Circuit breaker finder recommendation?

[stickshift]

I'm looking to map out the wiring in my house (previous documentation *****), and running around with a radio testing all possibly outlets and wiring to test all light fixtures for each circuit will take a lot of time. So I'm considering getting a circuit finder. Are there good consumer level CB finders? A fancy several hundred dollar Greenlee is out of the budget.

When I briefly looked into this before, it seemed that GFCI outlets were troublesome for some consumer level CB finders. Are there any that can handle GFCI outlets, or do I just need to work around it by manually figuring out which circuit each of the GFCI outlets is on (assuming the presence of a GFCI outlet doesn't confuse the CB finder with respect to non-GFCI outlets or light fixtures on the same circuit)?

 

[pattenp]

I have a $40 Southwire circuit finder and it miss reads at times. I can't say it just miss reads on circuits with GFCI outlets.

 

[Bert_]

I have an ideal that works OK. For one house I would just flip breakers and see what goes off.

 

[The Cobbler]

not sure what the gain is with a circuit finder. you still have to visit each outlet etc.
turn on all lights, hit a breaker and start going around to see what lights / outlets are off. then go to breaker number 2... etc
Again, not sure that a circuit finder will speed up or make the process easier .
a bunch of night lights plugged into receptacles would make a quick identifier of on/off too

 

[pattenp]

not sure what the gain is with a circuit finder. you still have to visit each outlet etc.
turn on all lights, hit a breaker and start going around to see what lights / outlets are off. then go to breaker number 2... etc
Again, not sure that a circuit finder will speed up or make the process easier .
a bunch of night lights plugged into receptacles would make a quick identifier of on/off too

Obviously you have never used a circuit finder.

 

[kkenney]

This works great



https://www.tasco-usa.com/shop/circuit-mapper-system/

 

[JRC3]

A few months ago I finally broke down and bought a Klein. Takes a long time to keep passing over all the breakers to narrow it down and in the end it always says it's located on multiple breakers. I tried it one several houses and finally said screw it and returned it. Luckily I kept the package. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-ET310/308709729

If I had bought a cheaper one I migh've blamed it on it being cheap. If the Sperry goes back on sale for under $20 at Menards I might try it.

 

[The Cobbler]

Obviously you have never used a circuit finder.

I still maintain by time you get all set up, you still have to go to each outlet, the time savings are non existant . but that's my opinion...

 

[kkenney]

Circuit mapper is the way to go

https://www.tasco-usa.com/shop/circuit-mapper-system/

 

[JRC3]

FFS, thread about a homeowner looking for a circuit finder and in comes $1,045.00 – $1,970.00 option. Welcome to TGJF.

 

[nadogail]

A vacuum cleaner will get quiet when you open the breaker feeding it.

a hundred watt bulb in a table lamp with a button flasher will send a fluctuating current signal easily found with a clamp-on amp-meter.

 

[pbon]

Or a radio.

I have a southwire (I think) finder and it is okay.

 

[Sparkyftw]

I have a klein set that I got at home depot. Not the one linked above.

Just run the receiver over both rows on the panel, then slowly go over each breaker until you find the one you want. I have always gotten the breaker right away.

I still use a circuit tester once the circuit is off to find what outlets are on the breaker, but for my house, all of one room has been on that specific breaker (except for lighting).

I have not used it on GFCI outlets, as my house didn't have them until I put them in. While just flipping breakers would be quicker (especially with a helper), but this way I am not turning off power to things unnecessarily.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I've got one of these, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ET403A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Once you learn how to use it (the main thing is the sensitivity adjustments) it's all you need

 

[mike93lx]

Get a buddy to help. Will go quickly if you put your phones on speaker and both have a numbered map to work with

 

[Jim greengo]

Plug a radio in and listen

 

[stickshift]

I have a klein set that I got at home depot. Not the one linked above.

This one?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-ET300/202330830

The ET300 and ET310 (the one linked earlier) are the only Klein CB finders I'm seeing at HD.

 

[JRC3]

This one?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-ET300/202330830

The ET300 and ET310 (the one linked earlier) are the only Klein CB finders I'm seeing at HD.

That looks like the HF and a few others.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

This is the one i have and works great.

But i guess its not in your budget

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J39MJ3Y/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This works great

https://www.tasco-usa.com/shop/circuit-mapper-system/

Circuit mapper is the way to go

https://www.tasco-usa.com/shop/circuit-mapper-system/

Apparently you cant read.

If the OP said a few hundred tool is outta the question why the hell you post a $1K-$2K tool?

And why post it twice?

FFS, thread about a homeowner looking for a circuit finder and in comes $1,045.00 – $1,970.00 option. Welcome to TGJF.

Agreed

 

[Sparkyftw]

This one?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-ET300/202330830

The ET300 and ET310 (the one linked earlier) are the only Klein CB finders I'm seeing at HD.

Yeah that is the one I have. I also got the accessory gator clips and lightbulb adapter.

 

[CJ7VFR]

Plug a radio in and listen

This. Plus, get yourself one of those $3.00 screw in adapters that has the screw in part on one end and a receptacle on the other end.

To test regular receptacles around the house, just plug in the radio, turn it on and start flipping the breakers. Once the radio goes out, you got the correct breaker.

Then, for light fixtures, remove one bulb, screw in the adapter, plug the radio into the adapter, turn on the light fixture, and the radio will come on. Start flipping breakers until the radio goes out, and you got the correct breaker.

Cheap, easy, and accurate for every breaker with no issues with the fancy tools giving you false readings at the breakers.

Jim

 

[stickshift]

Yeah that is the one I have. I also got the accessory gator clips and lightbulb adapter.

