Are your power outlets safe?

Home improvement has never been more popular. Unfortunately many DIY enthusiasts combine a vague understanding of electrical wiring with boundless creativity and since a three-terminal power outlet can be wired in up in six different ways, of which only one is correct, dangerous situations can easily arise. How about building a tool to identify the terminals of suspicious outlets and prevent lethal accidents?

Home improvement has never been more popular. Unfortunately many DIY enthusiasts combine a vague understanding of electrical wiring with boundless creativity and since the Eureopean three-terminal power outlet can be wired in six different ways, of which only one is correct, dangerous situations can easily arise. How about building a tool to identify the terminals of suspicious outlets and prevent lethal accidents? This little tool will show if a power outlet is wired properly by lighting a few LEDs. It is capable of identifying phase-phase-earth (115 VAC) and phase-neutral-earth (230 VAC) connections making it useful in many countries. Read more on Elektor.Labs...