What Is Circuit Testers – Types, Uses, Buying Guide

What Is Circuit Testers /Circuit Testers is an example of white-box testing where an electrical probe tests a populated printed circuit board (PCB), checking for shorts, opens, resistance, capacitance, and other basic quantities which will show whether the assembly was correctly fabricated. It may be performed with a bed of nails type test fixture and specialist test equipment, or with a fixtureless in-circuit test setup.

What makes the best circuit testers? What criteria should be used when coming up with the list of the best circuit testers? In my opinion, customer-based experiences and responses will let you know exactly what to expect and the most memorable feature of that product as well. My brother and his friend own an electrical appliance shop. From time to time, I pop in whenever I need their point of view. That is exactly what I did when I was planning to buy a circuit tester. I also interacted with other people around me and the final output was this review below. Check it out, and you will definitely get the right one by the time you finish reading this article.


List Of The Top Best Circuit Testers

Morris 59010 Circuit Testers

We kick off our list concerning the best circuit testers with the Morris 59010 Circuit Tester. It has a maximum voltage of 500 and is considered to be an economy twin-lead tester. My colleague mistakenly had it with him at work a few weeks back. According to him, it works great as it should with electrical devices, switches, and when testing outlets. Being a fully approved circuit tester, this is an excellent device for anyone who wants to have great results.

Morris Products Circuit Tester 80-500 Volts AC/DC Economy Twin Lead Tester for Testing Switches, Outlets, Electrical Devices Blister Packed cULus Listed 1-Pack 59010 Black
206 Reviews
Morris Products Circuit Tester 80-500 Volts AC/DC Economy Twin Lead Tester for Testing Switches, Outlets, Electrical Devices Blister Packed cULus Listed 1-Pack 59010 Black
  • ULTIMATE ELECTRICIAN’S TOOL: Every electrician needs this circuit tester from Morris Products in his or her toolbox. The economy twin lead tester is essential for electrical applications.
  • TESTING SOLUTION: Ensure that switches, outlets and electrical devices are working with this Morris Products’ circuit tester on hand.
  • 500 VOLTS MAX: Each AC/DC circuit tester offers 80 to 500 volts, so you can maximize your electrical testing and work on residential or commercial jobs.
  • CULUS LISTED: Know that you’re investing in high-quality equipment for electric work with this cULus listed circuit tester.
  • COLLECTION OF COMPREHENSIVE ELECTRICAL TOOLS: Morris Products is proud to feature a variety of electrical tools and applications that range from wire connectors and non-insulated ferrule to nylon cable ties and cable splicers.

Reasons To Buy This

  • This circuit tester is blister packed.
  • It is listed by the cULus.

IPA 7865L Circuit Tester

At number 9, we have this one from the Innovative Products of America. I liked the fact that it was easy to remove from any metal connector. This was largely associated with its winged grip. My-in law has this circuit tester in his car too. I saw it when he was plugging it into the side socket of the vehicle, and that is when it became a topic of discussion. The main advantage of this purchase is that you will be able to bypass any circuitry that becomes troublesome while you are still on the road. That is what actually makes it the most favorite circuit tester for him.

Amazon Best Seller
IPA Tools 7-Round Pin Trailer Circuit Tester 7865L Black
1,200 Reviews
IPA Tools 7-Round Pin Trailer Circuit Tester 7865L Black
  • Leading Manufacturer Of High-Quality Products
  • International Renown For Our Diverse Range Of Award-Winning Products
  • Fully Equipped With State-Of-The-Art Technology
  • All Products Have Been Designed With The Professional In Mind
  • Constantly Modernizing Our Powerful Devices To Meet The Demands Of The Modern User

Reasons To Buy This

  • Guesswork is eliminated in the overall results.
  • The purchase will include a brass jumper.
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Non-Contact Voltage Tester, Protmex PM8908C

This one can detect AC voltage that ranges from 12V to 1000V accurately. It then distinguishes them into three other voltage levels. My brother was trying to point it out to one of his clients, while I patiently listened in. It has been made using both PVC and ABS material. This one has an automatic power-off feature. He explained that is the coolest item for individuals who prefer energy-efficient products. It can even be used in dark corners or night time thanks to its LED torch.

Reasons To Buy This

  • It has a low voltage indicator.
  • Its construction makes it resistant to wear and tear.

 Astro 7763 Digital LCD 12-24V Circuit Tester

He said that this one was one of the excellent circuit tester’s for people who were looking to have one for their; trailers, vans, RVs, motorcycles, cars, boats, snowmobiles, and even on airplanes. It also has an LCD display which is clear and enables one to read out the correct voltage. The design of this item is ergonomic; it is small enough that it makes it easiest to use in areas that are confined. Its probe is needle-sharp as well to make it pierce easily.

