UNI-T AC Circuit Breaker Finder with Integrated GFCI Outlet Tester AC 90-120V USA Plug + Adjustable Sensitivity Beeper Indicattion+ Flashing LED Light
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atmj
28-10-2024I often thought something like this would be a godsend to a homeowner who does minor electrical repairs. Instead of turning on and off every breaker in the house, requiring multiple clock resets, you plug this into an outlet, go down stairs and Voila, you find the right breaker and turn it off. Of course you do the necessary verifications afterward, but this saves you a lot of running around (especially if you are alone). When I used this for the first few times, I was convinced it did not work. So I held off doing my review, convinced it was user error and having used this on multiple breakers since, figured out that was the case. If you have the sensitivity on low (spinning wheel adjustment you turn it on with), you will get no breakers showing as the right one. If you turn it on high, you will get multiple breakers. The secret is to turn this thing up or down till you get one. When you initially turn it on, it is on max by default, rotating down, it gets lower. I found this super confusing. The reverse would make more sense, or if the light got duller when low and brighter when high. I kept turning it the wrong way. But that is me. However I checked 6 outlets in my house and initially some showed multiple breakers until I adjusted the sensitivity down. Most often adjoining, but one was not. Even testing on one of those outlet extenders (ones that go over an outlet and add outlets, USBs and even a shelf), it got the breaker. For the most part, I have some breakers labeled, but like most houses; additions and changes to the structure make finding the proper breaker a bit of a hunt and peck operation. Not all are labeled. The part you plug in also functions separately to check for the status of the outlet. I know years ago at my Mom’s there was this one outlet that used to give me a shock each time I used it and I found out using one of these types of detectors that it was not properly wired. An electrician fixed that one. He was surprised that it was even noticed. Mine you, I got a shock every time I used it, so hard not to notice. Tools like this can help you make your house safer. One thing I nearly failed to mention is the nice carrying case this comes in. So often tools go in a bag or drawer and sit until you need them. This case holds everything including the instructions and to me is a great addition to keep the integrity of this set of tools.
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Jerry White
> 3 dayIt works like a charm
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Nick Heckert
> 3 dayWorks like a charm! Just gotta play with the sensitivity... start low.
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Lino
> 3 daySkipped the breaker that I knew it was plugged into
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Customer
> 3 dayEs perfecto para localizar los breaker en el panel haciendo facil todo el proceso y descartar pocibles errores acelerando la solucion.
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funbear
> 3 dayI own lots of these, and I am always ringing out wires... if you read bad reviews, well, that will happen with these products... mainly because, they are very unique, tempermental, and each brand has its own personality. for the newb, it can seem like, its too hard to trace, but with some trial n errror, u learn what works. how? test on a circuit you know both ends... be sure to pick one in the middle of the breaker panel find a way to test, so it works, adj. sensitivity, distance, speed, etc. once you perfect one that works, u can then move on to the mystery circuits... overall, for the receptacle gfi tester, and the tracer, this is an amazing value, and it works! recommended! 4.5 stars
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dj
> 3 dayNeeded to identify breakers that controlled outlets. Adjusting the sensitivity made the accuracy perfect. Very easy to use.
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majnoon
Greater than one weekFairly easy to use, plug in the transmitter in the test socket and move the detector over the breakers along a line down the breaker array on the side closest to the panel box wall and not near the panel center line . instructions say to turn the sensitivity all the way down eliminate cross-talk issue but I found a midpoint setting worked better. I would typically start at full sensitivity, sweep the panel to ensure it saw a signal, then step down the sensitivity until only one breaker trigger a response. Note I generally could not distinguish between the a/b breakers in a double gang setup. I did have one issue; the transmitter makes an assessment of the socket and can identify problems with the wiring. This worked initially, but after testing several sockets it consistently indicated an unconnected ground even on circuits it initially said were ok. I verified a good ground with multimeter so bad transmitter. I returned the unit and amazon promptly replaced it . havent had any issues since then.
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Camera Shy
> 3 dayThis works pretty well for identifying breakers on a circuit. In my case, I had to put the sensitivity at the lowest level and as others have reported, you have to hold the wand in a verical fashion. Having the GFCI / circuit tester is icing on the cake. My second Uni-T product, both well made. I only wish this unit used double or triple-A batteries instead of a 9v battery. Still a 5-Star item.
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Vallie D'Amore
> 3 dayGot my Item very fast and in good condition. I would buy this again.