VESALA TraceMeter TM30 User Manual

Cable & Wire Tracer
TraceMeter TM30

User manual v. X1.0

1 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

This symbol means that this product should not be discarded with

Instead it should

Waste Electrical and

(WEEE) or according local

regulations. For more information about the separate collection,

please contact your local distributor or

www.vesala.fi

.

Table of contents

1. Overview 3

1.1 General information about cable tracing 3

1.2 Purpose of the device 3

2. TM30 equipment 4

2.1 TM30 basic set-up and accessories 4

2.2 Transmitter TMT30 5

2.3 Receiver TMR30 6

3. Batteries and warnings for use 7

3.1 Batteries 7

3.2 Transmitter TMT30 warnings 7

3.3 Receiver TMR30 warnings 7

4. Using the transmitter 8

4.1 General 8

4.2 METER mode 8

4.3 DSLAM test 8

4.4 TRACE mode 8

5. Using the receiver 9

5.1 General 9

5.2 Antennas and choosing right mode 9

5.3 Adjusting receiving gain 10

6. Introduction to operating modes 10

6.1 Open wires mode and capacitive antenna 10

6.2 Near cable mode and close range antenna 11

6.3 Cable route mode and rod antenna 12

6.4 Monitor modes 12

7. Practical usage examples 13

7.1 Tracing wire pairs 13

7.2 Tracing underground cables and routes 14

7.3 Tracing cables and wires indoors 16

7.4 Tracing special cables 18

7.5 Floor heating cables and their faults 19

7.6 Tracing cable faults 22

7.7 Tracing tubes and ducts 23

7.8 Using receiver monitor modes 24

8. Technical data, maintenance and service 25

8.1 Technical data 25

8.2 Maintenance, storage and warranty 26

household or general waste after its end-of-life.
be returned for recycling according to EU

Electronic Equipment directive

2 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

1. Overview

1.1. General information about cable tracing

A cable tracer does not locate the actual cable, rather the magnetic or electric field,
which exists in the cable by nature or has been induced to it using the transmitter. As
the shape of the magnetic field depends on other wires and pipes that may be located
near the target object, it is important for the user to be familiar with the properties of the
device as well as possible. We recommend that this manual be read thoroughly prior to
using the TM30 tracer.

1.2. Purpose of the device

With the versatile TM30 cable tracer user can locate telecom and mains cables, antenna
cables, wire pairs, floor heating cables and much more. Device can be operated indoors
out outdoors and it is safe also with live mains targets.

TM30 is designed for:

• Tracing and locating cables

• Tracing single wires and wire pairs

• Spotting short circuits

• Tracing floor heating cable routes

• Identifying communication on wire pairs

• Performing a DSLAM test on digital subscriber lines

• DC and AC voltage metering

• Interference free communication identifying

3 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

2. TM30 equipment

2.1. TM30 basic set-up and accessories

TM30 basic set-up

TMT30 transmitter for galvanic signal

feeding & communication identification
on wire pairs.

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.

TMR30 Receiver for receiving the
signal of the transmitter and
monitoring of wires without galvanic
contact.

TM30 User manual

KLTM30 Carrying bag for the ready-

to-use equipment, accessories and
other installation tools (Polypropylene,
approx. 400 x 360 x 90mm).

Accessories

10/TX Groundstake (ground pick)

SJ20 Feeding cord (2.0m, 4mm

standard banana plugs). To be used
with adapters where safety banana
plugs can’t be used.

AP15B cord to connect transmitter to
RJ45 sockets

PM50 (Ø34mm) Clamp-on trans-
former for signal feeding when direct
galvanic connection to cable is not
possible. PM100 (Ø100mm, no
image), larger diameter and higher
output signal.

SPA10 Pipe transmitter antenna for
following e.g. empty electrical piping in
buildings and for locating blockages
within (length 10m).

4 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

2.2. Transmitter TMT30

LCD

-

display

TRACE 10mA

METER 200kHz

mode for measuring frequency and DC

target object. Displays also output current and

Battery compartment is located at the back of the device. Lid has two
screws. Device operates with six 1.5V LR6 (AA) batteries. Rechargeable NiCd or
NiMH cells can be used too but they have to be charged in a separate charger.
If batteries are low, a BATTERY LOW text blinks on LCD.

Figure 2.2. TMT30 user interface

IN/OUT connectors:
2 pcs. 4mm safety banana jacks for
signal feeding and metering functions.

Light sensor for LCD backlight
automatic intensity adjustment.

METER

and AC voltages of the target object.

TRACE mode for feeding tracing signal to the

target DC and AC voltage.

A long press activates or deactivates the

CONT. BEEP continuity indicator.

DSLAM Test:

Test starts by keeping METER button pressed
and simultaneously pressing TRACE button
briefly.

