Review on ⚡️ Klein Tools NCVT-3 Voltage Tester: Dual Range Non-Contact Pen with AC Testing & Built-in Flashlight by Jonathan Bennett

As a homework assignment I thought I knew enough about tools to be familiar with most basic basic tools. I literally just became aware of the existence of this type of device after reading a particularly well-written guide to setting up a wall switch. For years I used one of those little plug in polarity/GFI testers whenever I plugged in an outlet to make sure it was correct. The same tester also gives me confidence that I didn't forget to turn off the circuit breaker. But with wall switches and other wiring (especially in an old house with short wires) I'm never 100% sure that there isn't a hot wire in that box or which of those two identical black wires is the wire. Finding this tool isn't just nice, it's a must-have. Since I bought the right tester, the best selling model was several times cheaper than this one from Klein Tools and I'm sure it would work very well. But working with electricity is neither the time nor the place to save money. The first thing I noticed were the five LEDs, which not only indicate the presence of voltage, but also proximity and strength and also have a warning tone to be on the safe side. This is a non-contact type, like most of them. I wasn't sure why that mattered until I realized it would work through wire insulation, wire caps, and with those switches where the wire is pushed into a hole on the back of the switch rather than attached to an exposed terminal to become. It makes sense that you would want a tester that doesn't need to touch the bare wire to alert you to the presence of voltage. This model includes a built-in LED flashlight, which partly contributes to its higher price. The last thing I need in my house is another flashlight and I almost had to pay extra for that. Then I started thinking about these real life scenarios where I'm working deep in a junction box and you know what, I had to turn off the circuit breaker which means none of the lights in the room are working. Of course, I need a flashlight, and I only have two hands, so having a flashlight built into the end of the same tool I use to test voltage is not only convenient, it's an important design feature. I've had everything from Klein Tools, but I've always heard it's one of the best brands. Did you know they were founded in 1857? That's 22 years before Edison invented the lightbulb. I'm surprised and disappointed that a company with such a good reputation doesn't have an instruction manual. They show the location of the switches and how to change the batteries, but that's about it. I think they assume someone who buys this knows all about how to use it, but they're wrong. They should provide detailed instructions on correct use, do's and don'ts for typical use of the DYI Non-Contact Voltage Detector. A tester that combines the best qualities of the Klein NCVT-1 and NCVT-2 and adds a surprisingly solid feel. This might be the first one I have, but I have a feeling it will also be the last.