ZRX61
Well-known member
Is there something I can attach to a hot wire somewhere in the house.... that has another doodad that will buzz when I touch the other end of the wire in the breaker box so I know which one to turn off?
Wire tracer/buzzer thingie?
- Thread starter ZRX61
- Start date
yatg
Well-known member
amazon "circuit breaker finder"
nadogail
Well-known member
I have used a button flasher and a light bulb, the clamp-on amp meter will find the wire in the breaker box.
The flashing light will cause a fluctuating current that will quickly be spotted.
The flashing light will cause a fluctuating current that will quickly be spotted.
I have a breaker finder and it’s not that accurate - generally it points to about 6-12 breakers with the same signal level. I really like your approach - works for either lights or outlets as well.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have found a radio to be pretty reliable for receptacles. Even in a big house, hearing a loud radio shut off should be pretty easy. With a screw in plug adapter, you can use it for most lighting circuits too
That works. But if you’re like me you don’t generally get the right breaker first this way, and sometimes it’s a PITA if you shut something off like your network or surveillance cameras.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I spent a few hours mapping out all the receptacles and switches in my house this past spring. Now, I have a chart in each panel listing everything each breaker controls, which has been hugely helpful.
Well worth the time involved. No more guessing, trips back and forth, or asking the wife to get on the phone and watch a light
That is a good approach. We have been in our new house 4 years and I have not gotten to it yet.
As I find stuff or add stuff I mark it, but I have not done it systematically yet. It’s on my list of things to do though...purplezr2
Well-known member
When I build my garage, I labeled the breaker, the printed enough labels for every receptacle on that circuit and installed them on the switch/outlet plates.
I have screwless plates so it is easy to pop them off, then turn the correct breaker off.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I considered this in my house then realized I have 100 receptacles and 75 switches. The idea quickly exited
dcg9381
Well-known member
I'm in Texas. I'm happy finally having a house where the breakers are labelled in English. NEC requires labels on the breakers, but does not apparently specify in which language.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
A hot is only dangerous if there is a path to ground. Wear rubber boots and you are golden!
Most of the time but not all of the time. One hand on neutral and one hand on hot would be through the heart and very very bad…. If you kept one hand in your pocket with your rubber boots you’d be generally ok unless you touched or leaned against grounded metal…
The doodad arrived. I RTFM & went to work.
Good grief this house has some seriously bizarre circuits. There are three bedrooms, two have receptacles on the same circuit. The bedroom between them is on different circuit. There are random receptacles all over the house on that same circuit.
The outside receptacle on the west side of the house is on the same circuit as the toaster & coffee maker in the kitchen on the East side of the house about 80ft away.
The GFI's in my bathroom are on a separate circuit to anything else, including receptacles on the other side of the same wall.
The workbench receptacles in the garage (front/west side of house) are on the same circuit as the breakfast nook in the kitchen (center/east side of house).
Good grief this house has some seriously bizarre circuits. There are three bedrooms, two have receptacles on the same circuit. The bedroom between them is on different circuit. There are random receptacles all over the house on that same circuit.
The outside receptacle on the west side of the house is on the same circuit as the toaster & coffee maker in the kitchen on the East side of the house about 80ft away.
The GFI's in my bathroom are on a separate circuit to anything else, including receptacles on the other side of the same wall.
The workbench receptacles in the garage (front/west side of house) are on the same circuit as the breakfast nook in the kitchen (center/east side of house).
nadogail
Well-known member
It appears that your electrical installation is like Topsy; it wasn’t planned, It “just grew”.
kbeefy
Well-known member
Does it work well? Sounds like it... got a link?
My house is 60 years old and has had many additions/renovations. It usually takes a while to find the right (mislabeled) circuit...
I got it from Amazon. Amazon links never work for me on here, but the description says "Klein Tools 80016 Circuit Breaker Finder Tool Kit with Accessories, 2-Piece Set, Includes Cat. No. ET310 and Cat. No. 69411"
If you C&P that into Amazon it should show up. There were cheaper clones.
In case the links work for you:
amazon.com/gp/product/B08VWCSG7G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
kbeefy
Well-known member
nadogail
Well-known member
Enjoy your new tool in good health.