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Circuit tracers can be bought for $20 - $30, plug in "transmitter" in the outlet and take the "wand" to the panel and touch it to each wire coming in to the panel.
that "ideal" brand circuit tracer you have pictured is analog and not worth the plastic its made out of.
First, use a lamp rather than a meter to determine if the circuit is live. A multimeter has high impedance inputs and so if all other power points on the same circuit are off then the wires can pick up some voltage (not current) from nearby wires and so the multimeter will still show a voltage when it is just picking up these stray fields.
Next, It is possible but very rare that the two circuits have been wired in a loop. So turn all the circuit breakers OFF and then switch one on at a time.
If you live in a multi unit block. ie multiple residences in the one physical structure then maybe it is wired to someone elses fuse box?
It may be on a lighting circuit or even the hot water circuit so you have to switch those breakers off too. Overhere in Australia, you can get the electricity provider to install a box to control the electricity to the hot water heater. Then you pay less for the electricity and the electricity company only feeds power when its cheap. You are allowed to have one power point on that circuit to drive a deep freezer or such so maybe this rogue power point is on that type of circuit.
The next thing is if it is on no breakers then maybe it is not metered. Run you whole house off it and never pay for electricity again. woo. hoo.
digital circuit tracers are supposed to be the cat's meow; i haven't used one. i spoke to a rep from klein a couple weeks ago who told me they're about to release one that is "100% accurate". i'm not going to hold my breath on it though.
i have that exact unit that was pictured and its a piece of junk. i have purchased at least 4 different models of this circuit tracer from various manufacturers and none have worked as advertised.
tried-and-true method is with a tone probe, or just flipping breakers until your helper says "that's it!".
digital circuit tracers are supposed to be the cat's meow; i haven't used one. i spoke to a rep from klein a couple weeks ago who told me they're about to release one that is "100% accurate". i'm not going to hold my breath on it though.
i have that exact unit that was pictured and its a piece of junk. i have purchased at least 4 different models of this circuit tracer from various manufacturers and none have worked as advertised.
tried-and-true method is with a tone probe, or just flipping breakers until your helper says "that's it!".
LOL! The cats meow! Good one grandpa. You ain't no electrician and this ain't rocket science requiring NASA Engineering. If you have bought 4 different tracers and none of them worked, I suggest you break out the instructions and read them, it might help as they do require a little bit of calibration as you get closer to the right wire.
This guy is simply trying to trace a 120V circuit back to the panel. Yeah he could spend $100, $250 or $1,000 on a better quality tracer but, it's likely he will never use this again so he would be wasting his money.
betatester, check out the reviews on amazon for the one I posted it will work just fine, don't forget to read the instructions. Any slightly intelligent person could figure out how to use one of these.
You ain't no electrician and this ain't rocket science requiring NASA Engineering. If you have bought 4 different tracers and none of them worked, I suggest you break out the instructions and read them, it might help as they do require a little bit of calibration as you get closer to the right wire.
I am an Electrician and have been for over 25 years. 99% of those type circuit tracers are worthless junk. Including every single one made by Ideal. I refuse to have ANY test instrument by Ideal in my truck or on my jobs due to their lack of ability to give consistent, RIGHT test results. Fluke, Greenlee, or Kline are the ones I trust. None of the good ones are in the under $30 dollar range. "Closer to the right wire" doesn't cut it; THE right wire is what makes the grade.
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This guy is simply trying to trace a 120V circuit back to the panel. Yeah he could spend $100, $250 or $1,000 on a better quality tracer but, it's likely he will never use this again so he would be wasting his money.
Then why spend less $ on garbage that might work, when there are other free methods that are more accurate?
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betatester, check out the reviews on amazon for the one I posted it will work just fine, don't forget to read the instructions.
betatester, keep doing it with the lamp and save yourself the money over buying crap test instruments.
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Any slightly intelligent person could figure out how to use one of these.
That's just rude and totally uncalled for. Any person could figure out that when you DON'T see the pros using something that would make life faster and easier, then the best bet is that the item has proven itself to be unreliable.
I am an Electrician and have been for over 25 years. 99% of those type circuit tracers are worthless junk. Including every single one made by Ideal. I refuse to have ANY test instrument by Ideal in my truck or on my jobs due to their lack of ability to give consistent, RIGHT test results. Fluke, Greenlee, or Kline are the ones I trust. None of the good ones are in the under $30 dollar range. "Closer to the right wire" doesn't cut it; THE right wire is what makes the grade.
Then why spend less $ on garbage that might work, when there are other free methods that are more accurate?
betatester, keep doing it with the lamp and save yourself the money over buying crap test instruments.
That's just rude and totally uncalled for. Any person could figure out that when you DON'T see the pros using something that would make life faster and easier, then the best bet is that the item has proven itself to be unreliable.
I respect your opinion but in the interest of consumer research, I will buy the tracer in question and check it out for myself and post the result. (Delivery date, June 29th - July 2nd, cost $22.70).
I respect your opinion but in the interest of consumer research, I will buy the tracer in question and check it out for myself and post the result. (Delivery date, June 29th - July 2nd, cost $22.70).
Good Luck with it. If it is the same quality as the one I had, you just tossed 22.70 down the toilet.
Good Luck with it. If it is the same quality as the one I had, you just tossed 22.70 down the toilet.
Well I'm just trying to do my part as an American consumer.
Hope we don't get into a nasty dialogue on the best way to remove a obstruction from my waste drain.
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and it stayed lit throughout all the flipping and switching down in the basement.
, except no breakers and overloading = fire waiting to happen 
