<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Yes, cable tracers are very handy, I have 4 of them in one form or another. I’ve found that there are two classes of tracers, cheap & not so cheap. Units under about $50 will work for most jobs, but the more expensive ones generally have greater sensitivity. 2 of mine are cheap, one is Fluke & one is part of a high dollar instrument for actually measuring the specifications of cables. <div><br></div><div>One helpful way to increase the sensitivity of the tracer when tracing a pair of wired is to connect the signal generator to one of the conductors & the other test lead to ground rather than to both of the wires in the pair. </div><div>This also helps when you have a short between the wires you are tracing. </div><div><br></div><div>None of them work for finding cables in buried PVC conduit, even when right against the conduit. <br><div><br></div><div>Fluke & Greenlee seem to be the best bang for the buck if you are going to use more than a few times. <br><br>Peace,</div><div>Pat</div><div><br><div dir="ltr">Pat Horne <div>We support Habitat for Humanity</div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>On Nov 12, 2021, at 12:24 PM, Brian Kemp <bk13@earthlink.net> wrote:<br><br></div><div dir="ltr">
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Saw this problem was solved, but wanted to add my feedback on a
cable tracker that others have mentioned. I have a 5+ year old
version from Harbor Freight, but it is no longer on their site.
This appears to be the current version:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.harborfreight.com/cable-tracker-94181.html">https://www.harborfreight.com/cable-tracker-94181.html</a><br>
<br>
I was doing some renovations and had wires in electrical outlook
boxes that I couldn't identify. With the power off, I connected the
signal generator and was able to trace the signal with the wand
through the plaster walls. Both went to locations in the wall with
no exposed box - bad work by someone decades ago. The plaster walls
were a challenge and I only got a weak signal, but was able to know
it was ok to cap the wires.<br>
<br>
I also have about 10 phone jacks in my house, with some shorts in
some of them. The phone company installer initially just
disconnected everything and reconnected only the two I was going to
connect. A few years later, I needed to move my DSL modem, so
needed to activate a different jack. Connected the signal generator
and ran the wand over the disconnected wires at the central phone
termination to find the one I needed to connect.<br>
<br>
Brian<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/10/2021 4:15 PM, Eric Russell
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:CAP7dBXAUkTD2CXpZES70onWfajOE3XgaUxhfUH2xjqkWwoPfYA@mail.gmail.com">
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<div dir="ltr">Oh wise & beneficent Shop Talkers - I've run
into a situation that has me stymied. I need help locating a
blown fuse in a motorhome.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>We recently bought a new (to us) motorhome. When installing
the signal booster for a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring
System) I accidentally shorted a 12V wire in the cargo bay
lights. There was a small spark (followed by a few swear
words). I then went on a hunt for the blown fuse. There are
three fuse panels in this motorhome. Two in the Ford chassis
(F-53) - one under the hood and the other inside near the
parking brake - plus one in the motorhome's 120V - 12V power
converter. I could not find a blown fuse anywhere.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I contacted the manufacturer (Thor) who has actually been
quite responsive & has tried to help. After asking for
my vehicle's VIN they emailed me some schematics (not actual
wire diagrams but more a map showing the general location of
outlets, switches, etc with indications of which circuit
they belong to). There are two schematics that appear to
apply to my motorhome - one indicates the cargo lights are
connected to the Ford panel by the parking brake, another
indicates they are in circuit #6 of the converter's 12V
panel. Neither of those fuses are blown. While there I
checked all the fuses I could locate - none were blown. I've
also signed up to a couple of motorhome forums but have not
been able to find an answer there. </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Finally - my plea for help - is there any device one can
use to trace where a circuit originates? I've seen an
electrician use a device to find out what outlet goes to
which breaker in our house.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I've followed the hot wire from the cargo bay light back
to where it enters a wire harness along the motorhome's
frame rail. I'm loath to rip open the wire harness trying to
chase the wire further upstream. As far as I can tell there
is nothing else in this circuit - everything else is working
properly. Of course I can live without cargo bay lights but
it bothers my OCD to have it not working (when I know it did
before my screw up). <br clear="all">
<div><br>
</div>
-- <br>
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">Eric Russell
<div>Mebane, NC</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
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