Hi-Tech HTP-6 Digital Circuit Breaker Identifier

Read the use guide and it works fine. Have not tried from our 2nd floor yet but so far it is a great product.

I have owned this model circuit detective for nearly a year. I have tried multiple times and have NEVER had it detect a correct circuit. I have followed the directions to the letter to no avail. I have contacted the company and even sent my unit to the company (Hi-Tech) asking for a replacement under the lifetime warranty, only to be told that there was nothing wrong with the unit and that I must be doing something wrong. It does not work as advertised. Save your money and find a helper to hollar when you flip the correct breaker.

This replaces lots of extension cords ending in a desk lamp next to the circuit box. It also relieves my wife from having to yell THANKS THE ONE.

I was able to map all but one of the outlets in the house. Not sure what the issue was there. The rest of the outlets were simple to map, just be sure to hold the sensor at the breaker box horizontal, and make more than one pass slowly over ALL of the breakers. One of my outlets was cross-wired between two breakers, so now I have to call an electrician. Light fixtures mapping works, too, as long as they allow a screw-in plug outlet into the bulb socket. I havent figured out how to map a hard-wired fluorescent light fixture, but Ill figure that one out. One hint: once youve got everything mapped and written down, put a label on the inside of each outlet and light-switch cover as to the circuit on the panel that governs whats under that cover. That way, if you need to change an outlet or switch, or want to cut off power to that outlet or switch, you dont need to puzzle over the brilliant list that you made - the cover plate tells you which breaker to turn off.

I havent used it extensively, but so far the Hi-Tech HTP-6 Circuit Detective Circuit Breaker Finder seems to work pretty well. It has two components, a signal transmitter and a receiver. The two pronged transmitter is designed to be plugged into a standard 120 outlet. The receiver is designed to scan the circuit breakers in an electrical panel or loadcenter, and indicate by an shrill audible signal and flashing green light, which circuit breaker is feeding the load. Following the correct procedures, the system seems to produce fairly accurate though not flawless results. For these types of tracers, electronic interference can make reading the signal difficult. Certain types of power strips, adapters, and other add-on electrical attachments, can also mess up the transmission of the imparted signal. So for various reason, the Hi-Tech tracer occasionally has some problems nailing down which circuit is the source. I first used a similar tracing device by Pasar, perhaps twenty years ago, and the reliability issues that existed then, still seem to exist today. The main thing that bothers me about this device is the power switch on receiver. It is located on the side of the unit, and it just takes is a slight touch to turn the receiver on, and begin running the 9 volt battery down. To turn the unit off, you hold down the switch for a few seconds, but a little tap and the receiver turns back on again. Not too smart, as just sticking it in your pocket can easily turn it back on again. A more thoughtful design would have made it more difficult to accidentally switch the device on, like providing a power switch that is out of the way, and locks in the on or off position. Its very inconvenient, but I remove the battery when Im not using this device, so that I will have a live battery when I need it. Although the performance is acceptable, because of this basic design flaw, this product just rates 3 stars. For me, the size (1.8 x 6) and shape of the receiver is such that it is easy for me to drop, so I added a small nylon strap so that I can hang it around my neck, which also helps with accidentally turning on issue. Hi-Tech has an address in Illinois, by there is a Made in China sticker on the receiver. It appears that several companies are selling this same unit, and are just changing the color and slapping their company label on it. For example, the

I purchased one of these in 2003. Only difference is the casing is a charcoal/black color rather than blue as the pic shows. It will sometimes sit for 6-12 months before I reach for it again (I take the battery out for storage) but it has always helped me identify the circuit breaker Im looking for. The worst results I ever had was that, once, it seemed to ID two side-by-side breakers at the same time. Rather than fret about why, I just turned both breakers off and the item I was working on was then electrically dead. To be safe, I ALWAYS use a live circuit checker (I call them tickers) to confirm the circuit is off before I proceed. Once when I couldnt find my ticker, I used my voltmeter to make sure the power was off. I certainly recommend this item, but I always treat the circuit as if it were live until Im absolutely certain it isnt.

used to identify the circuit breaker for changing a GFI plug.it.Worked great

I was a little dissapointed in the lack of instructions. The main instrument needs a battery, but nothing in the packaging mentioned it. The actual use was impressive. Plug the transmitter in the suspect circuit. turn the receiver on, allow it to learn the breaker pannel by hovering it over the entire pannel once, then hover it over the pannel again and watch the arrow light up when it finds the right breaker.

This one for my husbands friend. Husband used his and liked it, now we know what circuit every room goes to and which outlet

This product works as advertised. I have both circuit breakers and older screw-in fuse panels and Circuit Detective readily found the individual circuits in both panels. I used a two-way handi-talker to communicate with a helper who plugged the transmitter into circuits while I used the detective to locate circuits. Nice tool!