Non-contacting method and apparatus for determining contact voltage sources and providing a warning for same

A method of detecting a hazardous contact voltage on energized objects or surfaces comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a hand held contact voltage source detection apparatus, having:
• (i) an electric field sensor;
• (ii) an amplifier;
• (iii) a signal conditioning circuit;
• and
• (iv) a digital signal processor;
• (b) receiving an electric field signal using the electric field sensor;
• (c) amplifying the electric field signal using the amplifier;
• (d) conditioning the amplified signal using the signal conditioning circuit and forming time-coordinated, distinct source type identifier signals;
• (e) comparing the time-coordinated signals using the signal processor to evaluate a state of the time-coordinated signals and determine if a hazardous contact voltage is present;
• and
• (f) activating an indicator on the handheld contact voltage source detection apparatus that provides a user with a source type identification of the detected contact voltage.

A hand held contact voltage source detection apparatus for identification of hazardous contact voltages on energized objects or surfaces, comprising:

• (a) an electric field sensor structured to sense an electric field;
• (b) an amplifier electrically connected to the electric field sensor to amplify electric signals from the electric field sensor;
• (c) a signal conditioning circuit adapted to process the amplified electric signals and form time-coordinated, distinct source type identifier signals, the identifier signals including neutral-earth (NEV) contact voltage source, intermittent arcing condition fault source, and induced contact voltage source;
• and
• (d) a signal processor adapted to evaluate the time-coordinated signals and provide a user with a source identification of a contact voltage source by activating an appropriate light emitting diode (LED) indicator representative of one of the time-coordinated, distinct source type identifier signals.