You should definitely buy a circuit ground tester. This is one way to make sure that the circuit is functioning properly. You want to make sure that once you've finished your work, it's wired, at least polarity wise, with the ground correctly. A circuit ground tester is a combination testing device. It checks polarity. It checks whether or not you a have good ground circuit. This is the simplest, least expensive piece of equipment you should have. You can also use a voltage tester. A voltage tester ensures that power is turned off prior to working on a circuit. Most homeowners are not going to buy some heavy duty electrical equipment to do jobs around the house. You can find the circuit ground tester or the voltage tester at your local Home Depot or Lowe's. They are going to cost about fifteen to twenty dollars. The typical semi-affluent home homeowner should probably have an electrical service inspection by a qualified professional once every three to four years. If you are buying a home that is more than five years old, you should make this one of the inspections you insist on prior to closing.
