Circuit Tracer

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bjp_ne_elec

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Got called in a place today, and I thought it would be quick - just a busted office outlet. Plug my Circuit Tracer Transmitter in to the bottom half of the outlet (top is sitting there with all metal parts exposed) and go to the panel just across the hallway. Find it's not that panel. Ask the handyman (thankfully they don't let him in the wiring) and ask him to show me the next closest panel - nadah.

Well 10 panels later, I still can't find this circuit. Went to evero corner of the building, and unless there's one buried - I'm at a loss.

Go up in to the ceiling figuring - ah, I'll just find the wire and try to chase it back to the panel. Well lift the first ceiling tile - and find the whole ceiling is loaded with 6" insulation - hate working around that stuff. Well find metal studs used as trough, and what a rats nest. Still can't really find where the circuit comes out of the wall and up in to the ceiling open.

Do they make any tracers that you can pick the circuit up if your some distance away from the wire? Short of pulling a ton of insulation up, I'm at a loss.

I know you guys got a better idea - don't ya?
 
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Nope - checked it on a circuit in another room. At one of the panels, i just plugged in to a receptacle that was about 12' away, and was able to find it in the panel;
 
I've had "success" finding this mysteriously feed panels by going all the way back to main panel (No xfmers though)....then working my way upstream - if you're lucky, some panel scheduling will be in place.
 
At the risk of repeating myself............

At the risk of repeating myself............

At the risk of repeating myself.....At the risk of repeating myself.............Amprobe 2005 the best tracer ever made. 1200 bucks worth every penny.
 
Could the issue be that it's sitting in a metal stud trough? Just wondering if the signal is getting shielded out.

quogueelectric - I hear you. I'm looking in to one now, but have you had experience using it in a metal stud situation? It does say it picks up to 13' - but I know my little breaker tracer - I sometime have issues - as I'll pick it up on multiple breakers.

Thanks
 
It is by far the best you must read the directions and follow them. I have located grounds , shorts, burried boxes,, in as much time as it takes me to set up the transmitter properly and humiliate other electricians searching for hours. I say sorry I have to do this too you BUT...........
 
quogueelectric said:
At the risk of repeating myself.....At the risk of repeating myself.............Amprobe 2005 the best tracer ever made. 1200 bucks worth every penny.
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I agree, got the first model they came out with and keep upgrading every 5 or so years. The only thing that gives it problems is computers, they operate on close to the same frequency which makes it hard to here the pulse, but they are deadly accurate. The panel the op is looking for is probally in a server room that he does not know about yet.
 
hillbilly1 said:
The panel the op is looking for is probally in a server room that he does not know about yet.
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Or above the ceiling! I found one that way one time. The space was reconfigured, and a wall removed that formerly had a panel in it. They coiled the cables up, and hung the panel above the ceiling.
 
boboelectric said:
I would change this outlet on the fly.
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I think I would too, but not being able to find out where it's fed from would tick me off, just on principle. :grin:

Murphy's Law says this will be the one that'll blast out a shower of sparks, shut down the desktop computer for the president of the company, and leave a black mark on the brand new wallpaper. Middle of the night, I'd do it. In an office full of people, and a brand new customer, no way Jose.
 
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mdshunk said:
Or above the ceiling! I found one that way one time. The space was reconfigured, and a wall removed that formerly had a panel in it. They coiled the cables up, and hung the panel above the ceiling.
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Bob/Iwire can tell you a few stories about our local supermarket chain that has those flying panels above the ceiling.
 
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