I thought those new fiber optic test pens were just a gimmick

A guy on my crew in Phoenix kept using one and I gave him a hard time for it. Then I had to trace a live fiber line in a tight ceiling space last week, and his little pen lit up right through the jacket. My old method would have taken twice as long. Anyone else find a tool they were wrong about?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricia_schmidt1414d ago

Seriously, those pens are a game changer. I mean, I was the same way and thought it was just junk. But it saves so much time on simple traces.

aaronclark14d ago

Ever read about how those pens work with the light scattering? I saw a forum post where a guy broke it down, saying the jacket basically glows from the inside when the light hits it right. Totally changed my mind from thinking it was just a fancy flashlight. It's one of those things that seems silly until you're the one stuck in a hot attic, right? I get being skeptical of new gear, but sometimes the simple tool is the winner.

mia7485d ago

Forget the tight spaces, try using one on a dusty patch panel with a dozen identical cables. That faint glow cuts through the grime when your eyes are tired. It's not about the fancy tech, it's about giving your brain one less thing to figure out at the end of a long day. That little bit of mental relief is what sold me on it.