Is there an inexpensive meter to test if a conduit metal pipe is hot.
I dropped a metal piece on the pipe or the outlet box and it sparked.
May be a broken hot wire is charging the conduit pipe??

There are a variety of low voltage testers available at Lowe's Hardware. You can also use an ampmeter.

Electrical Tools & Testers

How would an amp meter be used on a live conduit?

I am sorry, I intended to say voltmeter/multimeter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Oneill474

is there an inexpensive meter to test if a conduit metal pipe is hot.
I dropped a metal piece on the pipe or the outlet box and it sparked.
may be a broken hot wire is charging the conduit pipe???

---

How do you use the meter? Example: one probe on the pipe and other where?
The conduit pipe is in a utility room, goes to an outlet box which has power. The outlet itself has a green ground wire attached to the metal box inside. The water pipe is outside and has a ground strap. Does not run close to the conduit pipe. I'll check again the outlet box for being grounded. So if a broken hotwire is inside the conduit, I guess the outlet box would not have power. Or would it? Maybe its just a question of proper grounding.

If the conduit is live, then it obviously is not grounded properly. You need to find a ground to measure any voltage in the pipe. With one probe on the pipe, touch the other probe to a water line, the ground opening on any 3 wire outlet, etc.