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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 849
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What do they make that you can trace a wire from Device or Motor to the Panel to get the correct circuit without shutting the power off. Some of the loads run 24/7 And are not marked correctly.
Both 3 phase & single phase.
Thank you
Yoopersup
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,006 Likes: 37
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There are breaker finders that insert some kind of signal on the wire that you can pick up with the tester at the breaker end. The one I have is 120v only tho (a wall wart looking sender). I put a 1-15 receptacle on a pigtail with some insulated clips so I can use it on a circuit without a receptacle handy.
Greg Fretwell
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Joined: Mar 2004
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I tried a couple different tracers that are plugged into an outlet and have had some success and some failures. When I'm turning off a plug circuit that really has to be right, I built a box with a 4 amp cycling load so I can verify the circuit with a clamp-on ammeter.
A telephone toner will work on a dead circuit.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 98 Likes: 1
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I tried a couple different tracers that are plugged into an outlet and have had some success and some failures. When I'm turning off a plug circuit that really has to be right, I built a box with a 4 amp cycling load so I can verify the circuit with a clamp-on ammeter. So can I ask what do you use for cycling? I've been looking for one of those flashers people used to use at Christmas, but they don't sell them where I am. Thanks
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Joined: Mar 2004
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For a cycling load, I have a couple magnetic heaters inside a 10x10 JB with a heat sink from an old VFD opposite the heaters. They cycle on for about a second and off for about 3 seconds.
It takes about one second for an ammeter to give a good reading. The off time is longer to reduce the heat.
I have an ammeter with forks that slip over the wires so I don't have to clamp on to each wire.
Sometimes the panel feeders have a steady enough load that the phase can be determined, which reduces the number of tests on breakers.
This is a result of an incorrectly labelled breaker that the circuit tracer also incorrectly identified. It's a funny thing. If the power goes out on computers, everyone goes outside for a smoke. If an electrician makes a mistake, they want to see blood on the walls.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,006 Likes: 37
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It's a funny thing. If the power goes out on computers, everyone goes outside for a smoke. Trust me, when the computers are down, there are still plenty of people who want to see some blood on the wall. 
Greg Fretwell
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Most the Loads I am talking about are 3 phase 480 v motor loads.
120 Volt loads are not a problem/
Still Looking
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Posts: 44
Joined: July 2013
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