[Username1]

Without a HV meter, the neon bulb is the best way to check HV, They glow with anything
above 50V, and if you do some experimenting with the bulb and a working set, then you
have an idea how close you have to be to a HV source for it to glow.... A working HV
source will set it glowing X inches from the 2nd anode wire, x inches from the transformer,
x inches from the Horiz plate cap.... It was the first device we in tv repair school made,
and learned to use to measure HV at several spots in a tv.

Electricity will only travel from a positive - negative potential to the oppisite potential..
Same for an arc. If you don't ground the screw driver, then the next lowest potential
is through all high resistance paths to ground.... Like you and the handle.....

Like lightning, very high potential will overcome the high resistance of distance and
the poor conducting properties of air...

The neon tester we made in schooll was to test electrical outlets, It was made out
of a piece of house wire, a resistor, and the neon bulb, which was tucked into a piece
of the wire's insulation... Pretty neat little thing. So we held it by the wire to test for
HV, kinda held it backwards... But you have to be aware that the magnetic field, or
electrostatic field will be making the light glow, and inducing a voltage into the wire
as well.... So if you are not careful you will get a taste of it.... Or get too close and
get a spark to jump and get a bigger shock....

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