unconnected wire tracer

We've got a problem in apartments that have been renovated. The
electricians sometimes run wires to outlets, etc. that they don't
connect to power or neutral. Is there a circuit tester that can trace
wires that are not connected?

 

RadioShack (Micronta) 23-1521 / 23-115 are AC electrostatic sensors;
when close to a powered line, the LED lights up.
A.W. Sperry (model number unknown) also made a similar unit that was
about 10 times more sensitive, with an adjustable sensitivity and piezo
sounder.
They all use a CMOS logic IC (MC14069UB or HCF4069UB) to get the
sensitivity and gain; they runoff of 3V supplied by 2 cells that last
"forever".
Such an item may also be uaseful.

 

yes, look on the internet for a Fox & Hound wire tracer.
there are others also.

 

hi
the original op said the outlets are not connected.
if the outlets have not been connect then you can trace the wires with
this method.
but if the wires from the outlets are not connected at the junction box
you got to feed a signal into the outlet and find out to which junction
box they go, or you open each junction box and check the wiring.
fun!

 

The wires are connected to the outlet but not to anything else. No
ground, neutral, or hot connection.

 

Actually, I didn't test to see if there is a ground to ground. That
would make it possible with the tester I have.

 

You do have to be able to access one end of the wire. The "Fox" imposes
its own signal, which can then be tracked using the "Hound."

 

or you may have the case that the outlets are wired to
the fuse panel and just no fuse installed or left hanging there to save
the cost of a breaker.
rw

 

Are you saying that the fox and hound can trace a wire that isn't
connected to anything?

 

hmm, you connect the Transmitter in one of the wires in the outlet
the you use the probe..
its a 2 piece kit. it will pick up your romx a few inches away..

 

So if it was connected to one end of a wire, you could trace the wire
without having the other end of the wire connected to anything? With all
the testers I've seen there's a transmitter and a receiver - and you
have to have a closed circuit or the transmitter doesn't function.

 

yes, look on the internet for a Fox & Hound wire tracer.
there are others also.
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