IDEAL SureTest Instruction Manual

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#61-954 #61-956 #61-958

SureTest®Circuit Tracers

Instruction Manual

Table of Contents

• Safety Information ..................................................................................3

• Introduction............................................................................................4

• Callouts of Features

• Transmitter............................................................................................................5

• Receiver................................................................................................................6

• Test Lead Kit ........................................................................................................8

• Inductive Clamp with Battery Pack........................................................................9

• Theory of Operation

• Signal Generation and Detection ..........................................................................9

• Open versus Closed Circuits................................................................................9

• Remote Return Path............................................................................................10

• Applications

• Locating Circuit Breakers/Fuses ........................................................................12

• Tracing Wires......................................................................................................13

• Tracing Low Voltage and Data Cables ................................................................13

• Finding Opens....................................................................................................14

• Finding Shorts....................................................................................................15

• Sorting Bundled Wires........................................................................................16

• Locating Cable, Conduit, or Metal Pipe Underground........................................17

• Inductive Clamp Uses ........................................................................................18

• Battery and Fuse Replacement..............................................................20

• Maintenance..........................................................................................22

• Service and Repair................................................................................

• Specifications ......................................................................................22

• Warranty Policy ....................................................................................24

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Read first: Safety Information

Understand and follow operating instructions carefully. Use the tracer only as specified in this manual; otherwise, the protection provided by the tracer maybe impaired.

DANGER

Electric Shock Hazard

Contact with electricity can cause electric shock, serious injury or death. To avoid electric shock, personal injury or death follow these instructions.

WARNING

To avoid electric shock, personal injury, or death, follow these instructions:

• Do not use if tracer appears damaged. Visually inspect the tracer to ensure the cases are not cracked and back case is securely in place.

• Inspect and replace leads if insulation is damaged, metal is exposed, or probes are cracked.

• Never use on circuits or systems that have voltages in excess of 600V AC/DC.

• Never use the tracer with a remote ground in patient care areas. Ground currents generated by the tracer may create a shock hazard for electrically susceptible patients.

• Always test the remote ground system to confirm that its resistance is less than 100 ohms from remote ground to circuit neutral.

• Always check circuits to verify that the hot, neutral and ground are wired correctly.

• Do not use tracer if it operates abnormally as protection maybe impaired.

• Do not use during electrical storms or in wet weather.

• Do not use around explosive gas, dust, or vapor.

• Do not apply more than the rated voltage to the tracer.

• Do not use without the batteries and the back case properly installed.

• Remove the test leads from the circuit prior to removing the battery cap.

• Do not attempt to repair this unit as it has no user-serviceable parts except a fuse.

CAUTION

To protect yourself, think "Safety First":

• Voltages exceeding 30VAC or 60VDC pose a shock hazard so use caution.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment such as safety glasses, face shields, insulating gloves, insulating boots, and/or insulating mats.

• Never ground yourself when working on an electrical circuit.

• Always make the ground or neutral connection first, and remove last when using clip leads or adaptor cord.

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Introduction

The SureTest®Circuit Tracers are powerful, versatile, easy-to-use troubleshooting test tools for finding breakers and hidden wire problems in residential/commercial/industrial environments. These tracers work on closed (energized) and open (de-energized) circuits. They identify circuit breakers, find opens and shorts, and trace wires behind walls and underground.

The tracers are available in three configurations. Each kit contains the same transmitter (TR-958) and test lead kit (TL-958). The 954 kit has a Receiver (RC-954) with a 7-digit LED screen and a Hard Case (C-954). The 956 has a Receiver (RC-958) with a rotating, super-bright OLED display and an AC/DC power indicator, and a Hard Case (C-954). The 958 also has the high-end Receiver (RC-958), adds an Inductive Clamp (IC-958) with Battery Pack (BP-958), and a larger Hard Case (C-958).

Key Features

• Numeric value and variable audible for easy-to-understand tracing

• Super-bright display for easy-viewing

• Peak detecting bar graph for instantaneous changes in signal strength

• Identifies breakers and fuses

• Pinpoints opens and shorts

• Traces wires behind walls and underground

• Can be used on de-energized/energized circuits from 0-600V AC/DC

• Will not affect GFCIs or other sensitive equipment on the line

• Low battery indicator

• Cat III-1000V safety rating

#61-954 #61-956 #61-958

Transmitter Callout Features

1. Input Jacks

Non-polarized, standard banana plug type.

2. Power Indicator

When the transmitter is On, the LED illuminates indicating that a signal is being produced.

3. Line Energized Indicator

The transmitter continuously monitors the voltage across its input terminals. If greater than 30 volts AC/DC is present, the LED indicator illuminates. The transmitter also communicates the line voltage state to the receiver.

4. Low Batter y Indicator

When the batteries approach the 10% discharge point, the LED begins to flash. As the batteries continue to deplete, the LED switches from flashing to a steady-on state. At this point, the batteries are fully exhausted and require replacement.

5. Power Button

Depress the button to switch power on and enable the transmit function. Depress again to conserve battery power when not in use.

