How to locate outlet starting from breaker panel?

[MNBobcat]

Hi All,

I have a breaker labeled "Exerciser" that is in a breaker panel that has no empty slots left in it. I'm pretty sure I can pull that wire out of the panel and pull a new wire in its place.

However, before doing that I would like to know what outlet I would be disabling.

I see there are devices that you can plug into an outlet and then go to the breaker panel and detect what breaker that outlet is on. In my case, I want to do the opposite and start at the breaker and then walk around the house checking outlets to see if I can find the outlet.

I don't see any tool that will transmit from the breaker to a receiver held near an outlet.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[coldsteelva]

They are called tone senders and they do exist: Triplett Fox & Hound HotWire 3388 Live Wire Circuit Tracing Kit with Tone Generator and Probe: Circuit Testers: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

This is just an example.

 

[M5farms]

a lamp or fan plugged into outlet and then switch off breakers till you find it. However most outlets in a room are ran in a series so you don't have just one wire most likely

 

[MNBobcat]

Hmmmm I just had a thought. I have a tone generator for tracing phone lines. If I disconnect the hot lead from the breaker so that there is no live power on the line I could probably hook the tone generator to it and then walk around the house with the receiver. Never mind!

 

[MNBobcat]

coldsteevla,

You must have replied while I was typing my posting about my idea on the tone generator! Thanks for the help!

 

[B7510HSD]

Sounds like someone maybe had an "Exerciser" machine maybe treadmill or the likes maybe find a room that this could have been and shut the breaker off test outlets for a dead one??

 

[kcflhrc]

A phone tone generator can be used but disconnect the hot and neutral and put the toner on the white and black wires. Don't leave the neutral hooked up

 

[MNBobcat]

B75,

Yes, there are only so many rooms that a person might have an exercise machine and I'll check those first. I found my tone generator and put new batteries in it. I think it should work. I didn't think about disconnecting the hot lead from the breaker and then using the tone generator! I was thinking about to trace a hot line. Funny how suddenly an obvious solution comes to you when you ponder on it for a while!

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Why are you pulling the wire out? There is no reason.

 

[MNBobcat]

Why are you pulling the wire out? There is no reason.

I don't leave disconnected and capped wires in a breaker panel. If its not going to be used there is no reason for it to be in the panel. I pull them out of the panel, print a label and label the wire describing what it was for and then I push the wire up into the joist cavity and out of the way. If someone ever wants to use it later they can run it back into the panel.

Also, I can then use the freed up romex clamp for my new wire. (yes I know you can have more then one wire in those)

Just personal preference.