[sdiy] ot: tracing power cables in a house

[Bob Roesler]

(Assuming the wires are not connected to power)

Short out the hot and neutrals on one end of the cable (probably at the
destination) and check continuity at the other end. Keep in mind that from
the breaker panel, there will probably be several destinations for each
circuit.

Hope this helps.

bob


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Stiglitz" <deknow at deknow.com>
To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Thursday, March 21, 2002 10:54 AM
Subject: [sdiy] ot: tracing power cables in a house


> hi all,
>
> my gf's father has a house half gutted, and half wired...the electricians
have not come back to finish the job (because they didn't label anything
when they laid the wires...they have no idea what wire goes where), and for
the same reason, he has been unable to get someone to finish the job.
>
> i was hoping to be able to help him out by at least identifing/labeling
the wires in the basement, and where they go.
>
> i've seen some tools ($100+) that do this, but was thinking perhaps
instead to do a little diy approach.
>
> anyone done this (or something similar) and have any suggestions???
>
> it seems i could (at the non-basement end) inject a sound source (radio
headphone out) into the wires (hot to one wire, and ground to another) and
use alagator clips or test probles connected to a speaker to find the
terminating end in the basement.
>
> another option seems to be to do a similar thing with a 9v battery and an
led.
>
> again, if anyone has any brilliant ideas that would save me
time/money/frustration, i'd love to hear them.
>
> deknow
>