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Q: How to use an inductive probe?

C

Chet

Jan 1, 1970
0
Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying to
figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at the
doorbell unit and it has no power.

I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to locate
the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
inductive probe.

I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include the
200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red). Do I
just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires need
to be connected?

Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!

:Chet.
 
C

Crash Gordon

Jan 1, 1970
0
Where we are they put them out in the garage, surface mounted on a gang box
up high out of reach.

Try removing the doorbell light bulb and see if it works without it.




| Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying to
| figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
| light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
| button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at the
| doorbell unit and it has no power.
|
| I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
| via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to locate
| the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
| near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
| yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
| inductive probe.
|
| I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include the
| 200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
| Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
| the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red). Do I
| just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
| from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
| then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires need
| to be connected?
|
| Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!
|
| :Chet.
|
 
F

Frank Olson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Chet said:
Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying to
figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at the
doorbell unit and it has no power.

I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to locate
the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
inductive probe.

I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include the
200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red). Do I
just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires need
to be connected?

Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!

:Chet.


Check the furnace room. It might be located on a flat plate near the
furnace/hot water tank. Most are 10 VAC.
 
B

Bob La Londe

Jan 1, 1970
0
Chet said:
Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying to
figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at the
doorbell unit and it has no power.

I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to locate
the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
inductive probe.

I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include the
200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red). Do I
just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires need
to be connected?

Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!

:Chet.

I tried once to located a transformer for a door bell with a toner and
probe, and then with a cable locator. I never did find it. One trick I
have learned since then is sometimes you can locate a wire of a pair easier
if you just connect one lead instead of both. Not sure why, but it works
sometimes.
 
M

Matt Ion

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bob said:
I tried once to located a transformer for a door bell with a toner and
probe, and then with a cable locator. I never did find it. One trick I
have learned since then is sometimes you can locate a wire of a pair easier
if you just connect one lead instead of both. Not sure why, but it works
sometimes.

Try connecting one wire of the tone generator to an earth ground.


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C

Crash Gordon

Jan 1, 1970
0
because if its a closed loop the tone drops out...its how you can tell if
you have a short.
use the red to one side of the loop you're trying to trace and the black to
a good ground and you'll get the best tone.
not sure if you can do this with power on the circuit...I forget.


| | > Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying to
| > figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
| > light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
| > button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at the
| > doorbell unit and it has no power.
| >
| > I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
| > via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to locate
| > the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
| > near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
| > yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
| > inductive probe.
| >
| > I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include the
| > 200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
| > Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
| > the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red). Do I
| > just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
| > from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
| > then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires need
| > to be connected?
| >
| > Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!
| >
| > :Chet.
|
| I tried once to located a transformer for a door bell with a toner and
| probe, and then with a cable locator. I never did find it. One trick I
| have learned since then is sometimes you can locate a wire of a pair
easier
| if you just connect one lead instead of both. Not sure why, but it works
| sometimes.
|
|
| --
| Bob La Londe
| www.YumaBassMan.com
|
|
|
|
 
R

Robert L Bass

Jan 1, 1970
0
You might not need to use the tone generator at all. Frequently
the doorbell transformer is mounted to the outside of the
electrical breaker box (aka "load center"). Sometimes it's
mounted to the floor joists near the breaker panel.
--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com
 
C

Crash Gordon

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've found more often than not it's the stupid lighted switches...replace
with a normal unlighted switch and alls well.



| You might not need to use the tone generator at all. Frequently
| the doorbell transformer is mounted to the outside of the
| electrical breaker box (aka "load center"). Sometimes it's
| mounted to the floor joists near the breaker panel.
| --
|
| Regards,
| Robert L Bass
|
| Bass Burglar Alarms
| The Online DIY Store
| http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com
|
|
| On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:38:04 -0700, "Crash Gordon"
|
| > because if its a closed loop the tone drops out...its how you can tell
if
| > you have a short.
| > use the red to one side of the loop you're trying to trace and the black
to
| > a good ground and you'll get the best tone.
| > not sure if you can do this with power on the circuit...I forget.
| >
| >
| > | > | | > | > Our door bell stopped working a few months back and I've been trying
to
| > | > figure out what might be wrong. The doorbell button has a built-in
| > | > light which is off now. I replaced it with a new button and the new
| > | > button doesn't light either. That led me to check the voltages at
the
| > | > doorbell unit and it has no power.
| > | >
| > | > I understand that doorbells run at a lower voltage which is achieved
| > | > via a step-down transformer. My problem is that I can't seem to
locate
| > | > the transformer. I checked at the obvious places (near the furnace,
| > | > near the fuse box, behind the doorbell chimes) but haven't found it
| > | > yet. My next option is to trace the wires from the doorbell using an
| > | > inductive probe.
| > | >
| > | > I obtained a Progressive Electronics Model 700C kit which include
the
| > | > 200EP Inductive Amplifier and Tracer 2 Model 77HP tone generator.
| > | > Unfortunately I can't locate the instructions to use the unit. I see
| > | > the Tracer 2 tone generator has two alligator clips (black & red).
Do I
| > | > just connect one (red?) of these to the wire that's supposed to come
| > | > from the transformer to the door bell, set the switch to "Tone" and
| > | > then use the inductive probe to follow the wire or do both wires
need
| > | > to be connected?
| > | >
| > | > Appreciate instructions or suggestions you might have. Thx!
| > | >
| > | > :Chet.
| > |
| > | I tried once to located a transformer for a door bell with a toner and
| > | probe, and then with a cable locator. I never did find it. One trick
I
| > | have learned since then is sometimes you can locate a wire of a pair
| > easier
| > | if you just connect one lead instead of both. Not sure why, but it
works
| > | sometimes.
| > |
| > |
| > | --
| > | Bob La Londe
| > | www.YumaBassMan.com
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > |
| >
|
|
 
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