Astro 7763 Digital LCD 12-24V Circuit Tester
  • Clear LCD display for accurate voltage readouts
  • Tester’s ground cable attaches to any ground while tester measures voltage from positive sources, or flip internal display to perform the opposite
  • For use on cars, boats, trailers, vans, RV's, motorcycles, airplanes and snowmobiles
  • Needle-sharp stainless steel probe allows for easy piercing
  • Use to check electrical circuits and accessories on all 12~24 volt systems

Reasons To Buy This

  • The probe is made of stainless steel.
  • It is suitable to check electrical circuits on 12 to 24 volt systems.

Astro Pneumatic 7760 Cordless Circuit Tester

I found this one to be quite interesting, to say the least. First of all, it does not require a ground clamp or table! For any grounding to occur, it will use one’s body or just hand. The lady who had asked about it immediately got startled. My brother further explained by showing her what he meant. He held it properly then using his bare hands, made contact with the ground. She couldn’t believe what she saw, but it gave her all the more reason to buy it as the best circuit testers for her.

Amazon Best Seller
Astro Pneumatic 7760 Cordless Circuit Tester
  • Does not require ground cable or clamp, user's own body/hand as ground
  • User must be holding tester as well as contacting a ground with bare hands
  • Safe on ECM's, transducers and airbags
  • For 3-28V DC circuits
  • V-Tip for safe and centered wire piercing

Reasons To Buy This

  • For safe and centered wire piercing, it has a V Tip.
  • It can even be used on airbags and transducers.
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Circuit Testers ZT203 NCV

This is one of the best circuit testers for me; I have one in the comfort of my home. It is a digital multimeter pen-type that is battery powered. The circuit tester has a large LCD display that is 6000 count, not forgetting that it also has a backlight. For me, what makes it top rated Is the fact it has five functional buttons, these contribute to its dynamic measurements with many conveniences. This is a highly responsive one that offers excellent results and bears a great deal of accuracy.

Reasons To Buy This

  • It has dimensions of about 3.1 x 0.8 x 0.5 inches.
  • The large LCD display is quite clear.

OEMTOOLS 25886 6-24V Circuit Tester

One of his business partners arrived at the shop; he is usually a very calm and laid back guy. We were still deliberating on everyone’s pick of their best circuit tester when he brought this one out. He said that this circuit tester’s cord is resistant to both heat and oil. The coiled cord has a length of roughly 12 inches. He said that it gives him enough room to maneuver around. The heavy-duty construction makes it highly durable.

Amazon Best Seller
OEMTOOLS 25886 Circuit Tester 6-24 Volt, Black and Red, Live Wire Tester Electrical Tool, 12V Test Light Automotive Test, LED Test Light for Car Tests
939 Reviews
OEMTOOLS 25886 Circuit Tester 6-24 Volt, Black and Red, Live Wire Tester Electrical Tool, 12V Test Light Automotive Test, LED Test Light for Car Tests
  • SAFE AND EASY TO USE: Super sharp probe tester makes for easy contact of circuits, and could even be used for some wire-piercing applications with LED test light automotive projects; Test probe light has clear readout to detect malfunctioning circuit
  • VERSATILE POWER PROBE: Car fuse tester capable of testing 6, 12, or 24-voltage circuit systems; The coiled cord of the 24v circuit tester reaches 12 feet, lets you access any wire, whether in front of you or under the dashboard in hard-to-reach spots
  • NO WIRE UNTURNED: Capable of being used for any auto tester electric light bulb voltage testing projects, both in and out of the car; High-intensity auto test light in a clear plastic housing is visible for immediate results
  • BUILT TO LAST: Coiled core of the voltage light tester is resistant to oil and heat; Plastic strain relief complements the shape of the circuit tester probe for durability; Plastic sleeve protects the ground clamp of the wire voltage tester
  • PRODUCT DETAILS: Circuit tester measures 13”; Stainless steel wire piercing probe; Shaped strain relief for long life of your electrical testers automotive kit; Heavy duty ground clamp for automotive electric circuit tester performance

Reasons To Buy This

  • It has a ground clamp which is heavy-duty.
  • It is durable and will serve you accordingly.
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Professional 6-12V Circuit Tester

I couldn’t find my circuit tester, so that day I decided to go over to my neighbor’s and asked if he could lend me his for some time. I used to think that I had the best circuit tester until I used his. Its probe tip has some plastic sheath covering it to avoid any cases of one accidentally injuring themselves in the toolbox. Best of all is that you can often do some maintenance that is preventative for your car, at your convenience.