6. Operating Range

Operates on energized/de-energized circuits from 0 to 600V AC/DC.

7. Batter y Compartment

Holds (4) AA batteries for maximum transmit power and battery life.

8. Safety

Rated for use in Cat III-1000V environments and has a high-energy, fast-acting fuse for additional protection.

Additional Notes

• The transmitter’s signal does not affect sensitive, electronic equipment on the circuit.

• In a closed circuit, because the transmitter generates a small load current, its signal can be detected upstream through the feeder panel and the distribution transformer. The strength of the signal is reduced as it passes through the transformer in inverse proportion to the turns ratio of the transformer.

• Can be used on GFCI protected circuits.

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Receiver Callout Features

1. Super Bright Display

See next page for features.

2. Batter y Power

Depress this button, at anytime to display the % useful battery life remaining. Replace the batteries at depletion.

3. Audible Indication

Depress this button to turn the sound On/Off. If On is selected, a variable pitch/tone is produced - directly proportional to the signal strength.

4. Sensitivity Mode:

Depress this button to select the mode of sensitivity*:

Mode RC-954 RC-958 Antenna Strength

Search High “1” “SH” highest sensitivity

(default mode)

Search Low “2” “SL” high-medium

sensitivity

Trace “3” “TR” medium-low

sensitivity

Breaker “4” “BR” lowest sensitivity

* See Additional Notes on next page for guidelines on mode selection.

5. Power Button

Depress to switch power on and enable operation. Depress again to conserve battery power when not in use.

6. Batter y Compartment

Holds (3) AA batteries.

7. Safety

Rated for use in Cat III-1000V environments.

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RC-954 Display

1. Bright, 7-digit LED display.

2. Low Batter y Indicator is off then lights when 10% battery life remains.

3. "0-99" numeric indication of signal strength.

4. Audible indicator lights when audible is disabled.

5. Peak detector for instantaneous changes in signal strength.

RC-958 Display

1. Super-bright OLED display rotates the numeric value.

2. Receives the powered line status from the transmitter.

3. Indicates On/Off status of the audible function.

4. Low Batter y Indicator is on then flashes when 10% battery life remains.

5. "0-99" numeric indication of signal strength.

6. Displays the mode of sensitivity.

7. Peak detector for instantaneous changes in signal strength.

Additional Notes

• Sensitivity mode selection – general guidelines:

• Start out at maximum sensitivity (SH/1 mode) until the receiver finds the circuit

under test. If the receiver is too sensitive, then reduce the sensitivity using the

button until the receiver’s display does not peg at "99" continuously.

• Use Search High (SH/1) mode for tracing: (a) in closed circuits while using the

120VAC plug adapter (rather than the 25’ lead and a remote return path setup), (b) in open circuits, (c) underground, (d) and anywhere else more signal detection is needed.

• Use Search Low (SL/2) mode to reduce the level of sensitivity if the Search High

mode has signal saturation (display is pegging at "99" continuously).

• Use Trace (TR/3) mode for tracing (a) in closed circuits while using the 25’ lead

and a remote return path, (b) and when Search Low mode has signal saturation.

• Use Breaker (BR/4) mode for (a) identifying circuit breakers and fuses, (b)

pinpointing individual wires from a bundle, (c) and when Trace mode has signal saturation.

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• Receiver Orientation

• The indication of received signal intensity depends on how the receiver is pointed in relation to the source of the signal. If the receiver is pointed away from the signal source then there will be a low value indicated on the receiver. If the receiver is rotated about the axis of main antenna sensitivity, the signal varies in strength as the antenna is pointed at and then away from the circuit being traced.

• Therefore, rotate the receiver over the wire being traced until the highest reading is displayed. If during tracing, the signal is reduced, the wire may have changed directions (e.g. from horizontal travel across a wall to vertical travel up a wall). Rotate the receiver to find the strongest signal again.

• Use the back of the receiver to sweep the wall or floor and determine the circuit’s general location. Use the nose of the receiver to pinpoint its location.

• Steel conduit attenuates (weakens) the signal emitting from the wires inside the conduit. Aluminum conduit significantly attenuates the signal. So, the receiver should be set at a higher sensitivity and may need to be placed closer to the circuit to obtain a stronger signal detection.

Test Lead Kit (TL-958)

A complete test lead kit is supplied for use with the transmitter:

1. TLOP-958 Outlet Plug Adapter for plugging into standard 120VAC outlets.

2. TLBP-958 (2) Blade Prongs for inserting into a separate outlet with a remote neutral conductor as a return path.

3. TLGP-958 Ground Prong for inserting into a separate outlet with remote ground conductor as a return path.

4. TLAC-958 (2) Alligator Clips for connecting directly to bare wires and grounding points.

5. TLA1-958 (2) 3’ Lead Adapters for use with above clips and prongs to connect to bare wires and grounding points.

6. TLA2-958 25’ Lead Adapter for use with above clips and prongs to connect to remote return paths.

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