation, it allows safe measurement of a higher current.

Clamp meters feature low internal resistance and have both a positive and negative lead.  High current flow can indicate a short circuit, a defective component, or an unintentional ground.  Low current flow can indicate high resistance, or poor current flow within the circuit.  Both types of clamp meters (digital and analog) are designed to measure levels of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC).  Most products have built in sensors.  Some clamp meters can test diodes or transistors while others can monitor thermocouples or resistance temperature detector (RTD) values.  Some may adjust sampling rates automatically, display status information as a bar graph, and measure decibel (dB) readings.  Our specialty clamp meters provide special measurement types and optional features. Some can test diodes or transistors. Others can monitor thermocouples or resistance temperature detector (RTD) values. Programmable clamp meters provide internal data storage and will allow you to establish activation triggers.  Clamp meters are extremely useful and allow for many types of safe electrical testing.

Mike Kasun, owner of Ksun labels was watching a program one night about the world’s bee population.  The program was highlighting colony collapse disorder, a phenomenon that will strongly affect the population of the bee.  While watching, it occurred to Mike that he should name his company’s new portable label, bar code and heat shrink tube thermal transfer printer the K-Sun LABELShop BEE3.  He stated, “Biologists and beekeepers are uncertain as to why this is happening, and I thought that bee research and education would be a great area to lend our support.”

In June of 2008, K-Sun gave the University of Minnesota’s new bee research, education and outreach facility as well as several K-Sun LabelShop printers to its bee lab.  A team of researchers are using the BEE3 and the 2011XLB-PC printers in a project isolating the anti-microbial properties of propolis, known as “bee glue.”  This substance, made by bees as they collect resin and sap from trees is used in natural, traditional medicine around the world for many common human ailments.   “It’s a honey of a product” says Kasun.  “When anyone buys a BEE3 printer kit, they are helping the bees.”

Arc flash clothing has been around for years now.  Early personal protective equipment was typically made of one or two fabric layers.  Heavier clothing was used when the need for greater protection existed.  Today’s arc flash clothing is made with a multi-layered construction, making the clothes lighter and easier to wear.  Wearing layers of clothing increases the ability of the PPE to dissipate the heat from arc flash.   It is important to view PPE as a system, because of the need to use individual articles of clothing and equipment together to improve performance against arc flash hazards.

A general guideline is that for every layer of clothing worn under arc-rated clothing, heat will drop by fifty percent per layer.  Keep in mind this is for bodily areas that are covered.  The air between the layers of clothing will increase the ability of the arc-clothing to dissipate heat.  Now, if a person wears an underlayer made of meltable fabrics such as spandex, the chance greatly increases of residual burns from arc flash.  Spandax, being a synthetic fabric can melt even at 180 degrees F. temperatures.    Enough heat can transfer through arc-rated clothing to melt underlayers.  For this reason, cotton underlayers are recommended in most cases although fire resistant underlayers are ideal.

Understanding the importance of a layered system of protective clothing and additional PPE is part of being a qualified electrical worker as well as providing protection in the case of electrical incident.  Layering clothing provides extended performance of arc-rated clothing and offers a method to minimize burns to heat transfer during an arc flash.

Insulating rubber gloves are one of the most important articles of personal protection for electrical workers.

Combining high dielectric and physical strength, flexibility and durability, Texso’s insulating rubber gloves are the superior performance meeting and exceeding the requirements of current ASTM D120 specifications and NFPA 70E standards.

Texso offers some of the most complete selection of gloves.

Texso recommends testing all gloves to assure they meet OSHA and ASTM requirements.

If your not sure what gloves you need you can call us direct (760) 444-0032.

Thermographer Arc Flash Gloves

All the materials and threads used in the construction of the Thermographer Gloves are inherently flame resistant (FR). We carry the unique Oberon Thermographer Gloves that provide the highest level of flash protection in the market for gloves.

STANDARDS: Complies with NFPA 70E-2004. Tested according to ASTM F1959-04.

SIZES: Regular and Large, specify size when ordering.

Rubber Insulating Gloves

We also offer 100% natural rubber, smooth finish gloves. Available as single items or in complete kits (Rubber Glove, Leather Protector and Glove Bag).

• Class 00 (500 Volts)
• Class 0 (1000 Volts)
• Class 1 (7500 Volts)
• Class 2 (17000 Volts)