Is there a way of finding out which outlets or equipment a circuit breaker controls without turning off the circuit breaker. Is there a tester that you can use to check this out. Thank you.

There is a tester that you plug one end into a receptacle and then go to the wirng on the circuit breaker with the sensor and it wll pick up the signal that the tester is plugged into.

Available in electric supply

Even some hardware stores. From $40 to $80.

Check the Gardner Bender website. They have a device which plugs into an outlet that sends a signal over the circuit, and a pairing device that you take to the circuit breaker panel. It has a small wand that you pass over the breakers one at a time and it indicates the strength of the signal with sound and led's... when you find the correct breaker you simply turn it off and the sound and the signals quit. Works every time. I believe the model number is GET-1200

Here is a circuit tracer on steroids:

The Utimate Circuit Locating System

We use the 42 circuit model, connect 42 leads, each one numbered for each circuit breaker. Then go out in the building using the hand held signal receiver and readout the circuit number at each outlet, and note the breaker number.

Of course, at $1200.00, this is not for a DIY'er.

The original question specifies "without shutting off the circuit breaker".

What I have to say about that is, assuming this is a critical operation, such as a data center, medical facility, etc. I would not trust a cheap unit.

Better to rely on a more reliable unit, such as from Greenlee:

Greenlee Products - Greenlee A Textron Company

These cost in the $500.00 range, again, not for a homeowner/DIY'er, but in case this was for a critical application, now you know.

Plug in a fan in the outlet. Then go to the breaker box and flip off the breaker, when you hear the fan turn off, you'll know which one it is.

Kimbie, if you read the question, they did not want to shut off breakers.

Besides, the question is 2 years old.

Please refrain from answering questions older than a few months.

Thread is closed.