Cable toner

suffolkspark · Oct 15, 2021

Anybody had any success with cable toners? I've got a job which is full of MI cable, but a lot runs In untraceable voids and there are a multitude of metal boxes joining them to singles and other MI cables, I can see in a loft space a large adaptable box with 9 in, there's a couple of those! I've got a damaged one on a job and am going round In circles checking where it's fed from, was thinking if these really work I can at least narrow it down before aimlessly taking things to bits, everything in the building still works so it could be redundant but it's 30m up on a scaffold so i want to be sure the neutral isn't still connected somewhere and could cause issues down the line!

Extech TG20 Wire Tracer and Tone Generator : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

www.amazon.co.uk

Eddy Currents · Oct 15, 2021

I have used quite a few and most like the one you have linked are aimed for LAN cables. I have used them to locate circuits but they can only be used for dead cable testing

The cheaper ones i found hit & miss but had a lot of success with this one
IntelliTone™ Pro 200 LAN Toner, Tracer and Probe - https://www.flukenetworks.com/datacom-cabling/copper-testing/IntelliTone-Pro-Toner-and-Probe

Fluke also do a cable locator which is designed for live or dead cable locating but its not cheap at around £600
Fluke 2042 Cable locator - https://www.fluke.com/en/product/electrical-testing/basic-testers/fluke-2042

Be aware that on cables like SWA, MI, FP etc they will only work on the stripped ends (end to end)

buzzlightyear · Oct 15, 2021

Contnity tester and white tape and a good marker.

suffolkspark · Oct 15, 2021

buzzlightyear said:
Contnity tester and white tape and a good marker.

There's sooooooo many and they all go back to different joint boxs in different loft spaces mate, it's at a leisure centre

Eddy Currents · Oct 15, 2021

If you can get to both ends then even the cheap ones will do the job but aren't so great at detecting circuit mid cable

Using toners have saved me countless hours especially when dealing with a lot of singles and should do exactly what you want if you can get to the joint boxes

suffolkspark · Oct 15, 2021

Eddy Currents said:
If you can get to both ends then even the cheap ones will do the job but aren't so great at detecting circuit mid cable

Using toners have saved me countless hours especially when dealing with a lot of singles and should do exactly what you want if you can get to the joint boxes

Yea I've got access to lots of joint box's so hopefully it will help, I've ordered the one in the link but from cpc, made by flir so hopefully will do the job! Hopefully I can find it or I'll be borrowing some MI gear and attempting my first end in 15 years!

SparkySy · Oct 15, 2021

I have one of these, it's actually really good and has had a lot of use over the last year, only bought it because my Maplins one packed up!
Can't seem to get a link for it off Amazon

suffolkspark · Oct 15, 2021

SparkySy said:
I have one of these, it's actually really good and has had a lot of use over the last year, only bought it because my Maplins one packed up!
Can't seem to get a link for it off Amazon
View attachment 91088

Oooo that looks a bit nicer than the one i bought, allthough I hate button cell batteries ?

SparkySy · Oct 15, 2021

suffolkspark said:
Oooo that looks a bit nicer than the one i bought, allthough I hate button cell batteries ?

I must admit I'm not a fan of them either, but they are cheap enough, I bought 50 off eBay for about 3quid when I bought the toner and I've still got about 15-20 left so it's not been a problem.

DPG · Oct 15, 2021

SparkySy said:
I must admit I'm not a fan of them either, but they are cheap enough, I bought 50 off eBay for about 3quid when I bought the toner and I've still got about 15-20 left so it's not been a problem.

Don't leave the cheapy cells in equipment or they will likely leak at some point. Keep a regular check on them.

pc1966 · Oct 15, 2021

suffolkspark said:
Anybody had any success with cable toners? I've got a job which is full of MI cable, but a lot runs In untraceable voids and there are a multitude of metal boxes joining them to singles and other MI cables

With MI having a copper shield all of the way, are toners only going to be of use at the actual accessories where the internal conductors get exposed?

SparkySy · Oct 15, 2021

@pc1966
This is a good point, the croc clips would need to be on the conductor to work as would the receiver due to the copper sheath. The one I linked to would not sense through the sheath.

suffolkspark · Oct 16, 2021

pc1966 said:
With MI having a copper shield all of the way, are toners only going to be of use at the actual accessories where the internal conductors get exposed?

Yea I've got access to the inner cores of the damaged end, and can go take lids off a multitude of joint boxs

Mikegh · Oct 16, 2021

Great job for data cabling

Do the toners work on MI ?

suffolkspark · Oct 16, 2021

Mikegh said:
Great job for data cabling

Do the toners work on MI ?

I imagine if i clamp on the outer copper the whole building will ring, but HOPEFULLY if I go L-N with them neutrals out at at board I may have have chance. It was only £20 so not the end of the world if it doesn't, watched a David savery video of him using one tracing circuits in a house so it may be usefull

Cable toner

suffolkspark

Extech TG20 Wire Tracer and Tone Generator : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Eddy Currents

buzzlightyear

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suffolkspark

Eddy Currents

suffolkspark

SparkySy

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suffolkspark

SparkySy

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DPG

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pc1966

SparkySy

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suffolkspark

Mikegh

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