So I guess the answer to the question "how you would normally use the voltage detector without hacking out equipment" would, you can't :-). Actually I'm quite happy hacking hardware, except for that small thing called "warranty", which is the driver of my question. Even if done by a "professional". it seems you might end up voiding your equipment's warranty, my main concern here. Something like a Hughes DSS you could use the video sensor, but other things like a power amplifier or subwoofer usually have no external access to a voltage source.

DJ