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Topic:
What do you use for toning wires?
This thread has 20 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 10:31
burtont62
Active Member
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March 2011
591
Currently using a older Triplett Fox & Hound and thinking of getting a new one.

Any other recommendations?
Post 2 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 10:49
goldenzrule
Loyal Member
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July 2007
8,470
I use a toner
OP | Post 3 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:07
burtont62
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Does it take batteries?
Post 4 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:12
fcwilt
Senior Member
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1,283
On February 7, 2018 at 11:07, burtont62 said...
Does it take batteries?

All the ones I've ever used were battery powered.

You can go to Amazon and search on "wire toner" and you will get quite a list.

Frederick
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt
Post 5 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:19
SammPX
Long Time Member
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471
I have a Fluke Intellitone Pro 200. Had to return the first one as the wand stopped working. Has two digital settings that are supposed to work better with twisted pair cables and network jacks that are plugged in to live equipment. Has the traditional analog setting, cable mapping and a service setting that will detect live phone or network connections

So far so good, still have my old Progressive 200EP with a metal tip as backup
OP | Post 6 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:21
burtont62
Active Member
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On February 7, 2018 at 11:19, SammPX said...
I have a Fluke Intellitone Pro 200. Had to return the first one as the wand stopped working. Has two digital settings that are supposed to work better with twisted pair cables and network jacks that are plugged in to live equipment. Has the traditional analog setting, cable mapping and a service setting that will detect live phone or network connections

So far so good, still have my old Progressive 200EP with a metal tip as backup

Now we're getting somewhere.
OP | Post 7 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:25
burtont62
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On February 7, 2018 at 11:12, fcwilt said...
All the ones I've ever used were battery powered.

You can go to Amazon and search on "wire toner" and you will get quite a list.

Frederick

Me too.

Ya but with amazon I get quite the list of junk too.
Post 8 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:34
Brad Humphrey
Super Member
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February 2004
2,586
I had the Progressive unit and it was really good. I would say it is a solid choice.
The Greenlee branded toner is the same as the Progressive that can be found on amazon.com, just for reference.

I am currently using a Fluke Pro3000. It is not the nicer Pro 200 like Sam has but it costs less than 1/2 the price. It costs about the same as the Progressive.
I love Fluke but I have to say it is not as nice as the Progressive. And it has the issue of draining the 9v battery, even when the unit is off. I have to replace the 9v every month, no matter how much I use it (if at all). So now I leave the screw out and disconnect the 9v when I'm not using it.
I am looking at replacing it with either the Pro 200 or get another Progressive toner.
Post 9 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 11:53
highfigh
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8,311
I bought a cheap one from Skywalker a long time ago and when it fell into Lake Michigan, it didn't hurt much. Works as well as any of the TrippLite or others I have used and it has a headphone jack, which really helps in a noisy environment.
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
Post 10 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 12:40
Mac Burks (39)
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17,515
Tempo/Fluke/Progressive. All perform about the same IMO.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 11 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 13:06
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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30,104
These things might be more important than getting a better fox and hound:
*don't bother to connect to the hot lead of a shielded cable. The shielding will work well and will keep your hound from sensing the signal from more than about an inch away
*similarly, the noise rejection characteristics of a twisted pair minimize the signal that the hound can detect if you connect to the two wires of a twisted pair; instead connect to one or both wires of one twisted pair and one or both wires of another twisted pair
*you'll get MUCH better sensing range, with the wand sometimes picking up the signal from several feet away, if you connect one terminal to an electrical ground and the other to the wire you're trying to locate. To do this on site, stick one clip into the ground (GROUND, not neutral) of an extension cord, then pull the cord with you to different measuring locations (yes, the extension cord is plugged into the wall; you don't need power, just ground, so you can do this even before a building's power has been turned on)
*with that last method, if many wires are not connected to anything, they will inductively pick up the signal, so you'll have to carefully listen to the wand. The signal with the most warble AND the least buzz will be the one you want
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 12 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 13:21
andrewinboulder
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On February 7, 2018 at 11:19, SammPX said...
I have a Fluke Intellitone Pro 200. Had to return the first one as the wand stopped working. Has two digital settings that are supposed to work better with twisted pair cables and network jacks that are plugged in to live equipment. Has the traditional analog setting, cable mapping and a service setting that will detect live phone or network connections

So far so good, still have my old Progressive 200EP with a metal tip as backup

This one is a real time saver for me since you can plug it into a network cable on the tone generator side, find the other end of the cable and then, without going back to the tone generator location, flick a switch on the probe to test if the pairs are wired correctly.

Not so great though: it does eat batteries, and dont drop the probe! I’ve found them to be very delicate. I’m a little rough on tools though.
OP | Post 13 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 16:52
burtont62
Active Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2011
591
On February 7, 2018 at 13:06, Ernie Gilman said...
These things might be more important than getting a better fox and hound:
*don't bother to connect to the hot lead of a shielded cable. The shielding will work well and will keep your hound from sensing the signal from more than about an inch away
*similarly, the noise rejection characteristics of a twisted pair minimize the signal that the hound can detect if you connect to the two wires of a twisted pair; instead connect to one or both wires of one twisted pair and one or both wires of another twisted pair
*you'll get MUCH better sensing range, with the wand sometimes picking up the signal from several feet away, if you connect one terminal to an electrical ground and the other to the wire you're trying to locate. To do this on site, stick one clip into the ground (GROUND, not neutral) of an extension cord, then pull the cord with you to different measuring locations (yes, the extension cord is plugged into the wall; you don't need power, just ground, so you can do this even before a building's power has been turned on)
*with that last method, if many wires are not connected to anything, they will inductively pick up the signal, so you'll have to carefully listen to the wand. The signal with the most warble AND the least buzz will be the one you want

This is why we need Ernie.
Post 14 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 18:46
SammPX
Long Time Member
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Posts:
May 2005
471
On February 7, 2018 at 13:21, andrewinboulder said...
This one is a real time saver for me since you can plug it into a network cable on the tone generator side, find the other end of the cable and then, without going back to the tone generator location, flick a switch on the probe to test if the pairs are wired correctly.

Not so great though: it does eat batteries, and dont drop the probe! I’ve found them to be very delicate. I’m a little rough on tools though.

Thanks for reminding me I need to get a new battery for the wand. It seems like when I change the battery and the indicator light is green (good battery) for a day or two and then stays yellow(low battery) for months...
Post 15 made on Wednesday February 7, 2018 at 19:43
buzz
Super Member
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May 2003
4,366
I’ve been satisfied with the Fluke Pro 200. Mine does not eat batteries. The receiver will distort audio a little bit once in a while, but this might be due to spare pieces that jingle around inside (after multiple drops).

Oddly, one of my favorite features is the wire map status light. If the light turns green (and it will turn green almost instantly), the map is good. There is no need to wait while watching the lights cycle through or listen to the tones.
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