How to locate unidentified circuits without switching off MCB

[jonboy1]

I have been asked to carry out an electrical survey within a 24/7 broadcasting studio. The problem is that i am not allowed to turn anything off. I have a meter that sends a pulse down a cable to locate which cable it is but I cannot use it on live cables. Does anyone know of a product that can do this. Part number would be helpful.

 

[jeremy]

How much money have you got?! Fluke do a cable locator which sends a dedicated freq along the conductor which works energised or not (so I'm told) (I want for Christmas)If it's sockets you're trying to trace I use a socket and see circuit finder which only works when the cable is live. On another tack , If you're not allowed to turn anything off, how do they envisage periodics, maintenance etc?. Just had a random thought. if theres a bunch of cables at one end and some sockets, luminaires at the other, using a clamp ammeter on the cables and increasing the load at the other end might help with identifying

 

[aaronstuart]

type in sure test in google the product looks good but expensive, and unfortunately never used one

 

[jimes]

socket and see make one i think......

 

[the-moog]

You did not say what sort of circuit, i.e. existing load etc.

I'm sure there is expensive kit that will do this, but I suggest you buy a reasonably sensitive clamp meter from RS or Maplin (your your favourite electrical wholesaler) Maplin sell one that would do the trick for about 25 quid.

Measure the current in the wire using the clamp meter.

Put a load on the circuit (i.e. add a 100W lightbulb or lamp), switch on and off the load and verify that the current shown on the clamp meter follows the pattern and magnitude of the load.

If you can't add a load, then there must be something you can turn on and off that draws more than a few tens of mA, e.g. a video monitor, that will achieve the same.

 

[Reg Man]

I have been asked to carry out an electrical survey within a 24/7 broadcasting studio. The problem is that i am not allowed to turn anything off. I have a meter that sends a pulse down a cable to locate which cable it is but I cannot use it on live cables. Does anyone know of a product that can do this. Part number would be helpful.

What about a fusefinder kit, I think Martindale do one.

 

[jonboy1]

Thanks for advice. I think i'm gonna have to re-mortgage to get the proper bit of kit. There is a heavy penalty clause if I switch off the studio. Lots of circuits in board powering lots of different bits of electronic s**t. Who wants to go on a spending spree at 4 in the morning anyway (its some sort of shopping channel)