Does anyone have any experience using a circuit tracer, such as the Power Probe PPECT2000, Sheffield Research/GTC FF310, or equivalent to trace wires along a wiring harness? I wonder how well these work?

I want to trace some wires back from the fuse panel and see where they go.

 

I haven't had experience with those machines, but I've used logic pulsers and probes for a few years. If you're trying to find one wire out of "spaghetti bundle" of wires, here is my recommendation: 1. If it is possible, use a cheap continuity tester light. 2. If is not possible, use a logic pulser and a logic probe. (i.e., the test must be done while the circuit(s) are in use.) As always, should you or any of your I.M. force be caught or killed (no poking holes in the insulation) the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. (This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds) Good luck!
BTW - Are the Power Probe & Sheffield Research units available at a nearby store?
(Don't get out much)

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...&s=hi&n=507846

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/SR-FF310.html

I corresponded with tech. support for Sheffield and decided to go ahead and purchase one of their units. Here is what they said:

Dear Richard:
Thank you for your inquiry, and I will attempt to answer your questions below:
The FF310 has two working modes:

1-Open Circuits detection/tracing: in this mode you connect the transmitter in series with the faulty circuit, or between the faulty wire and a convenient electrical ground or positive supply. The transmitter will then automatically inject a signal into the wire, which is detected by the receiver when doing the tracing. To generate the tracing signal the transmitter unit uses an internal 9 Volt battery, so no external power is required.

2-Short Circuit detection/tracing: In this mode the transmitter should be connected between the shorted wire or circuit and a positive supply (i.e. in place of a blown fuse), then the transmitter proceed to generate very short pulses of current by closing and opening the shorted circuit. Therefore in this last case, it uses the vehicles battery to generate the pulses to be pick up by the receive unit. The internal power for the unit is supplied by the internal battery and no the external circuit which is connected to.

3-In both Open and Short Circuit modes, the wire or circuit is traced by following it with the receiver's antenna until the unit stops beeping and flashing the LEDs, which indicates a discontinuity in the circuit (a break or a short )

4-How far (or close) you have to be from the wire, depends a lot on the wiring and surroundings, but typical distances are:

For Open Circuit:
Low Sensitivity: 0 to 2"
High Sensitivity; 0 to 6"

For Short Circuit:
Low Sensitivity: 0 to 4"
High Sensitivity; 0 to 12"

The only power put into the circuit when tracing opens is a square signal of 5 Volt amplitude (max), and about 1 % duty cycle, therefore the total power is in the microwatts range. In the Sort circuit mode it does only interrupts and enables ( with about 1% duty cycle) the current of the circuit, and there is no external power added into the wiring.

I hope this answer your questions, and please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any further queries.

Regards,
Daniel