SURETRACETM CIRCUIT TRACERS

Your IDEAL troubleshooting solution. Designed to find everything, while saving you time and money.

• Provides fast, accurate breaker and conductor location
• Finds shorts, opens and splice errors
• Works on energized/de-energized electrical systems, including 3-Phase
• Measures/Indicates Voltage (61-950/61-948)
• Measures amperage (61-950, ISC-950)
• Tests for Continuity (61-950, 61-948)
• Induces tracing signal on conductors when access to termination points is not possible (61-950, ISC-950)

Scan here for more details and informational videos

BREAKER OR FUSE FIND IT

STEP 1: VERIFY POWER AND SIGNAL ON CIRCUIT

Plug Transmitter into an outlet and power on. Hold the Receiver near the Transmitter to verify connection, confirmed by the lightning bolt symbol. ⚡

STEP 2: SCAN EACH PANEL FOR THE HIGHEST READING

Set Receiver to the highest sensitivity mode (Receiver defaults to this). Place Receiver flat on the front near the top of each panel until the highest reading is reached. This is the correct panel. If two panels read 99 or are close in values, press the sensitivity button once to reduce the Receiver sensitivity one level and rescan.

STEP 3: SCAN EACH BREAKER FOR HIGHEST READING

Set Receiver to the lowest sensitivity mode (also known as Breaker mode). Scan each breaker and look for the highest reading. This is the correct breaker. Turn breaker off and verify Certain Circuit™ Lightning bolt indication has gone out.

TIPS FOR HIGHEST ACCURACY:

• Perform two slow scans around breakers to start.
• Hold Receiver at a right angle to the breaker and level with the floor.
• Once highest reading is found, tilt Receiver up and down at a 45° angle to confirm consistent high numeric reading.

COMMON SPLICE ERROR FIND IT

STEP 1: ATTACH CLIPS

1. Confirm branch circuits are de-energized
2. Use a continuity check to determine which conductors are affected
3. Attach Transmitter alligator clips to the affected breaker neutrals. (The two neutrals of the AFCI/GFCI/Combo Breakers that are nuisance tripping)

Note: The 61-948 and 61-950 will indicate continuity automatically, the 61-946 requires a separate tester.

STEP 2: SCAN

Scan each electrical location (switch, outlet, light fixture, etc.) with the Receiver in the 3rd sensitivity mode setting until you identify the highest numeric reading on the Receiver. The highest numerical value on the Receiver is the likely location of the incorrectly spliced conductors.

STEP 3: SEPARATE NEUTRALS

Identify the incorrect splice, separate each circuit's neutral conductors, and re-splice each neutral circuit's connections.

DEAD SHORT FIND IT

STEP 1: DETERMINE THE SHORTED CONDITION

1. Confirm branch circuit is de-energized.
2. Unplug all items connected to the affected branch circuit.
3. Verify the fault is in the affected branch circuit.
4. Use a continuity check to determine which conductors are affected.

Note: The 61-948 and 61-950 will indicate continuity automatically, the 61-946 requires a separate tester.

STEP 2: ATTACH CLIPS AND SET RECEIVER'S SENSITIVITY

Set Receiver to the default/highest sensitivity mode. Note: Sensitivity levels may need to be adjusted in various situations.

FOR A NEUTRAL TO GROUND CONDITION WITH AFCI/GFCI/COMBO BREAKERS

Attach alligator clips to the breaker's neutral wire and ground wire.

FOR STANDARD BREAKERS

Attach alligator clips to the neutral/ground bar and breaker's hot wire.

STEP 3: SCAN

METAL CONDUIT

DEAD SHORT FOUND IN CONNECTING CONDUIT. Since metal conduit attenuates the signal, simply trace over the outlets in a circuit. The outlet where the reading starts to drop means that the short is between that outlet and the previously traced outlet.

PVC CONDUIT/UNDERGROUND

Hold the Receiver flat on the conduit/ground and trace along until the reading maxes out. Location of the short would be max reading.

WIRE IN WALL, CEILING AND FLOOR FIND IT

STEP 1: PLUG ADAPTER INTO CIRCUIT

Plug the Transmitter into a wall outlet using the outlet plug adapter provided with the circuit tracer. Hold the Receiver near the Transmitter to verify signal strength. The lightning bolt ⚡ indicates power is present on the circuit.

STEP 2: SET RECEIVER TO HIGHEST SENSITIVITY MODE AND SCAN

Set the Receiver to the highest sensitivity mode. Start several feet away from the Transmitter, then scan the area while holding the back of the Receiver flat against the surface.

STEP 3: MAINTAIN ORIENTATION AND TRACE

Adjust the signal strength on the Receiver if needed. If the reading is too high, reduce the strength. If the reading is too weak, utilize the remote return path method for the Transmitter, then repeat step 2. Rotate the Receiver to find the highest numerical reading. This is necessary to follow signal strength variations while tracing due to bends, twists and conductors that run deeper or shallower along their path. Signal strength variations occur and may require constant adjustment to the angle of the Receiver to trace. To assist in tracing, use a small piece of tape to pinpoint the location of the cable. Continue tracing while following the highest reading until the end of the cable is found.

