Like Doctor Who's Sonic screwdriver or Inspector Gadget's entire body, multi-tools are designed to squeeze a tool box into a pocket-friendly accessory. It's hard to pin down the exact appeal of devices like Swiss army knives or Leatherman multi-tool. A box full of dedicated tools is a better way to tackle repairs or construction projects with less frustration. It probably has something to do with the appeal of always being prepared for a problematic situation thanks to the single tool strapped to your belt. TV's MacGyver rarely needed anything more than what he could find in his pockets, and anyone who spent a lot of time trying to find the tool they needed didn't return to its original state. Some Leatherman models, like the Surge and the Mut, have an accessory that can hold custom driver bits. The idea is that the multi-tool can be quickly and easily tailored to handle different types of screw heads. The bit driver adapter is used by the Volty Bit. The accessory looks like a small circuitboard with an assortment of chips and LEDs mounted to it, as well as gold-coated tips on either end to ensure it properly conducts electricity.
The multi-tool's all-metal construction allows the Volty Bit to become a voltage probe when it is inserted into the Leatherman's bit driver. The Volty Bit isn't designed to test AC sources.
A series of green, yellow, and red LEDs flash a series of patterns to indicate the DC voltage being, but to keep the Volty Bit as tiny as possible. Learning to read and decipher the flashing LEDs is one of the challenges of using the Volty Bit. The creators of the Volty Bit highly recommend users wear proper safety gear especially with big batteries, because holding an all-metal tool touching both terminals of a battery can potentially come with a shock risk.
Several Leatherman models, including the Wave, Skeletool, Surge, as well as the optional Bit Extender, have been tested with the $25 Volty Bit. It seems as though the bit's tolerances vary from tool to tool, which may make it difficult for users to modify the tiny accessory using a knife or file to ensure it can be easily inserted and removed as needed.
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