NCVT
Or non-contact voltage testers. The ticker, wand, whatever you want to call it. The thing that beeps when you put it near power.
So I love these things because I am unusually paranoid about getting zapped working on house wiring. And I am always misplacing them or leaving batteries in them etc.
So the basic entry level Klein one got recalled (for what I considered to be non-important reasons), but I never liked that one because the buttons were annoying and putting batteries in was hard because you had to manipulate the pocket clip. The Gardner bender and the southwire are similar. They go for $10-20.
I really like the harbor freight one because it is so simple. It works while you hold the button down and only takes one AAA battery, not two ($6, $4 on sale).
Klein came out with some nicer ones. One has a lazer, one temp, one flashlight etc. i got the flashlight one, and it’s great. Has a screw off battery compartment and the flashlight is great and it seems more durable. Only downside is that it is $30. You ca get a deal like I did by buying a set with other testers.
Flukes are really expensive.
So I wanted another flashlight one with a screw off battery compartment. But I did not want to spend $30. Well, Woot is selling one for $9 that looks like a Klein clone and it includes a break in the wire function (I have not tried this function). Turns out it is a taclife (got banned from Amazon for fake reviews), but it’s actually really nice and seems to work well.
Anyway, this thread is for me to talk to myself, but if you need one or a spare, I recommend the harbor freight or the one on Woot unless you want to splash out on the fancy Klein’s (or presumably a fluke).
PS I know you are supposed to use a meter and I do, but not just as a second check to make sure there is no power.