Power button:
To switch the device on and off. LCD will
display battery voltage while start-up or if
Power button is pressed briefly during use. A
long press during start-up prevents automatic

+48.0V ~0.0V

-48.0V ~1.0V

5 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

2.3. Receiver TMR30

Use these up & down buttons to choose suitable

Battery compartment is located at the back of the device. Lid has two
screws. Device operates with four 1.5V LR3 (AAA) batteries. Rechargeable NiCd
or NiMH cells can be used too but they have to be charged in a separate
charger. If batteries are low, active MODE LED will blink.

Figure 2.3. TMR30 user interface

Nose section with antennas :
Nose has three integrated antennas:
Capacitive antenna for Monitor modes
and Open wires mode, close range
antenna for Near cable mode and rod
probe for Cable-route mode.

Work light:
The LED light under the nose turns on and off
by briefly pressing Power button.

Power button:
To switch the device on and off. Level bar will
display battery level while start-up or if Power
button is pressed briefly during use. Device
always starts to the same mode that was used
the previous time. A long press during start-up

Level bar:
LED bar display for indicating receiving signal
strength.

MODE buttons:
Use these up & down buttons to choose the
right Trace or Monitor mode.

GAIN buttons:

receiving sensitivity at which signal audio and

Level-bar won’t get overdriven.

Trace modes are for receiving signals

generated by the transmitter. One of three
LEDs displays which mode is active.

Monitor modes are to monitor signals other
than those generated by the transmitter. One
of three LEDs displays which mode is active.

Speaker for indicating received tracing signal
sound and for internal sound signals & beeps.

6 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

3. Batteries and warnings for use

3.1 Batteries

TMT30 transmitter uses 6 pcs. 1.5V LR20 (size AA, Mignon) alkaline batteries and
TMR30 receiver 4 pcs. 1.5V LR03 (size AAA) alkaline batteries. Both have a battery

compartment at the back of the device, under a lid with two screws.

If a there is Battery Low message on TMT30 LCD or the active mode LED of TMR30
blinks, batteries are weak and should be replaced to ensure the optimal functioning of
the equipment. If batteries are very low, devices turn automatically off to avoid battery
leaking.

Rechargeable NiCd or NiMH cells can be used too but they have to be charged in a
separate charger.

3.2 WARNINGS CONCERNING THE TRANSMITTER

 When operating with mains targets, always use contact proof and right

safety class cords and adapters, and follow safety instructions.

 Transmitter may be connected to max. 400V 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.

Danger of electric shock: Always disconnect feeding cords before opening
the battery lid or enclosure.

3.3 WARNINGS CONCERNING THE RECEIVER

 Though the receiver nose section is electrically safe to the user up to

600V, we do not recommend using the receiver so that the nose touches
live targets.

 Never expose other parts of the enclosure to direct contact to mains

wires or other live objects.

 Always follow safety instructions when working with live mains objects.

Caution! Do not use TMR30 to verify if an object is live or not!

7 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0

METER 200kHz

DSLAM TEST

DSLAM FOUND

Battery OK 9.0V

Vesala TMT30

TRACE 10mA

4. Using the transmitter

4.1 General

TMT30 will always start to the same mode (METER tai TRACE)

that was used the previous time. LCD will display battery
voltage while start-up and during operation user can check
battery level by pressing Power button briefly.

Device displays firmware (software) version as long as Power
button is held down during start-up.

IN/OUT connectors are connected to the target object with the TB10m and TB10p
feeding cords and a suitable adapter or safety crocodile clips or with the S3TB feeding
cord to Schuko socket. Always ensure electrical safety when connecting the device.

Device will automatically switch-off after three hours, unless buttons are pressed in the
mean time. To prevent the automatic switch-off, press the Power button for 2 seconds
during start-up until a ti-ti sound is heard.

4.2 METER mode

In METER mode transmitter does not send anything, nor does it disturb e.g. possible
data transmission in the target object. Transmitter only measures the target voltages
and frequencies, much like a multimeter.

LCD upper right corner displays detected frequency. The lower
row of LCD displays both DC and AC voltages. Device sustains
max. 400V mains voltage.

4.3 DSLAM test

With DSLAM TEST user can check whether there is an
exchange side DSL modem (DSLAM) present on the line.
During test TMT30 sends a handshake request to the line and
waits for an answer from an ADSL or VDSL DSLAM.

DSLAM TEST starts by keeping the METER button pressed and
simultaneously pressing TRACE button briefly. Test will take
max. 15 seconds during which LCD displays DSLAM TEST.
Then either DSLAM FOUND or DSLAM NOT FOUND message
is displayed and after that device will automatically resume METER mode.

4.4 TRACE mode

In TRACE mode device constantly transmits a 125kHz signal to the target connected to
the IN/OUT connectors.

LCD upper right corner displays output current, which depends
on target impedance. Second row displays both DC and AC
voltages.

If output current exceeds 1mA, device makes a beep sound. If the CONT. BEEP
continuity indicator is set active, beep is continuous. CONT. BEEP setting can be
activated (On) or deactivated (Off) with a long press of TRACE button.

0.0V ~1.1V

FW: X1.0A 100000

+48.0V ~0.0V

0.0V ~0.5V

0.0V ~0.0V

-48.0V ~1.0V

8 TM30 User Manual v. X1.0