Suitable for use on both live and dead circuits, the new MCT105 cable tracer from Megger is a convenient and versatile device that delivers big savings in time and trouble for electrical contractors.
Not only can the MCT105 easily and positively trace the routes of conductors buried in plaster or underground, it can also find cable breaks and short circuits, determine which protective device is feeding a particular circuit, and even find buried metallic pipework.
“All too often contractors are called on to find faults on or modify installations for which no detailed records exist,” said Peter Wade of Megger.
“In such circumstances it’s impossible for them to work safely and efficiently without first tracing the cable runs and deciding where each circuit is fed from. Using traditional methods, these essential preliminaries can take up a lot of time, but with our new cable tracer they can be completed quickly, reliably and conveniently.
The MCT105 comprises two compact handheld units: a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is connected to the cable under investigation and injects a coded signal into it. The receiver then detects the signal radiated from the cable along its length. The special coding used eliminates the risk of false indications and, as seven different user-selectable codes are available, multiple cable routes can be traced simultaneously by using additional transmitters.
Both the transmitter and the receiver have large liquid crystal displays, with the transmitter showing a warning and voltage indication if the instrument is connected to a live circuit, as well as the number of the code being used. The receiver display also includes a mains voltage warning and the code number, together with a signal strength indicator. Sensitivity adjustment is normally automatic, but manual adjustment is also possible to cater for special situations.