Yeah, the reason that worked great for you is you didn't have GFCI or AFCI outlets. Their presence confuses these sub-$50 CB finders.

I may get the HF version for $16 and see if I can map the circuits that don't have GFCI outlets. Then switch to manual testing on the rest. Worst case I'm out $16, rather than 2x - 3x that for pretty much the same technology at HD or Lowes.

 

[SGKent]

I open a window near the panel which is outside, put the other half in the house and a boom box into a plug, turn everything on, and start flipping breakers. She yells when lights, a piece of equipment, or the boom box go off. Besides - in a year you won't understand the notes you made as to what the breaker does unless you put a number on each outlet. You put in for example, "kitchen near sink" then wonder two years later if that means the one to the right or left of the sink or both. Also, when you work on something you still have to test it to be sure it is off.

 

[stickshift]

Besides - in a year you won't understand the notes you made as to what the breaker does unless you put a number on each outlet. You put in for example, "kitchen near sink" then wonder two years later if that means the one to the right or left of the sink or both.

Numbering outlets and light fixtures is a good idea. From an aesthetic standpoint, I can use a labelmaker for that and print at the smallest font size.

Also, when you work on something you still have to test it to be sure it is off.

No doubt. I would never rely on a map alone to tell me an outlet or light fixture is de-energized. I wouldn't even rely on a NCV tester for that. I use a multimeter before I put my hands or tools on a conductor.

 

[sberry]

I don't have one but a box with about 10 lamps to screw in 2 prong adapters plug 8n to recepts. I get a helper and can map a house in short order especially if the legend is somewhat up to date. If I did this daily would be another matter but the occasional need,,, especially single house not worth it.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

This thread has gone on for over 24 hours and apparently the work hasn't yet started. Labeling every outlet using a lamp would have taken about an hour ...

 

[Jim greengo]

This. Plus, get yourself one of those $3.00 screw in adapters that has the screw in part on one end and a receptacle on the other end.

To test regular receptacles around the house, just plug in the radio, turn it on and start flipping the breakers. Once the radio goes out, you got the correct breaker.

Then, for light fixtures, remove one bulb, screw in the adapter, plug the radio into the adapter, turn on the light fixture, and the radio will come on. Start flipping breakers until the radio goes out, and you got the correct breaker.

Cheap, easy, and accurate for every breaker with no issues with the fancy tools giving you false readings at the breakers.

Jim

 

[acer66]

This one?

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Digital-Circuit-Breaker-Finder-ET300/202330830

The ET300 and ET310 (the one linked earlier) are the only Klein CB finders I'm seeing at HD.

I have an older version and am very happy with it.

 

[Zippercat]

I bought the Southwire one a few months ago. Didn’t work out of the box so I called their Customer Service toll free number. Was told that the guy who handled that product wasn’t available but they took my name and number.

Within 10 minutes he called me, offered a couple suggestions on what to try and gave me his call back number. The suggestions didn’t work. I called him back and he had a new unit shipped to me.

I’ve now used the replacement Southwire finder twice. Each time it worked fine. I’ve not owned or used any of the other units described in this thread but, in my limited experience, I doubt any of them have better customer service than Southwire.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The benefit of the circuit breaker finder vs a boom box is you don't have to shut any of the breakers off.
The boom box method may work for residential, but you don't carry a radio into an office and begin shutting off breakers.

 

[ford33]

I have a Klein from Home Depot. It works well but you have to read the directions carefully. A radio or light doesn't work well in all situations. The circuit finder is a good solution.

 

[grounded-b]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LEBRNE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

This branded one works great for me. No sensitivity adjustments.

Just sweep all the breakers, then go back a second time. It will remember the strongest signal, and only beep on that one, on the second pass

Steve
JW

 

[Falcon67]

A properly bent piece of copper and a pair of insulated pliers can ID a plug circuit breaker PDQ.

 

[sberry]

I have seen cord plug wired to a switch for this.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I have seen cord plug wired to a switch for this.

That's a good way to trip a main breaker.
Never try this at home

 

[Marctrees]

Dang... As a child I just used a dinner fork that I did some custom bending of the prongs... worked pretty good.

But for some reason I think I recall not wanting to do it a second time.


One house ? Use the radio.

Marc

 

[ajchien]

I’ve got an amprobe that works pretty well.

I would agree if you’re trying to map out the whole house, it might not save that much time - I haven’t had the need to map out the whole house yet, but if you’re just turning off the breaker for one circuit, it’s a real time saver.

Sometimes a room is on multiple circuits, and each time I turn off breakers using the trial and trial again method, I wind up needing to reset so many clocks.

 

[sberry]

That's a good way to trip a main breaker.
Never try this at home

Ya. I was in a scrap yard warehouse, the guy had one made up. It had 2 full panels and **** going everywhere, none labeled, piped, connected everywhere.
As a side note I was wiring a test plug for a.fixture, a plug with the screws and the little cardboard. It was to a 16ga orange cord and I missed one little strands tuck out. I plugged it in to outlet with metal cover.
Big flash, arc strike and it was on a sub with 60. Knocked over the 20 it was on and the 60 at the main feeding it.

 

[fasteddie]

I created a rough sketch of the 3 floors in my house on the computer and put the breaker number at the outlet or light fixture location on the map. The sheet hangs in a plastic sleeve stuck with a magnet on the inside of the breaker panel door. Of course I don't even trust my own map without testing for power before I work on anything. This thread reminds me I have to update some new work on those maps.

 

[Michael Klein]

I have Klein ET300 circuit breaker finders and this tool is awesome, I have had it for close to 2 years and have used it dozens of times.