tool help

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clayton

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my boss just gave me the ok to order a circuit identifier, tracer.
because one of the contract companies just finished and reconfiguration of a room in our facility and didn't label anything,
then i get a call to remove several, because now they need a sink,
ok

the point is , what is good?
i need something that does 120v circuits but also would like something to trace wires and the like for 480v not sure whats availible whats worth the money and so on,

any thoughts please?

clay.
 
Re: tool help

I use the Greenlee wire finder/mini locator cat #5085. It works great. You will have to play with it a little. Approx. $500
 
Re: tool help

I really like my Amprobe AT-4005 (I am doing the model number from memory). It traces live and dead circuits, open and closed. It auto-switches for live-circuits so it is not damaged. The sensor is not orientation sensitive (as older amprobe sensors were). It was about $500. I have traced wires under as much as 6 inches of concrete and 6 inches of dirt. The signal was still very strong so I expect it would have done much more. It is easy to use, but has a learning curve - definitely read the instructions a few times.
 
Re: tool help

Two posts are not a problem but if it bothers you, you can edit your own posts to add, subtract, or change information. It is just my preference but I usually will let what I posted stand and put another post up for something further. :D
 
Re: tool help

It was about $500. I have traced wires under as much as 6 inches of concrete and 6 inches of dirt
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Bussman You would love the Greenlee as I have one and the sensitivity adjustment allow to zero in on any wire. I follow wires in a attic all the time, But standing on the floor below. :D
I have a couple tracers for underground and one I can set for any frequency that I need to trace so I can use a combination of both units to really get close to a break in a underground wire like a UF feed to a post lamp.
 
Re: tool help

You guys will laugh of course, but for tracing out lawn sprinkler circuits, I made a buzzer from a relay and battery, tied that to the open wire and traced it out with a portable radio. Don't laugh too much! It saved $500.
 
Re: tool help

sorry to reopen this but doen anyone know the difference between Amprobe AT 2005 and AT 4005 besides the price?
:(
 
Re: tool help

I think the 2005 did not auto-protect for live circuits and had a directional receiver (the signal level could be based on the orientation of the receiver, not just the distance).

Mark
 
Re: tool help

Hey Mark, You said you traced wires under 6" of concrete? The AT 2005 says it traces under 13' Does your AT 4005 do the same?
 
Re: tool help

I have the AT-2005. It can be manually adjusted for sensitivity. This can be a very useful feature, especially if you are tracing wire in conduit in concrete.

The others are correct in that if you energize the circuit it's on, it's not designed to switch over to "live" mode. The kit has two transmitters: one to put a signal on a live wire, and one for a dead one. If you are using the dead one and energize the circuit, it blows a fuse in the transmitter. This has happened to me a couple of times already, but the replacement fuses at the supply house were pretty cheap.

[ December 28, 2005, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]
 
Re: tool help

A guy in another forum had the same type post, just so happens my answer is the same...

I'll second the Amprobe AT2005, old shop had an older AT2004, (It's littler brother) and it wasn't that bad. Also had another way old Amprobe that could only be used live, and it was great for that. You really had to dial down the sensitivity, or it would ring through to other circuits, phases, other panels, next building... Once you got the hang of it, and how far you had to dial down, it would be fairly accurate, but that took years of experiance with it.

FYI Best way to accuratly find a breaker, when you don't want to shut it down accidentaly in an office setting is an Amp Clamp and a circular saw. Open panel and have a buddy crank the saw over and off, while you run down the circuits. The one jumping up and down 7+ amps is your guy, start with phase first, then the breakers on that phase. You could use something quieter... :) But it needs to have a good kick in the amps!
Click to expand...
 
Re: tool help

The 4005 can also adjust sensitivity. It has high, medium and low on both the transmitter and receiver. It can also use an optional external power feed for a boost above the high setting. I have sometimes wished it had more intermediate settings, but usually some combination of tx and rx will work.

I have never tried 14' of concrete, but at 14 kHz, it should work.

Mark
 
Re: tool help

The AT-2005 was $909.00 + tax at the supply house. I had to have them special order it, and it took six weeks.

I also use the AT-2005 for identifying circuits. The problem with using the circ saw is that you need a receptacle for it. If I crack open a luminaire outlet and want to know which circuit it's on, I'd rather not jury-rig a circ saw to the wiring. Also, I work alone, so it would be kinda inconvenient with all the back and forth up and down the stairs.

The live transmitter in the AT-2005 kit is light enough that you can clip it to the wires and let it hang while you go down to the panelboard to find the signal.
 
Re: tool help

Why is the 2005 more expensive than the 4005 I just found couple web sites. To me it looks like the 4005 is more industrial (Cat III), right?
 
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