Circuit Tracer Tool

[lbperry]

On one of the DIY programs yesterday, I believe it was This Old House, there was a quick (too quick for me to read) reference to a two part tool that, if you put a signal on an outlet with one part, the other part would light when placed on the breaker controlling that circuit.
Can anyone tell me what kind and brand of tool that is?
I have a strange situation that at random times a circuit on one side of my kitchen goes out and then after a while (hours to days) comes back on. I've checked and rechecked resetting all the breakers and a tool like this would at least point me to the suspect breaker.
Can anyone help me out identifying this tool?
I've had professional electricians look at it twice and they haven't provided me with a reasonable solution.
I'd appreciate any help identifying the tool I'm looking for.
Thanks,

 

[Just_Steve]

I use one similar to this for tracing breakers.

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester and Accessory Kit M2O41519KIT - The Home Depot

Keep check of your volts easily with the selection of this affordable and durable Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester and Accessory Kit. Flush or surface mountable.

www.homedepot.com

And a tool like this for tracing wires.

Klein Tools Tone & Probe PRO Electrical Wire Tracing Set, Batteries and Carrying Pouch VDV500-820 - The Home Depot

Troubleshoot your household electrical problems with the help of this highly durable Klein Tools Pro Tone and Probe Kit.

www.homedepot.com

 

[richfinn]

We used to call it a "Fox & Hound" or "Tone Generator" in the UK, popular with British Telecom engineers for tracing wires.

I have a "Pros Kit" version I modified for working on vehicle electrics (tracing broken wies in wiring harnesses)

Everybody makes them from Fluke and Power-Probe to Amazon

 

[OccupantRJ]

Plug something in that makes noise then turn off breakers until it shuts up.

 

[Tundra1]

Will be curious what you find as root cause. Weird that a loose connection could fix itself to the point of running equipment. Any chance someone else in the house is resetting a GFCI or something?
I had a weird but funny experience when we built my new house. The the thermostat would mysteriously run itself up to 99F at random times. Took a few times waking up roasting hot before I figured out my five year old son was playing with it when we were not watching.

 

[Numerator2142]

I use one similar to this for tracing breakers.

Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester and Accessory Kit M2O41519KIT - The Home Depot

Keep check of your volts easily with the selection of this affordable and durable Klein Tools Digital Circuit Breaker Finder with GFCI Outlet Tester and Accessory Kit. Flush or surface mountable.

www.homedepot.com

And a tool like this for tracing wires.

Klein Tools Tone & Probe PRO Electrical Wire Tracing Set, Batteries and Carrying Pouch VDV500-820 - The Home Depot

Troubleshoot your household electrical problems with the help of this highly durable Klein Tools Pro Tone and Probe Kit.

www.homedepot.com

And Bob's yer Uncle.

Although that circuit tester doesn't seem to love small breaker boxes (such as an extra in the garage). It could be user error but it doesn't seem to find the breaker if the main is too close.

 

[lbperry]

Thanks, Guys the Klein tool is the one I saw on TOH.
The problem is that the circuit stays off until it decides to come on so plugging in lamps and flipping breakers doesn't help. Not quite ready to spring $50 for it but after a couple more days scratching my head and screwing around with it I may. Either that or look for a better electrician.
Thanks for all the replies,

 

[PCustoms]

Got a light switch that you've wondered what it goes to?

 

[unslow1]

Plug something in that makes noise then turn off breakers until it shuts up.

I have the tool he describes and still prefer the noise maker.

 

[Just_Steve]

Thanks, Guys the Klein tool is the one I saw on TOH.
The problem is that the circuit stays off until it decides to come on so plugging in lamps and flipping breakers doesn't help. Not quite ready to spring $50 for it but after a couple more days scratching my head and screwing around with it I may. Either that or look for a better electrician.
Thanks for all the replies,

That's where the second tool comes in, when the circuit is dead plug in the tone generator and trace the wires until it stops beeping and that should the junction box connection issue, does not sound like you have a breaker issue.

 

[LXCam]

This isn’t a breaker issue.

