NFPA 70E 120.5 Exception No.1 permits the use of a permanently mounted absence of voltage tester (AVT) to be used to test for absence of voltage subject to a few requirements.

These have been on the market for several years and I have run into companies that use them INSTEAD of using the traditional voltage meter and the live-dead-live absence of voltage test.

This week’s question of the week is gauge the industry’s views on using an AVT. Some use an AVT only while others will use the AVT as a preliminary test for absence of voltage and then follow up with a traditional live-dead-live test with a portable test instrument (volt-meter). Most still use the traditional live-dead-live test with a volt-meter only.

Do you/client use an AVT anywhere to check absence of voltage?

Yes AVT only
AVT followed by confirming with a volt-meter
Volt-meter only

We used these inside cabinets subject to frequent testing where the cabinet is usually turned on and off multiple times during diagnosis. A tech had reported he had caught himself poking around looking for wires and, due the repetition of testing, had not locked the unit back out.
This lit visual indicator was a reminder to the any technician that he had left the unit on and that it needed to be locked out. I brought this up a few years ago and did not receive positive comments from this group. To those who commented negatively last time; what’s wrong with a visual safety reminder and a devise that is both rated and intended for this use?