AC electric field meter
Reads power-frequency electric field strength in V/m, the quantity that reveals energised wiring behind a bed head even when no current is flowing.
Last verified 12 August 2026.
Also searched as: E-field meter, electric field meter
- Band covered
- power frequency plus harmonics
- Quantities measured
- electric field strength
- Axes
- single
- Typical price
- $60–$500
Detects
- Live conductors in walls, floors and ceilings
- Unshielded lamp flex and extension leads near sleeping positions
- Ungrounded metal surfaces acting as re-radiators
Cannot detect
- Magnetic fields — an unshielded conductor can show a high E field and negligible B field, and vice versa
- Radiofrequency fields
What to insist on
- A defined measurement mode: potential-free or with ground reference, since the two disagree by a large factor
- A supplied grounding lead if ground-referenced readings are wanted
- Resolution to 1 V/m or better, since precautionary bands start at 1 V/m
Example models in this class
- TriField TF2
- Gigahertz Solutions ME3830B
About the model list
Named models illustrate the class and are not endorsements or verified specifications. Confirm the current frequency range and calibration statement with the manufacturer before purchase.
Related records
- Body-voltage measurement
The building-biology method for grading a sleeping area's AC electric field: a high-impedance millivoltmeter, a hand electrode, and a documented ground reference.
Measurement protocols
- Building Biology SBM-2024 AC electric field bands
Sleeping-area grades with ground reference: below 1 V/m no anomaly, 1–5 weak, 5–50 strong, above 50 V/m extreme; body voltage below 10 mV is 'no anomaly'.
Exposure limits
Sources
- sbm-2024 Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas (SBM-2024) — Institut für Baubiologie + Nachhaltigkeit (IBN), 2024. ngo, link checked 2026-08-12.
Same record, other formats