Circuit Tracers

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glene77is

glene77is

Senior Member
Location
Memphis, TN
Using an Amprobe AT4000, and wonder if anyone else has experience with this circuit Tracer.

I get a tingle all over when I trace out live circuits,
just something I like to do. :)

Any opinions about other circuit tracers for live circuits ???

(A) I have used a DataComm Toner / Receiver for yearsb
only on dead circuits. Really has been worth the money,
but if you attach to a live circuit you will burn the tone generator!

(A) I have a little plug-in unit made by GB, which plugs into a live circuit and generates its warble. The GB receiver picks up everything above 120 Hz with a cord attached magnetic head, which means I hear computer power supply noise, motor VFD noise, along with the 'tick,tick' signal.

(B) I have another little plug-in unit for live circuits which filters for 1 KHz and picks up basically only its own 'tick,tick' signal.

(C) I have several portable O'scopes and have used these to trace signals on live circuits. This takes some background skill to interpret the waveforms.

Any opinions about other circuit tracers for live circuits ???
Any good methods or best/preferred practices ???

Comments: :)
 
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circuit tracer

circuit tracer

We have a greenlee power finder circuit seeker 2011/00521. Workes great on energized or dear cicuirs.good up to 600volts ac/dc.
 
j rae said:
We have a greenlee power finder circuit seeker 2011/00521. Workes great on energized or dear cicuirs.good up to 600volts ac/dc.
Click to expand...

For years, I used a datacomm 2KHz tone generator and hound receiver, like the telephone company uses. But that is still a low frequency, contrasted to the Amprobe AT-4001 circuit tracer's signal at 32KHz.

What is the frequency of the signal on your device,
and how does it appear to interact with the construction material.

My experience is that with low frequency signals are conducted through and/or absorbed by the wood structure more so than the 32KHz signals.

I find that 60Hz signals mush together and sometimes cover up the ticks that are injected on top of them. Whereas when injecting a 32KHz signal is always picked up clean and clear, such that even a faint signal can be useable.

comments? :)
 
Guys,

Have collected a bunch of tracers, both hot and cold circuit types.

Have used my O'scope to differentiate between several signals, combined with VFD signals.

Have used a Data-Comm Toner & Banana (Fox & Hound) for years on cold circuits.
It works good, remembering that this is an art form, and any technique needs to be tweaked during application.

Have several simple 'hot' tracers that filters for its 1KHz signal. Plain ordinary type.

Have one 'hot' tracer from "GB" that filters for anything above 500 Hz to 5KHz,
and the net effect is that you can hear motor noise, VFD hash, computer and network hash.
You can listen to your radio over this one.
You can tell if someone turns-off their computer, and if a motor suddenly quits.
I like that; I like to know whats going on.
Still, injecting an audio signal over 60Hz AC line is not quite like VOIP,
so there is some mushing and possible overloading from 60Hz.
Signal Tracing on a hot line is an art form.

When I get the Amprobe AT-4001 going again
(thanks to LicensedElectrician.Com)
then I'll have some more great tingley fun.
Having used this type in the past, and having used one again recently,
I am conviced that there is no more certain method of circuit tracing
than injecting a 32KHz signal on the hot AC line. :)

One method I have used is to inject the grounded reference signal
into a very long piece of Romex laying around the floor.
Another method is to tap the grounded refence to the air-ducts.

Happy hunting. :)
 
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glene77is said:
Mivey,
Thanks.
I was looking for more methodology.
Never now what is out there until you ask.
I get a tingle when I can successfully trace a live circuit.
:)
Click to expand...
Not much methodology to add other than what I put in the other thread. Either use the plug-in model or the inductive clamp and trace away.

As the manual states, separation between the outgoing and incoming signal paths increases the signal strength. Also, a closed loop is much better, of course. Receiver is orientation sensitive and can help identify turns. The manual gives detailed application instructions/methods.

I have used it to locate opens, trace behind walls, underground, under slabs, through attics, breakers, etc
 
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