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brian's avatar

I'd like to add that while the circuit finders usually do the job, never trust a panel label, always test a circuit before working on it and always lock it out or remove the wire from the breaker and cap it off if you cannot see the breaker from where you are working. Test your tester on a live circuit first, then on your disabled circuit and finally once again on your live circuit. Also beware that a device box can contain more than one circuit, the 2 gang in your bathroom with a light switch and an outlet is a perfect example.

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Mike Sokol's avatar

All true. I should also cover Lockout/Tagout procedures.

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David Dobias's avatar

It would be even more helpful if you could clip to a breaker and then look for all the outlets and lights on that breaker.

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Paul Goldberg's avatar

I belong to a volunteer group in our coop that maintains, phone, internet and TV cable in a 35 year old coop RV Park with 283 sites. We use a tracer to trace phone lines and tv cables though out the park when members report failures. The range seems to be over 1,000 feet.

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Greg Horo's avatar

The Klein ET270 that you mentioned around this time last year has a “FIND mode indicates which breaker corresponds to a given receptacle”.

At that time you indicated that you would be reviewing the meter but I have not been able to find your review.

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Mike Sokol's avatar

Unfortunately Klein never sent me a review sample, so it slipped through the cracks. I’ll ask again…

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Gilbert Eaton's avatar

Can you recommend a similar device capable of locating and tracing wire in walls?

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Mike Sokol's avatar

Yes, it’s called a Fox & Hound. I’ve been using them for 40 years, so I can show you a few tricks…

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Moonmullens 1's avatar

Over 30 years ago, I purchased the first circuit tracer Greenlee offered that automatically switched from dead circuits to live circuits as well as shorted circuits. The best $425.00 I ever spent. Still use it today to find circuit breakers and for troubleshooting. The simple live circuit tracers offered now are tools every homeowner can afford and should own.

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