Anyone got a better cable tracer???

[Ohmthis]

As my username might imply, I am an electrician. I’ve got what seems like umpteen meters and specialty tools. Well, I’m trying to trace (within 6” so that my whips will reach the ceiling speakers) speaker cables that the drywall crew didn’t poke out. Actually they screwed me on all of the low voltage cables. I always mark the studs and outlets/t stats/security, but that only gives me a reference. I went into the industrial side of the trade 20 years ago and I haven’t followed a lot of the newer tracing tools. These are in the ceiling, I’ve tried to use my toner, and it’s a no go. What do you guys/gals use?

 

[Michael_in_DE]

Ive tried several. They're all junk.

 

[CoogarXR]

My old Tempo cable toner, cranked on maximum, can usually ring cables about a foot away in open air, and a little closer through drywall.

I am all for cheap alternatives, and I tried the HF toner, and it was dreadful. You had to pretty much touch the cable for it to ring. I had the Tempo at my first IT job, but it belonged to the company. So after trying a couple cheaper ones, I just went ahead and bought a Tempo for myself.

 

[Adrien]

Not attic access? When I did my house, I installed the overpriced new construction brackets for the ceiling speakers so the drywallers would be forced to leave an opening. Hopefully you find a good solution!

Adrien

 

[djbmw]

Do you do any underground wire tracing as well? Its overkill for indoor wiring but you can occasionally find used Radio Detection gear for under $500. It can detect wires accurately within 3% of the depth (so wires burried 12" deep will be located with a 3/8" total possible error off center. I personally have the RD432PDL2 and RD433HCTx for underground locating but it *can* be used indoors too.

Theres also some "consumer models" on amazon for $140 or so (Noyafa underground cable tester locator, for example).

For most indoor wiring I use my Task branded wire tracer.

 

[1blink]

As my username might imply, I am an electrician. I’ve got what seems like umpteen meters and specialty tools. Well, I’m trying to trace (within 6” so that my whips will reach the ceiling speakers) speaker cables that the drywall crew didn’t poke out. Actually they screwed me on all of the low voltage cables. I always mark the studs and outlets/t stats/security, but that only gives me a reference. I went into the industrial side of the trade 20 years ago and I haven’t followed a lot of the newer tracing tools. These are in the ceiling, I’ve tried to use my toner, and it’s a no go. What do you guys/gals use?

You will get a much stronger tone noise by connecting one of the tone generator leads to the cable, and the other tone lead to an electrical ground

 

[Ohmthis]

My old Tempo cable toner, cranked on maximum, can usually ring cables about a foot away in open air, and a little closer through drywall.

I am all for cheap alternatives, and I tried the HF toner, and it was dreadful. You had to pretty much touch the cable for it to ring. I had the Tempo at my first IT job, but it belonged to the company. So after trying a couple cheaper ones, I just went ahead and bought a Tempo for myself.

My toner is the Tempo 77. It’s a damn good toner. It won’t pick up anything. Even directly under the drywall. Thanks for the help.

 

[Ohmthis]

Do you do any underground wire tracing as well? Its overkill for indoor wiring but you can occasionally find used Radio Detection gear for under $500. It can detect wires accurately within 3% of the depth (so wires burried 12" deep will be located with a 3/8" total possible error off center. I personally have the RD432PDL2 and RD433HCTx for underground locating but it *can* be used indoors too.

Theres also some "consumer models" on amazon for $140 or so (Noyafa underground cable tester locator, for example).

For most indoor wiring I use my Task branded wire tracer.

I have a friend that works for an underground tracing company. I’ll reach out to him to see what he might be done. Thanks!

 

[Ohmthis]

You will get a much stronger tone noise by connecting one of the tone generator leads to the cable, and the other tone lead to an electrical ground

Ok, cool, I’ll give that a try.

 

[Ohmthis]

Not attic access? When I did my house, I installed the overpriced new construction brackets for the ceiling speakers so the drywallers would be forced to leave an opening. Hopefully you find a good solution!

Adrien

This is a basement, mine specifically. Im running around and around with the drywall company. They are basically being complete shitheads. I had not bought speakers, nor picked them out. The idea was to have the whip stick out and cut them in afterwards.