Electronics Forum / Basics / September 2007

Hi,

I am new here and this is my first post. I need some clarifications
regarding how electric test pen basically works. I've done googling on
the web but can't find the informations on how it works. Hence, I come
up with my own theory and I hope to see some feedbacks.
What I have in mind is that, is it true that the current flows through
the human body towards the ground when you touch the tip of your test
pen with the bare live/hot wire. If it is so, why is the person not
getting electrocution because I heard that a few miliamps can be
fatal.
That's just my thought and hopefully someone can clarify this for me.
Apart from that, how safe is a test pen? what precaution steps need to
be taken as I can see many technicians and engineers in the factory
use it a lot rather than using a multimeter.