Cable Tracers

[VoltzElectrical]

I'm gonna have a look now, but we used one of these cable tracers a lot on the last job, and i think you can get them for around £50.

I'll be back, as someone once said.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

HAND HELD ELECTRICAL CABLE TESTER & TONE GENERATOR WITH PROBE IDEAL FOR NETWORKS: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

there we are guys. These work really well.

on dead circuits. Just e-read markie's post. Perhaps the dearer ones work on live ones too??

 

[megger mark]

The 2042 is a great bit of kit, i worked at Fluke when it first came out.

It has loads of advantages over the others discussed, usefull in tracing cables (live or dead), fuse finding, traces pipe work.

It's good for underfloor heating faults (shorts or breaks) and can trace cables underground (2mtrs i think) and it's even got a torch.

Like all things you get what you pay for, you have to judge which bits you will use and which are just toys.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

howmuch r u doing them for then mark?

 

[megger mark]

Not really allowed to advertise here mate, just offering my opinion as a member of the forum.
You have a forum sponsor who puts up good money to do the advertising.

 

[Brightspark2]

What about this?



Free from your van, one end on brown, cross your fingers and look away then put the other end on green and yellow, then go and see whats blown









Of course im joking!!...

 

[La Poste]

The problem with these cable tracers seems to be the range.

You can easily find a cable at a fuse board if you hold the receiver right next to the cable you are looking for.

But if you are trying to trace a cable that disappears into walls and under floor boards that's a different story.

The two piece kits do definitely seem the best but as for range, I mean when you are searching for where a cable goes through a wall I just do not know the best one to buy.

Does anyone have any real experience of tracing a circuit through a house?
Not just locating cables at the fuse board but actually tracking a cable under floor boards etc.

What did you use and were the results any good?

P.S. Could mods put this thread in the tools and equipment section?

Thanks.

 

[La Poste]

Metrel MI 2093 Universal Tracing and Locating System / Cable Tracer / Cable Locator / Fuse Finder / Line Tracer.

Metrel MI 2093 Universal Tracing and Locating System / Cable Tracer / Cable Locator / Fuse Finder / Line Tracer

I don't know much about Metrel, are they any good as a manufacturer?

And there is also this:
DCF 200 Multifunction Dead Circuit Finder

I wish there was someone who had tried all these and could give a really honest appraisal.

 

[Guest111]

the 2 part tone and amp type as used on telecoms etc will handle 50v and are adjustable, so you could trace a cable under a floor,I,ve used them for years and am pretty good with one,they are like any piece of kit just have to get used to it,the ones we use are these,CPC FARNELL part no IN00716. you can pick them up a bit cheaper,this is the type we used at BT I think I have about 3 of them in my stores,great piece of kit.

 

[La Poste]

Thanks mate, it's nice to chat to someone who has actually tried one.

Here's another to add to the collection.

Amprobe AT-2032E. Buy online or call

 

[a1guvner]

Bought one a few years ago, a total waste of money and has been in my shed since, looks the part but in my opinion not good enough for my needs, cheaper kit like tone generators and fuse finders win all day long

 

[KFH]

I have the Di-log DL 280. Works live and dead. can be used with more than one transmitter. Max range is meant to be 2M but I have not tried it at this distance. Traces cables OK in walls, under floors etc, different power outputs for deep cables. Sometimes difficult to interpret results but gives a very good indication of where cables are and which one you are tracing, I think the issue I have is the earth connection it requires for the one pole test, I probably need more experimentation but I only seem to get time to use it for real. Manual is VERY difficult to follow. Have not yet tried to pick up breaks/short circuits with it, not sure if induced signal in T&E would allow identification of broken individual conductor but manual gives some instruction on how to do this. Tried to find a fault in a house RFC (E-N Short) found a surprising number of very near misses with picture hooks and kitchen cabinet fixings but eventually traced to a wrongly wired accessory.

I don't use it often, but worth it to me for the times I do.

 

[JD6400]

We have a bt type tone tester and Genny that only works on dead circuits ( well i have not had the balls to see other wise yet ! ) , a socket and see tone tester and generator that only works on live circuits , and a RDS2000+ cat scan and line generator for under ground services .

The bt one is brilliant for tracing lost cables and plastered over points ! It seems to work best with all other circuits in the property de energised though as they can introduce interference while using it if left live .

The socket and see one is pretty useless to be honest .

And as for the cat scan and line generator , it is the mutts nutzs but at near on £2k it wants to be !!!

 

[Guest111]

We have a bt type tone tester and Genny that only works on dead circuits ( well i have not had the balls to see other wise yet ! ) , a socket and see tone tester and generator that only works on live circuits , and a RDS2000+ cat scan and line generator for under ground services .

The bt one is brilliant for tracing lost cables and plastered over points ! It seems to work best with all other circuits in the property de energised though as they can introduce interference while using it if left live .

The socket and see one is pretty useless to be honest .

And as for the cat scan and line generator , it is the mutts nutzs but at near on £2k it wants to be !!!

dont try tone and amp on live circuits,they only handle 50v dc and the intermittent 90v pulse on ringing tone,they are good though traced over a mile distance with them at BT.

 

[bathroomrenovat]

Is it good ...?? Because I am searching a kit me..?

Can any one tell.. Awaiting for reply