Short circuit locator tool

Tried looking at your photos but those resistors are not clearly visible in any of the images. That is nice! How its working, i want to make one with microchip pic? I am interested in this project and willing to make it for using repairing especially PC and Laptop motherboards. I would like to make this with attiny So, Nikifena, could you pls make revision for attiny85 board schematics and diagram.

Thanks very much to all you guys for your sharings. The only problem with connectors is they have some contact resistance, changing with time, use and other factors - that's why I used fixed probes with heavy duty wire. Your mileage may vary. Hi Jaromir. I am sure that shorty will be a good entry! I noticed that, though the contest site returns just for now. Recycling an old project in unchanged form is not my kind of entering the contest, I'd love to design something new or at least improve the old design.

Here is my idea implemented into a Attiny It's much better to implement this idea into a smaller ucontroller. If you guys like, I will redraw the schematics for tiny85 EDIT: A k resistor must be added between the gate and the source of the mosfet :. I am interested in this project and willing to make it for using reapiring motherboards.

I'm not fimilar with ucontroller programming, but adding the project into a attiny45 will be great! Another hardware improvement can be a mosfet for powering the unit.

After some time - 5 minutes for example, the mosfert turns off the voltage to the controller and there will be no current loss. I have good experiance with pcb design, so if someone make it smaller, I can make nice pcb for this project. Yeah, but haven't tested yet, since I am away from home now. If you like, I will make smd pcb with a charger and I will show you. My idea was to disconnect the positive pin from the circuit with a mosfet. When you press the power button, it powers the unit and the ucontroller turns on the mosfet for some time.

An SMD version would be great too About the button in yout schematics I think it should be connected to PD3 instead one of the anodes of Diode D3. Not sure how the core works. Yes, if this is the power button. As I understand the controller turns On the transistor when the unit starts. I use this zero voltage as control power voltage. I'm not sure what's the function of the PD3 in the original design.

I've been porting this project to an ATTiny The code is mostly C after all. I think the power consumption may be reduced by turning on the transistor and sampling the voltage at given intervals driven by an interrupt.

Yep, the transistor is here to be switched on and off. I'm looking at the code again and it is rather simplified read as messy. Magic numbers all over the shop, it could take a lot of define statements and functions encapsulations. Depending on the location of the fault, this can mean you save money my not damaging the insulation or body of the vehicle. Having the ability to power up the components, such as cooling fans, starters, relays, windows, washers and so on. Powered by the car battery or cigarette lighter, no additional battery or wires pulling needed.

Internally protected against power surges and overloads and has an 8 inches flexible probe for hard to reach or congested places with auto polarity on transmitter with 5 amps leads and alligator clips. The type of automotive short circuit finder a person chooses to buy depends a lot on how they will use it.

Commercial mechanics, truck drivers, and even independent mechanics will benefit most from the larger more highly calibrated units. This will allow for a more calculated approach to vehicle care while also cutting down on the time it takes to diagnose a problem.

The transmitter would plug into the outlet or bulb receptacle. The transmitter would then utilize that electricity in the energized wire to send a signal through the circuit. You would then use the receiver on the breaker panel to detect which circuit breaker switch the signal emanates. To improve accuracy, you typically have to calibrate the receiver on the breaker panel by running it over through all the switches once or twice.

A circuit breaker locator has two primary types: automatic devices and manual devices. The automatic finders have a built-in signal processing unit that will adjust its sensitivity based on the signals it receives during the calibration phase.

The automatic models are usually more comfortable to use, requiring little experience. Still, they may take a little bit longer than the manual mode as you have to calibrate them before each use. Although harder to learn at the start, the manual devices can be faster to work with, mostly if the operator is used to it. Circuit breaker finders are handy tools, as they let you know the correct breaker that a particular receptacle is connected to.

This is crucial for safety, as it is dangerous to work on an energized circuit. Several circuit breaker finders also have built-in GFCI testers. This is an essential feature as it can test if the GFCI in the outlet is working and properly configured. They are trusted by many professionals but also come at a steep price. Its unique build makes it very convenient to use. Sperry Instruments itself is a trusted brand, not just in circuit breaker finders but also in other instruments.

You can check other electrical circuit tracer reviews. Most circuit breakers banks are located inside the house, in a recessed metal box. They are typically found in the kitchen, garage, pantry, or basement — although they can also be outside of the structure at times. Keep on doing this until you find the correct breaker.

That is why circuit breaker finders have been developed. With this tool, the correct circuit will only take minutes to find. The most reliable way to find a powerless circuit breaker is to use a wire tracer tool. These are specifically used for those applications and will work whether the circuit has power or not.

These energized wiring on open circuits could be dangerous, and I recommend hiring an electrician who will do the job safely and correctly. There are many buying guides out there which you can rely on. Some of the websites you visit may earn on affiliate sales, but they will still generate reliable reviews. Alternatively, some manufacturers allow you to purchase directly from their website while others recommend a retailer near you. Or you could head to a retail store nearby if you want to see the unit for yourself before making the purchase.

A ground fault circuit interrupter or residual current device RCD is a type of circuit breaker that shuts off electrical power. While typical circuit breakers trip when the current is high — like 10 to 20 amps, the GFCI will trip on differences as low as 0.

The circuit breakers in the breaker bank are designed to protect against overheating and fires. On the other hand, GFCIs, which are usually seen as the red and black buttons on outlets, are designed to protect humans from electrocution.

Circuit breaker finders and testers are simple devices that will save you a lot of time and money. With this tool, you no longer have to manually switch off each breaker switch only to find the correct circuit breaker.

