testing proper phasing

[green2012]

First out, I live in an area where everything is run in conduit. Romex is not ever used. That being said I want some advice on checking proper phasing. I have had to check for this several times. People move breakers around over the years not observing phase and wind up putting 2 circuits that share a nuetral on the same phase. Pipe coming into panel has 9 wires in it and not labeled which hots belong to which neutrals. How I normally find this out and test is to go to an outlet on a circuit and plug in a small toaster (draws heavy amps) and I amp probe the neutrals until I find the one that jumped 7 amps. Then I test the other hots to make sure that the shared circuit is on opposite phase. This works well but I feel weird bringing a toaster into people's homes. Looks unprofessional. Well my toaster finally died and I would like some advice on a plug tester that simulates amperage draw (to replace toaster ) or a better method al together.

 

[Strombea]

Can you just turn breakers off, tie the black wire and white wire at the outlet means, and then at the panel check continuity. This would be one probe to the black wire out of the breaker you are trying to find its neutral, and just touching each neutral wire with the other probe. The downside is that each neutral has to be removed from bus, (or at least the ones in the same conduit as the hot wire you are testing.)

 

[ActionDave]

I like the toaster. It is just quirky enough to give you a little cashe' with the with the customers but still effective. I use my heat gun, same principal though.

Switch to using a space heater if walking around with a toaster makes you feel sheepish. I'm gonna start checking yard sales for a cheap toaster.

 

[iwire]

I just use my electric heat gun for stuff like this. It's small, always in the truck draws about 13 amps.

It also makes noise so you can hear it stop if you shut off the circuit.