The Milwaukee 2202-20 Voltage Detector with LED light is a simple but perfectly useful tool. Its strength is that it does what it needs to without frills and without costing an arm and a leg. A couple of AAA batteries power it, and it is small and light enough to store in a pocket, tool belt, or just about anywhere.
Milwaukee Voltage Detector LED 2202-20 Features
Build Quality
At just under 6 inches in length and less than 3/4-inch in the remaining two dimensions, the Voltage Detector and LED light resemble a large pen more than it does a sophisticated voltage sensing device. The 2202-20 can detect voltages between 50 and 1000V AC, and it is rated CAT IV 1000V. A built-in bright LED work light makes the 2202-20 a lot more useful than just a simple voltage detector, so youโll likely find yourself pulling it out for more than just sensing voltages.
The toolโs body is made from Milwaukeeโs standard ABS plastic in traditional red and black colors. Inside the tip is the metal probe, which allows for easy checking of power outlets without having to reach for probes or even worry about making contact with the actual outlet leads.
The 2202-20 has a rear-mounted button that activates the sensor and LED light. A green โPower Onโ indicator light turns on and lets you know the voltage detector is working properly. When voltage is present, the light goes from green to red, and an audible alarm sounds, letting you know that youโre near a live wire.
Specifications (2202-20)
- Voltage Range โ 50-1000 Volts AC
- Safety Rating โ CAT IV,1000V
- Scan for AC Electrical: Yes
- Non-Contact Voltage: Yes
- LED Work Light: Yes
- Indication: Audible & Visual
- Length: 6 in.
- Includes 2202-20 Voltage Detector with LED and (2) AAA Batteries
Testing and Usage
There isnโt a ton to say about a voltage detector, except to go on about the convenience of having a pen-sized tool that doubles as an LED light. The Milwaukee 2202-20 Voltage Detector just works. Push the button on the back of the tool for about a second, and the LED light turns on. The detector beeps twice to let you know itโs ready for use. Get it close to an outlet, and youโll see it light up from green to red. Then, it will begin emitting a rapid sequence of beeps to let you know the line or outlet is hot.
After 3 minutes of inactivity, the 2202-20 will turn itself off, saving the battery. You can also turn off the detector by pressing the button on the rear of the tool for about a second. Youโll want to conserve the battery on this unit, because changing out the AAA cells may just be the hardest thing youโve ever attempted. It took us about 10 minutes of fiddling with it to get ours off, and we needed a flat-head screwdriver to really accomplish the task. We recommend a different method of securing the cover on the next iteration of this tool โ for the sake of fingernails and thumbs everywhere. We loved that the unit is rated to CAT IV 1000V. Itโs rated that high because thereโs not much chance of shorting, so the tool can handle some pretty high voltages without fear of an arc blast or other fault.
In terms of simplicity, the Milwaukee Voltage Detector has a pocket clip, which reveals the real ease with which I think this tool functions best. We put it in our pocket and just pulled it out from time to time to check newly installed outlets we were placing in a 1920s home we were renovating with new electricity. To replace the batteries in the tool, you just push down on the tab located at the top of the pocket clip. Itโs then a matter of sliding the black cover off the tool and inserting new batteries (not that this is an easy task โ it took us about 10 minutes of experimental fidgeting to muscle the cover off).
Conclusion
We canโt say it enoughโฆ the Milwaukeeโs 2202-20 Voltage Detector with LED is a simple tool to use, provided youโre not changing the batteries โ the only reason this tool didnโt score a perfect 10 in our Performance rating. It just doesnโt overreach and, as such, successfully pulls off setting itself up as a great tool thatโs priced reasonably and works effectively. Itโs clearly earned its perfect Value score. We liked how the LED was convenient to use and the voltage detection was simple, accurate, and allowed us to get readings quickly when the tip was stuck into the hot leg of any outlet.