Now that you have read through this article, you can now purchase the best circuit breaker finder that will save you time and effort on all your projects.

Leave a comment to contact us if you have any questions regarding the products on this list. Ideal Industries Circuit Breaker Finder 4. Southwire S Circuit Breaker Finder My only pet peeve about this is that there are times that the receiver is too sensitive.

I would have to reset it just to get a more accurate reading. Easy and straightforward to use, just plug and detect Neat and compact storage solution Works on standard American voltage between 90 and V Three-plug pin fits most outlets, accessories available for other fixtures.

Includes GFCI testing on the transmitter. No sensitivity setting on the receiver. One point of concern that I see is that the grounding pin is somewhat flimsy. You have to take care when plugging the gadget in and out, especially in newer outlets.

If it breaks, you can still use the transmitter, but the receptacle wiring testing capability will be out. Simple, plug-and-play use Locates circuit breakers and tests receptacle wiring installation Adjustable sensitivity for an accurate reading Built-in LED indicators with a directional guide. A loud, audible tone ensures you can see and hear breaker detection. Care must be taken not to break the grounding pin when plugging the transmitter.

The Extech CB10 circuit breaker finder is straightforward to use. The Ideal Industries company is one of the oldest and most established electrical testing equipment makers.

I am assured of the quality of the tool with its name. That means I can always get higher possibilities of hitting the right wire. With battery life being a priority, this AC circuit tracer shuts power off automatically when no energized AC or transmitter signals come to notice within 10 minutes.

Battery life is indicated on this device to remind the owner to charge the batteries when power is low and prevent possible burnout. Three-column LED indicators are present on the receiver to notify the user of the specific condition of the breakers. Plus, I also get fewer chances of hitting false positives. It not only allows me to identify the correct circuit breaker that supplies power to my AC outlets, but it also tests outlets.

Thus, I can quickly discover misconfigured and improperly installed outlets. Plus, I do all of these without causing power interruptions. This item offers a wide array of applications like industrial, office, markets, appliances, and even education. So whenever you feel uncertain about which tracer to pick, I would suggest taking this one. I have one unit of this, and it does work efficiently, as described. Four tracing functions with LED indicators are present to help users specify the issue they want to address.

In my case, I use the Network Mode more frequently to fix matters regarding telephone cables. Other functions available through a rotary knob are Scan, Tone, and Continuity modes. At first, I thought it was flimsy and could break any moment. But it was, in fact, durable.

This item is such a light and affordable one. Having this for your household usage is an advantage. Interference is a common problem when tracing circuits. As a resolution, Elegiant comes with earphones to help the user focus on the signal and not on the bothersome sounds around.

For dark environments, a built-in flashlight assists me in checking the subjected wire. Wires hidden between walls are typical in almost all kinds of establishments. But have you ever tried tracing invisible fence circuits beneath the ground?

The Kolsol F02 Underground Wire Locator locates underground wirings with a depth of up to 3 feet and lengths of up to feet. This kind of wire tracing usually works with broken solenoids. Kolsol comes with a unique dangling antenna on its receiving end. All you have to do is to swing it back and forth and listen to the sound it creates. The moment the antenna gets directly above the wiring you try to locate, the sound disappears.

I find this feature relevant because it helps me locate underground connections quickly in a wide area. Accuracy wise, this product helps me resolve invisible fence issues for about 30 minutes only. Resolutions like this become possible because I get to plot the damaged connections quickly and correctly. All these benefits I enjoy for an affordable price. That way, I can save money and effort from searching for power sources to complement my tracer.

The downside I have seen in this tracing kit, however, is its inability to test multi-strand wires and sprinkler valves specifically located on my lawn. Remember that this item can only function in situations of less than 24V and non-energized cable wires.

Pros Underground wire tracer that works best with broken solenoids Comes with a dangling antenna for wide-area cable detection Time-saving fix of invisible fence issues Package includes batteries to support tracer functions Affordable, locates underground wirings at 3 feet deep and feet long Cons Not for sprinkler valves and multi-strand wires Less than 24V situations and non-energized wires only Fixing wire issues buried underground turns out to be a quick one for me.

This tracing kit is a good one for outdoor circuits. Triplett Hound Wire Tracing Kit. Triplett can detect wires buried at a depth of up to 6 inches and a length of up to feet. Integrated with the package is its True Trace feature, which allows the user to determine the specific ID of the cables.

Also, the Triplatch test enables me to check if the spring energy, which is necessary to trip breakers, is released. The Voltage Present indicator verifies the existence of power on the wire. To further support this, the device comes with a rugged structure and can resist moisture in its housing. That way, the presence of power is unaffected by factors other than electricity.

Triplett does not function as a live wire tracer alone. It can also work on TV and Ethernet cables, which makes it an ideal option for household usage, too. The Advanced Filtering System ensures tracing even with live wires. Noise interference produced by fluorescent lights is suppressed by a bandpass filter with the press of a button. This feature helps me determine the signals I should be identifying. My panel board at home is substantially composed of old circuit breakers. But when the new ones came in, I had to change my tracer to this one.

Unlike other circuit tracers, this product works even with a combination of old and new safety switches. I have tested signal detection to all of my breakers, and they all happened to respond. Klein comes with a microprocessor technology, which allows me to create appropriate solutions by smartly identifying the condition of my breakers. This product also assures me of receiving adequate signals I need for diagnosis. And confusion with bundled wires will no longer be a problem.

The device saves battery life through an automatic shut off feature. So if in any way the user forgets to power the tracer off, it will shut down automatically, thus preventing the draining of the batteries.