VESALA CTT33, CT33, CL43 User Manual

CT33 Cable Tracer

User Manual for Devices CTT33 and CL43 v. X1.0

Contents

1. General information about cable tracing 4

2. CT33 Equipment and accessories 5

2.1 CT33 Basic setup 5

2.2 Transmitter accessories 6

2.3 Receiver accessories 6

3. CTT33 User interface 7

4. Basics on how to use the transmitter 8

5. CL43 Receiver user interface 9

6. Putting the CL43 receiver into use 10

7. Using the receiver and probes 11

7.1 Choosing right frequency and probe for each task 11

7.2 Setting receiver gain 11

8. How to use a cable tracer 12

8.1 Locating cables from a distance 12

8.2 Tracing indoor cables 13

8.3 Identifying wires and wire pairs 15

9. Locating underground cables 16

9.1 Neutral electric cables and telecom cables 16

9.2 Live mains cables 17

9.3 Cables that can’t be reached for galvanic feeding 18

CT33 User Manual v. X1.0 1

10. Tracing cables and wires indoors 19

uct with household or

life. Return it for
recycling according to EU Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE). For more
information contact your local distributor or

10.1 Live and neutral electric cables 19

10.2 Wall sockets and circuit breakers & fuses 21

10.3 Cables that can’t be reached for galvanic feeding 22

10.4 Tracing and identifying wire pairs 23

11. Tracing cable faults 24

11.1 Location of a short circuit fault 24

11.2 Location of a open wire (cut fault) 25

12. Floor heating cables and their faults 27

12.1 Preliminary inspection of the target area 27

12.2 Tracing floor heating cables and their faults 28

13. Tracing tubes and ducts 32

13.1 Conductive tubes and ducts inside walls or under ground 32

13.2 Non-conductive pipes inside walls etc. 33

13.3 Using duct sondes to locate duct blockages 35

14. Technical data, maintenance and service 37

14.1 Technical data 37

14.2. Maintenance, storage and warranty 38

Do not discard this prod
general waste after its end-of-

www.vesala.fi.

CT33 User Manual v. X1.0 2

1. General information about cable tracing

A cable tracer detects the magnetic or electric field which has been induced to a cable or wire using the transmitter.
Tracing is often affected by other nearby conductors and ducts. We recommend to read this manual carefully prior to
using the CT33 equipment.

CT33 equipment is intended to be used for example:

 To locate and track mains cables
 To locate and trace telecom cables
 To locate shorts in telecom cables
 To trace coaxial/antenna cables
 To locate floor heating cables
 To locate ducts and duct blockages using transmitter sondes

CT33 can be used both indoors and outdoors, and when properly used, it is safe even with mains environment.
Some tracing tasks may require accessories.

In this manual there are two symbols used to describe grounding & earth connection:

This symbol means grounding through constructions, such as grounded pipes, metal chassis, mains wall
socket protective earth connector etc.

This symbol means direct earthing to soil with a ground pick or other similar means so that no other
constructions are involved.

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2. CT33 Equipment and accessories

2.1 CT33 Basic setup

CTT33 transmitter for galvanic signal feeding.

Transmitted frequency 33kHz.

TB10m and TB10p CAT-III –feeding cord (black and
red, 1.0m, 4mm safety banana plugs).

XKKp and XKKm safety crocodile clip (black and red).

S3TB feeding cord, 0.5m Schuko/ 3 pcs. safety banana

plugs.

CL43 Receiver for tracing the signal of the transmitter.

SA43 Rod probe to trace cables and sondes on 10kHz

and 33kHz frequency.

KOCT33 User manual

KLCT33 Carrying bag for the equipment, accessories

and other installation tools (Polypropylene, ~400 x 350
x 90 mm).

CT33 User Manual v. X1.0 4

2.2 Transmitter accessories

PM50 (Ø 50mm) or PM100 (Ø 100mm): Clamp-on

transformers for signal feeding when direct galvanic
connection to cable is not possible.