 

[KnurledNut]

Do you have a multimeter? Id start pulling receptacles when it’s acting up and see what’s energized or not.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Harbor Freight has this one for $25. It's identical to the older Klein model. I've used one myself with decent success.

 

[msharley]

On one of the DIY programs yesterday, I believe it was This Old House, there was a quick (too quick for me to read) reference to a two part tool that, if you put a signal on an outlet with one part, the other part would light when placed on the breaker controlling that circuit.
Can anyone tell me what kind and brand of tool that is?
I have a strange situation that at random times a circuit on one side of my kitchen goes out and then after a while (hours to days) comes back on. I've checked and rechecked resetting all the breakers and a tool like this would at least point me to the suspect breaker.
Can anyone help me out identifying this tool?
I've had professional electricians look at it twice and they haven't provided me with a reasonable solution.
I'd appreciate any help identifying the tool I'm looking for.
Thanks,

Don't think its a breaker...

Look in the service boxes/junction boxes...or even a bad receptacle....

Most times it is a loose "common" in a wire nut...or...a mouse ate a bit of wire in the wall...

 

[The Cobbler]

I don't understand why you can't locate the breaker when the circuit is functioning... and, as others have said, it's not the breaker, but at least I would identify what /if any other outlets are on the same circuit, and know what breaker it is so you can shut it down to look for the problem

 

[RTM]

I’ve seen an issue where one outlet was acting up, and the problem was a poor connection on the common, as msharley suggested.

Tracing back from that outlet is usually a matter of common sense, following the path the electricians decided was best to get back to the breaker panel.

One of these can help tell you which leg is out, testing when it is dead, obviously.

Klein Tools Receptacle Tester RT110 - The Home Depot

Klein Tools Outlet Tester detects the most common wiring problems in standard receptacles. Offers everlasting durability.

www.homedepot.com

Going from the bad outlet, working back towards the panel, when the light pattern changes, look at the connections behind each of those two outlets.

I don’t know if you can track the conduit path (or Romex) thru the walls with the device you originally asked about.

Flipping the breaker off can tell you which outlets are on the circuit, so you can guess at a path.

Some other residents might be able to tell you how things are done in your corner of the world, to give you clues on how the routing should be done.

 

[Beerhippie]

I've used one of the "professional-grade" Kleins. I borrowed it from an electrician. I needed to sort out and label several unlabeled breaker boxes around work.

Problem is, I could never narrow down to just one breaker. The receiver would start beeping and flashing when I got to the general area, but that just narrowed it down to four or six breakers. This was working on Square D QO boxes. I finally just plugged a p[portable radio into each outlet, cranked, and turned off breakers 'til I found it.

For automotive wiring, I used to have Sony Walkman set up with alligator clips on the earphone leads--set up as mono--and an earphone with one clip--the ground--and one probe. Then it was just a matter of finding the wires that played the Stones.

 

[cgrutt]

What do you mean by "circuit" and what is coming on and off intermittently? Are we talking about an outlet? A series of outlets? A light/series of lights? A fan? Is it an appliance that is plugged into an outlet? Is it switched or can it be controlled remotely (for example fans and/or cabinet lighting? Too many variables here. If it's kitchen and an outlet or series of outlets I'd be looking for a GFCI. If it is happening with an appliance do other appliances work on same outlet? Could be control board, loose wire, bad outlet, something inteferring with remote controller, etc. Did you recently have any work done in kitchen or even adjoining rooms? Could a nail/screw hit some wiring? More specific info may help track down problem.

 

[kngelv]

I like the Fluke one. It's more accurate than the Klein and better at filtering out noise. You don't need one of these to test a breaker though. Just plug something into the outlet and turn off the breakers till you confirm which one it is. Then you need to pull off the lighting panel cover and verify if voltage is going out of the breaker when you lose power at that outlet. If you have power there then you have a loose wire somewhere in your circuit path. Also see if you have 120V between ground and the hot leg of the outlet. If so then you have lost a neutral connection somewhere. If not then you have lost the hot somewhere. The toner can help you at this point.

James