Re: [MBZ] OT - could be used on a Benz but OT electrical tester doodad
Randy Bennell wrote: > I just bought an electrical tester doodad from our local version of > HF that is supposedly for tracing circuits. > There are two parts to it. > > Each is powered by a single 9V battery. > > One is a square box with two test leads with alligator clips - one > red and one black. > > The other part is sort of like a screwdriver handle with a flexible > probe on it with a rubber tip. > My reason for buying it initially is that I have an issue with the > feed for the trailer hookup at the back of my F150. I assume that > there is a fault in the harness somewhere. It all works except for > the light on the one side of the trailer. Your description matches a "toner" or "fox and hound". It is a really handy tool for tracing wires is big spaces. Like "is the other end of the audio cable here or over there". But it may not be very helpful for your current situation. Because the "detector" is an inductive input amp, it doesn't require actual contact to sound. But the tone is a AC signal, so it won't stay within one wire in a bundle. You will find that all the wires will sing a bit. And because it doesn't require contact, a break in the wire reduce the signal but won't cause it to stop. Here is a similar tool, but name brand. There might be data there that will help you. http://www.triplett.com/shop/fox-hound/ --Philip ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT - could be used on a Benz but OT electrical tester doodad
On 09/05/2013 3:24 PM, Tim Crone wrote: On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 4:18 PM, Max wrote: The only time I was involved in using one, we were trying to trace electrical circuits in a building. The tone generator produced so much cross talk in other nearby circuits that it was pretty much impossible to use to isolate one circuit. That's why you reduce the "volume". In a big harness it is difficult, but - Easier to apply a test voltage like nine volts and search for that with a volt meter. - with the tone generator you don't need to physically touch the copper. Good for when you are stuck inside a wiring harness and want to check particular wires, but don't want to break the insulation. Like most tools, useful when you need it, and there are better alternatives when you don't. :) Best, Tim ___ Good, it sounds like I had the basic idea of how it works. My basic plan is to hook the tone box to the wire at the back of the truck and then try to trace it forward through the harness. When it no longer appears to be there, it may be the spot that is broken or corroded etc. Randy ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT - could be used on a Benz but OT electrical tester doodad
On Thu, May 9, 2013 at 4:18 PM, Max wrote: > The only time I was involved in using one, we were trying to trace > electrical circuits in a building. The tone generator produced so much > cross talk in other nearby circuits that it was pretty much impossible to > use to isolate one circuit. > That's why you reduce the "volume". In a big harness it is difficult, but - > Easier to apply a test voltage like nine volts and search for that with a > volt meter. > - with the tone generator you don't need to physically touch the copper. Good for when you are stuck inside a wiring harness and want to check particular wires, but don't want to break the insulation. Like most tools, useful when you need it, and there are better alternatives when you don't. :) Best, Tim ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] OT - could be used on a Benz but OT electrical tester doodad
That sounds like a "toner". The box with the switch generates the tone, the screwdriver is for listening for the tone. The three switch positions sound like "off", "continuous tone", and "intermittent tone". The only time I was involved in using one, we were trying to trace electrical circuits in a building. The tone generator produced so much cross talk in other nearby circuits that it was pretty much impossible to use to isolate one circuit. Easier to apply a test voltage like nine volts and search for that with a volt meter. -- Max Dillon Charleston, SC '95 E300, '87 300TD, '73 Balboa 20 Randy Bennell wrote: >I just bought an electrical tester doodad from our local version of HF >that is supposedly for tracing circuits. >It is Asian and comes with no instructions so I wondered if some of you > >folks might have a better idea of how to use it than I do without doing > >some experimenting. > >There are two parts to it. > >Each is powered by a single 9V battery. > >One is a square box with two test leads with alligator clips - one red >and one black. > >The other part is sort of like a screwdriver handle with a flexible >probe on it with a rubber tip. > >The square box has a switch that indicates tone or cont and off in the >middle. >The other part has a switch that permits one to increase the "volume" >for lack of a better word. > >I am assuming that one attaches the black wire to ground and the red >wire to the end of the wire one wishes to trace and then moves the wand > >along the wiring harness and looks or listens for evidence that the >wire >is in that particular bundle of wires. > >My reason for buying it initially is that I have an issue with the feed > >for the trailer hookup at the back of my F150. I assume that there is a > >fault in the harness somewhere. It all works except for the light on >the >one side of the trailer. I cannot recall offhand if it is the left or >right brake light / turn signal that does not work but it happens on >more than one trailer which led me to check the truck and find that >there is no power on that pin etc. That was last summer and I have not >had a trailer connected since but summer is coming and I will be moving > >boats again so should fix it. > >Randy > >___ >http://www.okiebenz.com >For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] OT - could be used on a Benz but OT electrical tester doodad
I just bought an electrical tester doodad from our local version of HF that is supposedly for tracing circuits. It is Asian and comes with no instructions so I wondered if some of you folks might have a better idea of how to use it than I do without doing some experimenting. There are two parts to it. Each is powered by a single 9V battery. One is a square box with two test leads with alligator clips - one red and one black. The other part is sort of like a screwdriver handle with a flexible probe on it with a rubber tip. The square box has a switch that indicates tone or cont and off in the middle. The other part has a switch that permits one to increase the "volume" for lack of a better word. I am assuming that one attaches the black wire to ground and the red wire to the end of the wire one wishes to trace and then moves the wand along the wiring harness and looks or listens for evidence that the wire is in that particular bundle of wires. My reason for buying it initially is that I have an issue with the feed for the trailer hookup at the back of my F150. I assume that there is a fault in the harness somewhere. It all works except for the light on the one side of the trailer. I cannot recall offhand if it is the left or right brake light / turn signal that does not work but it happens on more than one trailer which led me to check the truck and find that there is no power on that pin etc. That was last summer and I have not had a trailer connected since but summer is coming and I will be moving boats again so should fix it. Randy ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