BURIED CONDUCTOR FIND IT

STEP 1: ATTACH ALLIGATOR CLIPS

Use appropriate methods and LO/TO to ensure the conductors are de-energized and locked out before proceeding. Verify that you de-energized the correct conductors before proceeding when possible. Re-energize after the Transmitter is attached. Using appropriate safety methods, attach the alligator clips with 3 ft. leads to the Hot and Neutral conductors on the supply side of the branch circuit.

STEP 2: PLUG LEADS INTO TRANSMITTER AND TURN IT ON

STEP 3: TURN ON RECEIVER AND TRACE

The orientation of the Receiver to the wiring affects the displayed signal strength. Simply adjust the orientation of the Receiver relative to the buried conductor to maximize the displayed signal strength. Begin tracing the wires buried in the ground by following the strongest signal, and adjusting the sensitivity to obtain readings in the 60's to 80's. Note: The strongest tracing signal will always be accomplished by connecting to a closed loop energized circuit with an active load.

3-PHASE BREAKER, FUSE, CONDUCTOR FIND IT

STEP 1: ATTACHING ALLIGATOR CLIPS TO LIVE 3-PHASE SYSTEMS

Using appropriate safety methods, attach the alligator clips with 3 ft. leads to any two of the three phases. (ensure leads are not plugged into the Transmitter)

STEP 2: PLUG LEADS INTO TRANSMITTER AND TURN IT ON

Next, plug opposite ends of leads into the Transmitter starting with the black lead first. Next, turn on Transmitter.

STEP 3: TURN ON RECEIVER AND TRACE

Trace conductors or identify breakers or fuses by using previously described methods. Adjust sensitivity as required to optimize received signal strength. Proper orientation of the Receiver is important and may require adjustment to maximize displayed signal strength.

CONDUCTOR DIFFICULT TO CONNECT TO FIND IT

STEP 1: CLAMP OVER CONDUCTOR

• Identify the conductor you would like to trace or find the breaker for
• Turn on the ISC-950 clamp and place it around the conductor to induce the signal into the conductor

STEP 2: SET RECEIVER TO HIGHEST SENSITIVITY LEVEL AND SCAN

• Turn on receiver and set the sensitivity to the highest level (Level 4-indicated by four arcs over the dot). Note: the receiver defaults to level 4 when turned on.
• Trace/locate the conductor's path starting several feet away from the clamp. Receiver will show highest numerical value when centered over a clamped conductor.
• When scanning breakers determine the one indicating the highest signal strength reading.

STEP 3: TRACE CONDUCTOR PATH AND/ OR IDENTIFY BREAKER

• Orientation of receiver will affect signal strength, always look for highest value.
• If the receiver is saturated (constant signal strength of 99), reduce the sensitivity range until you can use to identify the breaker/signal conductor.
• Note: when locating a breaker with the clamp around an energized or de-energized circuit, a higher sensitivity level setting of 2 or 3 on the receiver may be required to identify the correct breaker.

LEAVE YOUR SECOND TESTER BEHIND AND TROUBLESHOOT WITH EASE

CERTAIN CIRCUIT™ ONE PERSON BREAKER FINDING

After the correct breaker has been identified and tripped, the transmitter senses the loss of power and sends a different signal back to the receiver at the panel to confirm the right circuit has been de-energized.

VERIFY OUTLET WIRING

61-950 PRO (ONLY)

• Tests and displays six different wiring configurations
• TL-950 lead set has ground prong
• TR-950 shown in picture.

CONTINUITY

61-950 PRO

• Displays continuity icon
• Emits an audible tone

61-948 PLUS

• Indicates continuity with a red LED
• Emits an audible tone

NON-CONTACT VOLTAGE TESTING

61-950 PRO

• Detects 24-600V AC
• Red LED indication, audible tone and analog bar
• RC-950 shown in picture.

61-948 PLUS

• Detects 24-600V AC
• Red LED indication, audible tone and analog bar
• RC-948 shown in picture.

VOLTAGE

61-948 PLUS

• Indicates eight voltage levels between: 24V to 600V AC, 12V to 600V DC
• Indicates DC polarity

61-950 PRO

• Measures and displays 0 - 600V AC/DC
• Indicates DC polarity

AMPERAGE

ISC-950 INDUCTIVE SENSING CLAMP

• Measures and displays up to 600A AC while inducing a traceable signal

ACCESSORIES

LEAD SETS

• TEST LEAD KIT TL-948 (Used On 61-946 and 61-948)
• TEST LEAD KIT TL-950 (Used on 61-950)

CASES

• C-946 SOFT CASE (Included with 61-946) Holds: Any Receiver (946, 948, 950)/Transmitter combination, TL-948 Lead Set, (10) Batteries
• C-950 Hard Case (Included with 61-948 and 61-950) Holds: Receiver, Transmitter and ISC -950 Clamp, TL-950 Lead Set, (10) Batteries, ISC-950 Clamp is only included with 61-950 Kit
• CISC-950 Soft Case (Included with ISC-950) Holds: ISC-950 Inductive/Sensing Clamp, USB-A to USB-C charging cable

3D ANIMATED INSTRUCTIONS

IDEAL Electrical and BILT® make it easier than ever to master using your IDEAL® SureTrace™™ Circuit Tracer.

Benefits of Bilt®

• 3D interactive instructions and tutorials
• Real examples showing steps
• FREE to download and use

Tap. Zoom. Rotate. Scan for easy 3D interactive instructions on the BILT app for faster completion.