D.I.

Y Non-contact Voltage Detector

Non-contact voltage testers (also known as voltage tester pens, test pens, or voltage
sensors) are the safest way to detect the presence of AC voltage. Non contact voltage
testers work by detecting the changing electric field around objects conducting an AC
current (AC stands for “alternating current”). They do not actually need to make direct
contact with the conductor to achieve this. So long as the person using the voltage tester is
touching the top of the handle to provide a ground reference (through a stray capacitance
to ground), the indicator LED will light up if a live circuit is detected.

The voltage tester pen detects this voltage through capacitive coupling. To understand
this phenomenon, we first need to understand how a capacitor works.
A capacitor has two conductors that are separated by a non-conductor (known as a
dielectric). If an AC Voltage is connected across the capacitor, an AC current will flow
across the dielectric. This makes a complete AC circuit – even though technically there is
not an actual wire completing the circuit. You can see a diagram of a capacitor below:

Now that we understand the fundamentals of a capacitor, we can understand how a non-
contact voltage tester works.

Let’s say we have a wire conducting an electric AC current. This wire acts as one side of a
capacitor (a “conductive plate” in the diagram above). The the other side of the capacitor is
the sensor tip of the voltage tester. The air between the tip and the wire acts as the
dielectric. Hence a small capacitor is formed between the voltage sensor and the wire.

Now on the other side of the voltage tester (the side you’re holding) – we also have a
capacitor. The person holding the voltage tester is the first “conductive plate” of the large
capacitor. The ground forms the second “conductive plate” of the large capacitor. The
person’s shoe soles (or carpet/other insulation) acts as the dielectric for this large capacitor.
So when you hold a non-contact voltage tester near a live circuit, you are inserting the high
impedance sensing element into a capacitively coupled series circuit. This can be hard
to visualize – so have a look at the diagram of a voltage tester pen below:

A capacitive voltage divider is established, made up of the parasitic capacitance between

the conductor and the sensor, and between the sensor to ground.

This non-contact AC voltage detector uses NPN type transistors in order to detect
voltage. A transistor has three terminals - collector, emitter and base. Collector to emitter
current is controlled by the base current. When there is no base current, no collector to
emitter current flows. Thus, a transistor acts as a switch. It can be 'ON', it can be OFF or in-
between.
The ratio of collector current to base current is known as the gain of a transistor. Normally,
gain of 2N3904 is about 200, i.e. collector to emitter current can be as high as 200 times
the base current. If we connect the output of one transistor to the base of another
transistor, the total gain would be multiplication of the two i.e. 200x200 = 40000. Thus, if we
connect three transistors in such configuration, the total gain would be 200x200x200 =
8,000,000. Therefore, an extremely small signal can be used to switch ON a normal circuit
by using such configuration of transistors.

In our circuit, an antenna (copper wire) is connected to the base of first transistor. When we
place this antenna near an object that is AC energized, a small current gets induced into
the antenna due to electromagnetic induction. This current triggers the first transistor and
output of the first transistor triggers the second and third. The third transistor switches ON
the LED and buzzer circuit, indicating that AC voltage is present.
Required Tools:
Soldering Iron
Solder Drill and drill bits
Copper Wire
Cutters (for copper wire)

Qty. Part Description Mfr. Part No.

3 Transistors 2N3904 (FSC)

1 Resistor 1.0 MΩ CF1/4W105JRC

1 Resistor 100KΩ CF1/4W104JRC

1 Resistor 200Ω CF1/4201JRC

1 LED, Red UT1871-81-M1-R

1 Buzzer TDB05LFPN

1 Switch T100T1B1A1QN

1 Prototype Builder G/S(PCB228)-R

1 9V Battery ALK 9V 522

1 Battery Snap BC6-R

1 Case H2853-R

BUILDING YOUR OWN NON-CONTACT AC

VOLTAGE DETECTOR
[Used the following circuit diagram as a reference to place the
components on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB).]
Circuit diagram

1. Mount the components on the PCB and solder them one by one in the
appropriate places as per the circuit diagram.

2. Connect one terminal of the copper wire and to the base of the first transistor. The
copper wire will act as an antenna. Tip: For improved sensitivity use about 10 to
12 cm of wire.

3. Make two holes in the case - one for the switch and another for removing the
copper wire. Attach the switch to the box.

4. Put the circuit inside of the box. Take the antenna wire outside, twisting it into a
spiral shape. Attach it to the box using adhesive tape.

5. Connect the wires to the switch as per the circuit diagram.

6. Attach the wires of the 9V battery holder to the circuit according to the schematic.
The battery symbol should have a plus on one side for polarity.
Once complete, you are ready to detect whether or not AC voltage is present. Switch
on your non-contact AC Voltage Detector and take it near the object you would like to
know whether voltage is present or not. If you hear the buzzer, there is AC voltage
present, if not, no AC voltage remains.