10/TX-Earthstake

SPA10 Pipe transmitter antenna for tracing of small

pipes and ducts (length 10 m).

2.3 Receiver accessories

SA05 Rod probe to locate 512Hz sondes.

LA43 Close range probe to trace and identify cables

and wires from a short distance on 10kHz and 33kHz
frequency.

KA43 Capasitive probe for wire pairs identification.

A selection of duct sondes and push rods are
available as accessory to locate ducts and pipes and
their blockages.

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3. CTT33 User interface

Output connectors:

4 mm safety banana jacks for tracing signal output.

Output mA:
LED bar: Output current display (also software version and
battery status)

Power LED
If power LED blink, batteries are weak.

Power button:
To turn power on and off. While powering on LED bar briefly
displays software version and after that it displays battery status
with reference to full batteries. When device is on, also a short
press will display battery status similarly.

BOOST:
Output power selection: When BOOST LED is on,
higher output power is selected.

PULSE:
Output signal mode selection: Signal can be
continuous (default) or slowly pulsed or fast
pulsed. PULSE LED displays which mode is on.

Battery compartment (on the backside of the enclosure. Lid has screws).
CTT33 uses 6 1.5V LR6 (AA) alkaline batteries. Similar NiZn or NiMH batteries can
be used but they require a separate charger.

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4. Basics on how to use the transmitter

CTT33 transmits 33kHz (32,768Hz) signal always when it is on. The default output power is sufficient for most needs.
If BOOST mode is selected (BOOS LED on) output signal is higher but batteries are also drained faster.

When PULSE LED is on continuously, output signal is continuous. Press PULSE button once or twice to choose 4Hz or
8Hz pulsed signal correspondingly. With receiver pulsed signal is often easier to distinguish from noises. Two pulsed
signal modes enable using the two transmitter method for locating wire cuts.

Feeding cords are used to connect the transmitter to the target. Standard cords are safe when properly used but
safety precaution must be followed all the time when working with live wires. If galvanic connection and feeding is not
possible, inductive signal feeding with a clamp-on transformer may be used instead.

Warnings concerning the transmitter

 When operating with mains targets, always use contact proof and right safety class cords and

adapters, and follow safety instructions.

 CTT33 transmitter may be connected to max. 230V rms voltage!

 If either transmitter output terminal is connected to a live target, dangerous voltage or current

may appear on wires connected to the other output, unless they are properly grounded.

 Avoiding interference with telecommunication or electric network is always the responsibility of

the user.

 Risk of electric shock: Always disconnect feeding cords before opening the battery lid or

enclosure.

CT33 User Manual v. X1.0 7

Indicates received signal

ength; the higher pitch and

If necessary repeat 1 to 3 to get the right frequency. Connected

be allows choosing only frequencies supported by the probe.

In
normal operation arc displays
received signal strength with

512/10k/33k
LEDs display the active
operating frequency when the
frequency is changed or when
a probe is connected to the

power

Choose

probe according to

Press here
to remove

Batteries are

located under the user

5. CL43 Receiver user interface

Probe
release
button:

the probe.

Arc of 12 red LEDs:

24 levels. The

CL43 device while power on.

Power LED: Green LED indicates
on. LED blinks if battery is weak.

Probe:

the tracing task.

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(+) and (-) buttons:
(+) long press: power on / off
(+) extended pressing during start-up: makes the LED arc show

firmware version.
(+) releasing press during start-up: makes the LED arc briefly
display battery status and the active operating frequency with one
of the three rightmost LEDs.
(+) and (-) short presses: gain setting up or down, 5 or 7 steps
available depending on connected probe. A beep sound indicates
change of gain, no beep means that maximum or minimum has
been reached.
(-) long press: Initiate change of receiving frequency mode:

1) Press (-) until a beep is heard. Keep it pressed!

2) Press (+) until another beep is heard.

3) See the LED arc: One of the 512/10k/33k LEDs briefly
indicate chosen frequency.

pro
SA05 probe always forces CL43 to 512Hz mode.