Amazon Best Seller
Professional 6-12V Circuit Tester - Indicator Light - Lifetime Warranty by Industrial Tools
  • Professional 6-12V Circuit Tester - Indicator Light - Lifetime by Industrial Tools

Reasons To Buy This

  • The purchase comes with a lifetime warranty.
  • It is a professional grade product.

ATD Tools 5513 Heavy-Duty Circuit Tester

This particular one consists of heavy-duty lead. The ground clamp is durable and has an excellent connection, the light itself is brighter than the rest. This particular tester is meant for DC current and is rated as 28v DC. It has also been designed in a manner that it will not be prone to corrosion. My cousin uses this one and has nothing but good reviews concerning it all through. Her favorite part is definitely the cord because it seems to be indestructible.

ATD Tools 5513 Heavy-Duty Circuit Tester
  • Has 5 ft. heavy duty lead.
  • Tests low voltage up to 28 volts.

Reasons To Buy This

  • The cord is 5 feet long.
  • It has measurements of 12.3 x 8.1 x 7.2 inches.

Power Probe PP3LS01 Power Probe III Circuit Tester

After realizing that there were some other incredible options in the market, I set out to find one that would meet my needs completely. That is when I came across this particular one. After using it several times, I can now confidently say that it is the best circuit tester since it comes with a PPLS01 Lead Set Kit too. Combined with the kit, I get access to so many other useful accessories that have made things much easier for me.

Power Probe PP3LS01 Red Circuit_Testers
4,539 Reviews
Power Probe PP3LS01 Red Circuit_Testers
  • Power Probe III and accessories
  • 4mm leads and connectors
  • Continuity tester
  • Relay and component tester
  • Works on 12-24v Sources

Reasons To Buy This

  • It consists of a continuity, relay and component tester.
  • A cigarette lighter adapter is also included.

Example test sequence/Electronic Circuit Testers

  • Discharging capacitors and especially electrolytic capacitors (for safety and measurement stability, this test sequence must be done first before testing any other items)
  • Contact Test (To verify the test system is connected to the Unit Under Test (UUT)
  • Shorts testing (Test for solder shorts and opens)
  • Analog tests (Test all analog components for placement and correct value)
  • Test for defective open pins on devices
  • Test for capacitor orientation defects
  • Power up UUT
  • Powered analog (Test for the correct operation of analog components such as regulators and opamps)
  • Powered digital (Test the operation of digital components and Boundary-scan devices)
  • JTAG Boundary-scan tests 
  • Flash Memory, EEPROM, and other device programming
  • Discharging capacitors as UUT is powered down

While in-circuit testers are typically limited to testing the above devices, it is possible to add additional hardware to the test fixture to allow different solutions to be implemented. Such additional hardware includes:

  • Cameras to test for the presence and correct orientation of components
  • Photodetectors to test for LED color and intensity
  • External timer counter modules to test very high frequencies (over 50 MHz) crystals and oscillators
  • Signal waveform analysis, e.g. slew rate measurement, envelope curve, etc.
  • External equipment can be used for hi-voltage measurement (more than 100Vdc due to limitation of voltage that is provided) or AC equipment Source those have an interface to PC as the ICT Controller
  • Bead probe technology to access small traces that cannot be accessed by traditional means

Advantages of Electronic Circuit Testers

In-circuit testing is best suited to stable products with a mature design and higher volumes. It offers the following advantages:

  • Fastest test per unit
  • Tests components individually
  • Tests logic functionality
  • Measures tolerance of components
  • Finds shorts and opens
  • Power-up ability to take measurements

Limitations

While the in-circuit test is a very powerful tool for testing PCBs, it has these limitations

  • Parallel components can often only be tested as one component if the components are of the same type (i.e. two resistors); though different components in parallel may be testable using a sequence of different tests – e.g. a DC voltage measurement versus measurement of AC injection current at a node.
  • Electrolytic components can be tested for polarity only in specific configurations (e.g. if not parallel connected to power rails) or with a specific sensor
  • The quality of electrical contacts can not be tested unless extra test points and/or a dedicated extra cable harness are provided.
  • It is only as good as the design of the PCB. If no test access has been provided by the PCB designer then some tests will not be possible

Benefits Of Circuit Testers

  • They are safety tools – They keep the user out of harm’s way by indicating that there is trouble on a circuit or device.
  • They are preventative tools – They can be used to check the performance of a device is up to par and indicate that some improvements need to be done before there is an issue in the near future.

Conclusion

The market offers different types of circuit testers. However, some of them can do only one task while others have some features that they bring to the table. Be keen when you purchase so that you can get the best value out of your money. Of course, buying any electrical device calls for the utmost keenness to ensure that you don’t take a flop home. For that reason, when looking at this list of the best circuit testers, be sure to take note of specific features and level of performance.

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