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Tracing AC circuits in home

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glenshoe

07-18-2002 07:58:16




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I know this isn't related to tractors but maybe you can help anyway. I want to help a friend trace and document the circuits in his electrical panel in his house. Since he is deaf and almost blind he won't be any help and I will be doing this by myself. I would be happy to buy one of those circuit tracers which is actually two parts: one for the tone generator and one for the tracer if they will work for this application. Questions: will they superimpose a tone on a live circuit or will it have to be turned off? Can I detect the tone through the wallplates or do I have to remove them to get close enough to the wires to detect the tone? Is this worth pursuing at all or do I just run up and down his townhouse steps a hundred times? Any help here will truly be appreciated. Thanks, Glenn

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glenshoe

07-23-2002 13:48:46




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
Thanks, guys. All of the responses were a big help. Glenn



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Neil

07-22-2002 13:30:30




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
Just hire a kid to help.
$5 or $10 still goes a long way if he is under driving/dating age. Once that hits, you can not pay them enough (unless they need some $$ to drive for a date)



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Dave K

07-19-2002 19:25:56




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
Another inexpensive method that is a one man operation is to get a flasher button (like used in Christmas displays) and plug a lamp with the flasher button into the outlet(s) in question. Borrow a "clamp on" type ammeter (Amprobe is a common brand but there are others) and clamp it around each breaker wire in the panel. The one you are plugged in to will make the meter bounce. Be careful in a live panel. If you are not comfortable with this, use the radio method.

You also can rent the circuit tracers.

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Skip

07-19-2002 11:55:43




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
Yes, the latest in circuit tracers work on energized circuits. No, you don't have to remove the faceplates as the receiver should detect the tone when place next to the outlet.



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Turtle

07-19-2002 09:20:45




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
A COMPANY CALLED GREENLEE MAKES A TESTER/TRACER JUST FOR THIS NEED. THAY COST ABOUT 150 AND CAN USALLY CAN BE BOUGHT AT A GOOD ELECT SUPPLY HOUSE. YOU CAN ALSO CHECK WITH PAWN SHOPS AND POSSIBLY FIND ONE. THIS IS JUST THE BRAND THAT i I USE.



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slughammer

07-19-2002 05:32:31




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
I have one that I got at Radio Shack. The power needs to be on to use it, you plug the one end into the outlet or into an adapter if for a light. If you are going to map the whole box, I think that you may be just as well off using the radio or vaccum cleaner like suggested. Using the one I have frustates me as much as it helps. Its OK if I'm working on something while my wife is cooking supper, helps a little to keep the peace.- Slughammer

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Kevin

07-18-2002 17:33:01




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
I can't answer your question, but the way I do it, your friend can still help. I use a clock radio turned up LOUD. I can hear it from the panel no matter where. Your friend can move it from outlet to outlet in a prearranged pattern. When it goes out, you label the circuit, then he moves to next on the list. Being mostly deaf will be a good thing with that radio blasting! Hope this helps.



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Don LC

07-18-2002 13:11:54




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 Re: Tracing AC circuits in home in reply to glenshoe, 07-18-2002 07:58:16  
What I do is get a long electric cord and the vavuum sweeper....set the sweeper as close to the breaker panel as you can....plug the sweeper(switch on) into the cord.....the cord into the plug you want to test .....turn the breakers off one at a time until the sweeper quits running....now you know what circut that plug is on.....go over the house doing this.....



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