Batteries:

interface cap.

Speaker:

str
volume, the stronger the signal.

6. Putting the CL43 receiver into use

Batteries:

CL43 receiver uses 3pcs AAA (IEC LR03) alkaline batteries. Compatible
NiZn batteries can be used but they must be recharged in a separate
charger.

To change batteries, turn the user interface cap (1) off and pull the
battery holder (2) out from the tube. Replace old cells with new ones.
Observe battery polarity: (-) poles must be placed against the spring
contacts. Insert the battery holder back into CL43 tube according to the
arrow symbol (3). Turn the user interface cap back on the tube (4).

Connecting /disconnecting probes:

CL43 always requires a probe to operate. To attach a probe, push the
probe connector (1) in to CL43 socket (2) aligned as in the image until
the locking clicks. To remove a probe: Press the release button (3) under
the rubber to release the locking and pull the probe out.

3

1

Warnings concerning the receiver

 Though it is not possible to get an electric shock via CL43 receiver probes at less than 600V

environment, it is NOT suggested to use CL43 probes so that they touch live targets.

 Do not ever let CL43 body touch live targets.

 When operating with mains targets, always follow safety instructions.

124 3

2

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7. Using the receiver and probes

7.1 Choosing right frequency and probe for each task

CL43 receiver supports 512Hz, 10kHz and 33kHz frequencies so it is suitable for various tracing tasks:

Frequency Probe Intended use Operating distance

33kHz SA43 Cable & wire tracing with the CTT33 transmitter

Locating 33kHz duct sondes (Vesala MPL4-33, MPL6-33, MPL7-33, MPL9-33, PL18-33)
33kHz LA43 Cable & wire tracing and identification at close range with the CTT33 transmitter ≤ 30cm
33kHz KA43 Wire tracing and identification with the CTT33 transmitter ≤ 20cm
10kHz SA43 Cable & wire tracing with some of Vesala 10kHz transmitters

Locating 10kHz duct sondes (Vesala MPL6-10, MPL7-10, MPL9-10, PL18-10)
10kHz LA43 Cable & wire tracing and identification at close range with Vesala 10kHz transmitters ≤ 30cm
10kHz KA43 Wire tracing and identification with Vesala 10kHz transmitters ≤ 10cm
512Hz SA05 Locating 512Hz duct sondes (Vesala PL18-05, PL42-05) ≤ 13 m

With CTT33 transmitter always use 33kHz receiving frequency with CL43 receiver and either black SA43 rod probe,
black LA43 close range probe or red KA43 probe. Green SA05 rod probe is only for locating 512Hz duct sondes.

7.2 Setting receiver gain

To adjust CL43 receiving sensitivity, or gain, press (+) or (-) buttons briefly. Depending on the attached probe, there
are 5 or 7 gain steps available. A beep sound indicates change of gain, no beep means that maximum or minimum
has been reached. It is recommendable to use gain which makes the LED arc length to be approx. in the middle; that
way changes in signal strength are easiest to notice. Audio signal volume and tone pitch from the speaker follow the
received signal strength.

30cm ... 10m
≤ 10m

30cm ... 10m
≤ 5 m

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8. How to use a cable tracer

This chapter demonstrates principles on how to use the CTT33 transmitter and CL43 receiver. They are repeatedly
faced in practical situations so it is essential to understand them. Operating principles usually don’t depend on cable
type (whether telecom, mains etc.), instead cable connections play the major role.

8.1 Locating cables from a distance

Transmitter: Connect one transmitter output to the cable. To make

sure that the tracing signal current return path is distributed widely
to the surrounding soil, use a ground pick or additional wire for the
other output. Only on special occasions both transmitter outputs are
connected to the wires of the traced cable.

Receiver: Follow the cable's route using the SA43 rod probe. Rod
probe is very directive, so between two strong signals a very narrow
and signal minimum can be seen exactly in the direction of the
traced cable (see the image). Hence this is called the minimum (or
null) trace method.

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