Wire Tracer

A wire tracer is used to trace wires behind walls or to identify breakers in a panel. Electrical contractors, maintenance managers, electricians and home inspectors use them in residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

Each application requires an instrument of a different class, specialized to each testing environment. Some parameters to consider are voltage range, cable grade and length, and presence of conduits - especially metallic ones.  Proper selection is essential, as instruments are not upgradable. If you purchase one for residential applications, it won’t work in the much more demanding industrial field.

Value Testers can help you in the selection process.  Please call at 602-795-8292, chat with us online, or send us an email to [email protected]

Here are some common sense questions you may use during the selection process:

1. Can I use a tone and probe set – sometimes commonly referred to as cable or wire tracer – to trace electrical circuits?

You should not, as toner and probe kits are designed to find a wire in a bundle but not to trace electrical wires with power on them.  You will damage the meter, as it does not have sufficient voltage protection.

2. Can I use a wire tracer to locate underground cables or wires?

Often you can.  However, application range is limited to finding shallow wires over relatively short distances, e.g.: dog fence wire or street light cable in a parking lot.  We advise you to purchase a wire trace with a signal booster in order to overcome soil resistance.

3. Are there any good brands that are recommended?

Amprobe and Ideal Industries have the highest-class wire tracers.  Both brands offer full manufacturer’s warranty and support in the US.

Valuetesters.com is an authorized distributor of both brands.