OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder

Re: OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder

John K Jordan

I've had several and they worked fine on some panels but for some reason do not work on the panel in my house. Based on that, if you buy one, maybe make sure you can return it if it doesn't with your panel. Maybe you'll have no problem and it will work fine.

But any single-person method would still require a lot of walking back and forth. Can you hire a kid to help for an hour? When doing this we use a pair of walkie talkies to communicate but I suppose a cell phone would work too.

JKJ

This may work, toner *LINK*

Keith Newton

With all the circuits turned off for the whole house, you could go room to room plugging into the outlets while someone else was back at the panel bringing the little detector up to the black wires as they enter the breakers until the correct one is detected. The sender emits a little radio signal from whatever wire it’s on. The main panel person fills out the info on the door.

For lights, I guess you would need to remove the switch cover to get to the hot / black wire.


https://www.amazon.com/Tracer-Circuit-Tester-Alligator-PTE/dp/B00ADHQCIO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=Wire+Tracer+Electrical&qid=1601417749&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFDSFhZWERVS0ZVVE8mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAwNTI5MTcyMTlXT

Funny you mention a "helper".

Gary Smyth

Tried to find a high schooler - male or female. All they had to do was flip the breaker and i'd tell them my location. Aside from quarantine, the two local kids I got a response from were afraid to touch the panel without turning off the master. Doesn't anyone ask their kids to help at home? Disappointed, but not the kids fault.

Re: OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

I did a lot of electrical work in my younger days - before the advent of circuit tracers I could afford. I always used a loud vacuum sweeper to trace the circuits. Turn off all the breakers, plug the vacuum in and listen, when you hear it turn it off again to be sure. Turn it back on and then then plug it into each outlet in the same area to identify live outlets. This is done to insure there are not two circuits in the room (like living room - kitchen etc.) It always worked well for me.

Re: OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder

John McGaw

I have an elderly Sperry device(s) which works quite well. They still sell similar units although mine is so outdated that the exact item seems to no longer. Amazon has several similar types.

Re: OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder *LINK*

Lee Schierer in McKean, PA

I have a Klein Tools ET300 and it works very well. I have used it on industrial and home panes, by Square D, GE and Pushmatic. It requires the circuit to be powered. You plug the transmitter into the receptacle or light socket (using a screw in adapter), then at the panel you scan the entire panel once with the receiver ignoring any beeps, then go over the panel a second time to locate the correct breaker to turn off. At $29.99 it is pretty cheap.

Lee


Klein Tools ET300

Re: OT --Reliable circuit breaker/outlet finder

Garthfromsandiego

Knew a guy that did the same thing with a radio. Turned volume up high so he could hear it at the breaker box. None of the breakers silenced the radio! Turns out that the radio had an internal battery. Best intentions...

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Ellis Walentine

I just bought a circuit tracer from Lee Valley a while back. Works great.


Lee Valley Circuit Breaker Tester

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John K Jordan

Just curious. Those I have came with an adapter, a light bulb base that screws into a socket to check lighting circuits. Did the one from Lee Valley come with a way to check light circuits or just those with 110v receptacles? If not, I guess one of those light socket adapters with a receptacle would work.

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Ellis Walentine

I never had occasion to check light circuits, John, but the LV unit didn't come with any accessories. I guess you'd have to cobble up some kind of pigtail.

Ellis

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johnv

cheap, quick and easy

2nd

David Yoho

Yep, that's the one I got too.

Item shows "no longer available"

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John K Jordan

Ha, "No longer available"!

JKJ

Thanks to all

GarySmyth

Went with a new Klein. Under $40 w shipping. Will let you know if it doesn't work as intended.