Telecomm Tools: Circuit Tracers

In the world of telecom tools circuit tracers are devices that are simple, multi-use that will take care of all your troubleshooting needs for circuits. These telecom tools are used for circuit breaker location and any problems with your hidden wires. Circuit tracers are put to use in the commercial, business and home environments. The use of circuit tracers take into account the precence of both closed and open circuits. They also can recognize circuit breakers, find circuit shorts and trace wires from all sources even subterranean ones.

Now how exactly does the operation of a circuit tracer work? Good question, we’ll answer that. The tracer has two things a transmitter and a receiver. The role of the transmitter is to make a traceable signal onto the circuit. Once that happens the receiver will find the signal. From there the value of the signal will be identified. Pitch and tone is then determined and it varies as the signal becomes stronger. An open or closed circuit will always result in a difference of reading. The flow of current is non existent while on a closed circuit, voltage will create a flow that produces an electromagnetic field. In short an open circuit makes a weak electromagnetic field while a closed circuit makes a stronger one.

For convenience’s sake a lot of tracers come with a cache of gear and supplementary items that you’ll need to properly do your telecom tool related task. Circuit tracers are available in more than just one configuration. Here’s what some of these telecom tool “grab bags” may have in their stash:

Test leads

Receivers

LED Screens

Battery packs

Inductive Clamps

Hardcase (To keep all of your stuff protected and organized)

The key features of what circuit tracers do are versatile and worth noting here as well. These are some of the things you can expect out of using circuit tracing telecom tools:

• Display of Numeric variable audible (This allows for tracing circuits in a rather easy way)

• A bright display for easy viewing

• Effective on closed and open circuits ranging from 0-600V in AC or DC.

• Circuit tracers can easily pick on breakers and fuses that are present

• Open and shorts are also easily identified

• Can locate wires buried inside of a wall or underground.

• Its precense will not half any other equipment being used in conjunction or interfere with signals.

• A constantly working bar graph that tracks all up to the minute changes in signal.

• It has a light for indicating low battery life.

• It has a Cat III-1000V safety evaluation.

Besides these key features circuit tracers have some other things you should be aware of when putting them into use. The use of a tracer is compatible with all ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuits. A trancer’s signal does not harm any of a circuit’s other sensitive, electronic equipment that may be in use as the same time as the circuit tracer. With a denergized circuit a low transmission of current occurs this allows for signal detection through distribution transformers and feeder panels. However this does result in reduced signal strength as it passes through the transformer.

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