electrical fault finder
 

Has anyone used a circuit tracer or fault finder to help them diagnose electrical problems like shorts or open circuits? I just heard of these devices and am thinking of getting one to help me troubleshoot some problems with my 190e.

Had one of those in my toolbox for 25+ years & used it 2-3 times, don't think it ever produced good results!!

I have 2 basic types. One I use mostly for shorts. It consist of a box with a circuit breaker that powers up a sorted circuit for just an instance (not enough to hurt anything). Then you use an inductive pickup meter (comes with the box). follow the circuit with the meter and if you are close to the wire the meter will move in one direction or the other. It moves in the direction of the short. Keep following the wire until the meter stops moving. At the exact point it stops moving you have found the short. Of course some times it takes a lot of work to follow the circuit but the results are good. Also keep in mind that if you are working on a circuit (say the parking lights which go to all four corners of the car, that you will get a small movement of the meter on good circuits, but much more movement on the shorted circuit. It takes a little practice, but it works.
This box cost about $50 from a tool truck (most expensive) but will pay for itself the first time you use it.

The second unit is for shorts or opens. It cost (the best I can remember, I'v had it for about 15 years) about $150, It works about the same as the other but it injects a high frequence signal on the circuit. You follow the wires with a reciever and when the signal stops you have found the short or open.

I use these units very often, and they work. They have saved my customers a lot of money because locating a short or open takes much less time. I make more money because you make the most money on the cars you get in, fix quickly, and get them out.

Paul's Auto Electric

excellent, thank you