

The three least expensive models are capable of locating most breakers. For around $106, this is an amazingly flexible and versatile tool.įor basic circuit breaker finding, most of these tools did an excellent job. It did a good job of eliminating false positives and discerning the correct circuit from adjacent breakers. I particularly liked the auto sensitivity setting. Of course, as a circuit breaker finder, the 61-534 also works well. It had limited success on thicker walls made of plaster and lathe, but in drywall, it excelled. Tracing above the television’s supply outlet I was able to verify the run and tap into that outlet for additional power to the home theater. Using the Ideal Industries Breaker Finder I placed the Circuit Tracer Transmitter into the outlet I believed to be on the same line. I pulled it out when attempting to discern the path taken to run an outlet for an existing wall-mounted bedroom television. The Ideal Industries 61-534 Digital Circuit Breaker Finder was the first device I used to trace a live wire. Shop Amazon Best Circuit Breaker Finder for Tracing Live Wires Ideal Industries 61-534 Digital Circuit Breaker Finder

(It’s possible that the sensitivity settings are slightly different for each.) (I tried them all in various configurations.) That’s not to say that you should interchange them or that they are completely identical. In fact, they can all work interchangeably with their single pole transmitters. Three of the tools I tested, the Amprobe BT-120, the Triplett Breaker Sniff-It (9650), and the Klein ET300 are all built from the same platform. Best Entry-Level Circuit Breaker Finder and Tester Klein ET300 The panel labeling process, however, jumps around from breaker to breaker as you go through the process of discovery. When labeling a panel, you systematically go through the circuits in the home.

But since all of these tools work by transmitting a signal on a particular circuit, you end up doing exactly that-locating the associated breaker for that traced circuit. Why? Because I always know where the circuit breaker is-it’s in the panel where I left it. The term “circuit breaker finder” always bugged me. All in all, I had three different jobs lined up with which to test out these tools, and I couldn’t wait to get to work. When remodels include interior wall removal, you have to understand the wiring so you don’t create more work than necessary. Other times, you may need to move a wall. Frequently, you need to locate circuit breakers in a panel box. These tools come in handy when rewiring homes during remodeling. If you’re an electrician working on residential or commercial projects, these really are must-have tools. This was a good opportunity to use a lot more of the available products on the market and see which circuit finders and tracers worked the best. Suffice it to say, these products span the whole range of circuit-related tools.

Hit the link for a more detailed explanation as to how each works. There’s a big difference between circuit breaker finders vs circuit tracers.
