Absence of Voltage Tester

An absence of voltage tester (AVT) for detecting absence of voltage comprising:

• a housing assembly;
• analog circuitry electrically connected to a power source;
• the analog circuitry configured to detect the absence of voltage;
• the analog circuitry configured to detect connections to the power source;
• means for a user to initiate a test for the absence of voltage;
• a supervisory test circuit within the analog circuitry;
• a visual indicator within the analog circuitry to confirm the absence of voltage after an absence of voltage test has been performed;
• a secondary power source operatively connected to the supervisory test circuit for powering the supervisory test circuit;
• and
• a circuit assembly for each phase connection that enables both a redundant continuity test and provide a current limited and reduced voltage power supply front end.

A method of operating an absence of voltage tester (AVT) for detecting the absence of voltage associated with a power source having at least one phase, the AVT having leads for ground and each of the at least one phase, the method comprising:

• monitoring of each of the at least one phase of the power source to visually indicate presence or absence of voltage on each of the at least one phase of the power source using analog circuitry;
• receiving input from a user to initiate a test;
• initiating the test to determine absence of voltage for the power source after receiving input from the user to initiate the test;
• during the test detecting connectivity of the AVT to the power source using an analog supervisory test circuit powered by a secondary power source to confirm the phase and ground leads of the AVT are in direct contact with conductors being tested;
• visually displaying a green indicator to confirm the absence of voltage above a first threshold after the test has been performed and the secondary power source is operative;
• and
• wherein the phase and ground leads are connected to conductors of the power source using voltage sense lead and continuity termination (VSLT) printed circuit boards.

An absence of voltage tester (AV T) for detecting absence of voltage comprising:

• a housing assembly;
• analog circuitry electrically connected to a power source;
• the analog circuitry configured to detect the absence of voltage;
• the analog circuitry configured to test for connectivity to the power source;
• means for a user to initiate a test for the absence of voltage;
• a supervisory test circuit within the analog circuitry;
• a visual indicator operatively connected to the supervisory test circuit to confirm the absence of voltage after an absence of voltage test has been performed;
• and
• a secondary power source operatively connected to the supervisory test circuit for powering the supervisory test circuit.

An absence of voltage tester (AVT) for detecting absence of voltage comprising:

• a housing assembly;
• analog circuitry electrically connected to a power source;
• the analog circuitry configured to detect the absence of voltage;
• the analog circuitry configured to detect connections to the power source;
• means for a user to initiate a test for the absence of voltage;
• a supervisory test circuit within the analog circuitry;
• a redundant supervisory test circuit within the analog circuitry;
• a visual indicator within the analog circuitry to confirm the absence of voltage after an absence of voltage test has been performed with the supervisory test circuit;
• a redundant visual indicator within the analog circuitry to confirm the absence of voltage after the absence of voltage test has been performed with the redundant supervisory circuit;
• a secondary power source operatively connected to the supervisory test circuit for powering the supervisory test circuit;
• and
• a circuit assembly for each phase connection that enables both a continuity test and provide a current limited and reduced voltage power supply front end.