Return to Gemcell:
Click here.
Contact Us Subscribe
Contact Us Subscribe
News, Tool Reviews

The Panel Decides: Voltsticks Tool Review

February 1, 2023
The Panel Decides: Voltsticks Tool Review

Before you splash out on a new volt stick check out our list of pros and cons of three popular brands from expert tradies.

  • Three volt sticks put to the test
  • Three expert electricians look at the price, comfort, size, colour and IP rating of three different volt sticks
  • Sometimes the cheapest tools are the best

The Tools

WATTMASTER – WATVS Volt stickSEW – LVD-15 Volt stickKYORITSU – KEW 5711 Volt stick
RRP $41.30RRP $83.49RRP $74.80
THE LOWDOWN: Pocket-sized non-contact voltage tester with light and sound indication. Fully-insulated body and safety hand guard. Beeping sound indicates live wire. CATIII 1000V AC. Sensitivity 230-1000V AC. Indicates within 4mm of wire carrying 230V AC.THE LOWDOWN: The SEW LVD-15 non-contact Voltage Detector is intended to check for AC voltage, signalling the user with an intermittent tone and a flashing LED when voltage from 50-1000V AC is present. The LVD-15 is used to detect voltage in outlets, lighting fixtures, circuit breakers, wires and cables, or to find a break in a wire. It also has a flashlight for convenience.THE LOWDOWN: This volt stick has dual sensitivity: ‘low’ permits discrimination between phase and neutral, while ‘high’ enables the checking live cables in conduits or behind walls. It has a self-check function with audible warning for errors, and a low battery warning. The LED torch illuminates dark work spaces, and the unit has a CATIV 600V / CATIII 1000V safety rating.

The Panel

Tim Learbuch
Learings Electrical Contractors
Experience: 20 years
Scott Essler
Essler Electrics
Experience: 25 years
Nathan Earle
Earles Electrical
Experience: 8 years

The Verdict

WATTMASTER – WATVS Volt stick

“I tend to lose or break volt sticks quite often, so being cheap to replace is a plus.” – Tim

Tim: SIMPLY THE BEST
I tend to lose or break volt sticks quite often, so being cheap to replace is a plus. If it was a little more robust I would pick this one every time. The simplicity of this voltstick is the winner – no buttons or switches, and the size is good.		Scott: BRIGHT CHOICE
It’s bright and easy to see. I liked the price, and that it has an IP rating. It didn’t have a low voltage operation below 230V though, which would have been useful – as would an on/off switch a light, and making the buzzer a little louder.		Nathan:  JUST RIGHT 
This is a nice bright colour, and has IP rating, which is good, however it didn’t have a switch to configure battery life. A light on the tip would have been a bonus! It’s not overly sensitive like the others, and it’s at a good price point.
VERDICT: IT’S A WINNER!
RATING: 8/10 *TOP PICK*  		VERDICT: A CLOSE CONTENDER RATING: 8/10 *TOP PICK*  VERDICT: MY CHOICE
RATING: 7/10 *TOP PICK*  

SEW – LVD-15 Volt stick

“I thought it was too sensitive and it felt bulky in the hand.” – XXX

Tim: LOUD AND BRIGHT
I’ve never used this brand and was excited to try it out. Loud and bright indicators made it good to use in a noisy environment, however this didn’t feel tough to me. It feels like it would shatter into pieces if I dropped it.		Scott: ON THE BULKY SIDE
I liked the on/off button and the light function, however, I thought it was too sensitive and it felt bulky in the hand. The price is also a bit high, and I feel like the light function was too dull.		Nathan:  NOT IDEAL
The grooved holding pads were good, but the blue light wasn’t ideal, and the colour sensitivity was a bit high. It didn’t have IP rating, and overall, there were better options at a cheaper price.
VERDICT: NOT TOUGH ENOUGH RATING: 7/10  VERDICT: NOT FOR ME
RATING: 6/10  		VERDICT: PASS
RATING: 6/10  

KYORITSU – KEW 5711 Volt stick

“Being dark it would be easy to lose it in a roof cavity.” – Nathan

Tim: LIGHTWEIGHT CHOICE
It’s lightweight and small, and the little torch was handy. I didn’t like the dual sensitivity. It also seemed oversensitive and was indicating while a long way away from cables. It also felt very breakable, and should feel tougher for the price.		Scott: LOTS TO LIKE
I liked the light function, the high and low voltage operation, the buzzer, the temperature range, and the brand itself – although there was no IP rating. This could have been improved by having a power on/off button to save battery.		Nathan:  TOO EASY TO LOSE
The light on the tip is handy, it’s also good to have a light on/off button to conserve battery life. I didn’t like that it was so ultra sensitive – that is a big drawback. Being dark it would be easy to lose it in a roof cavity.
VERDICT: TOO SENSITIVE
RATING: 7/10  		VERDICT: MY FAVOURITE
RATING: 9/10 *TOP PICK*  		VERDICT: LOTS OF DRAWBACKS RATING: 4/10  

Latest

Business

Make Instagram Work For You – In Just 20 Minutes Each Day

Social media can seem like a huge time drain. And, look, as anyone reading this will probably agree with, it absolutely can be. But, if you can be a little bit disciplined, and a little bit focused – and concentrate on using social media as a business and not as a way of wasting an [...]<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://gemcell.com.au/news/instagram-tips-for-electricians/">Read More...<span class="screen-reader-text"> from Make Instagram Work For You – In Just 20 Minutes Each Day</span></a></p>

Business

Does buy local still work? 

The concept of ‘buy local’ has been around for a long, long time, and rightly so – the initial appeal is pretty obvious: support local businesses that employ local people, and keep the money in the local community.  However, as it’s been around for a long, long time, is there a risk it becomes background [...]<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://gemcell.com.au/news/does-buy-local-still-work/">Read More...<span class="screen-reader-text"> from Does buy local still work? </span></a></p>

Industry

Smart Home Technology for Electricians: Sell with Confidence

Confidently selling smart home technology There’s loads to know about the electrical industry – and one person can’t know all of the answers. Part of establishing an excellent reputation is about having an open mind, and being able to find out the answers for things you’re not too sure about. A conduit to knowledge, someone [...]<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://gemcell.com.au/news/choosing-smart-home-tech/">Read More...<span class="screen-reader-text"> from Smart Home Technology for Electricians: Sell with Confidence</span></a></p>

News

View all

Business

Make Instagram Work For You – In Just 20 Minutes Each Day

Business

Does buy local still work? 

Industry

Smart Home Technology for Electricians: Sell with Confidence

Industry

Customer service for electricians: What great really looks like!