Hi-Tech HTP-6 Digital Circuit Breaker Identifier

It is works!

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

Very good

This device works fine as long as the instructions are followed carefully. It did get confused once or twice indicating that a circuit could be powered by one of two adjacent circuit breakers. But when I removed the panel cover I noticed the wire from the correct breaker had been routed down near the breaker below before angling away. This is a fault of the eletrician that originally wired the panel and not the HTP-6 and appears to be a common problem. I would have given this 5-stars instead of 4 but for the overly sensitive on/off switch.

I used it plugged into a outlet at least 45 from the panel and once I followed the actual directions it worked just fine.

This little device allows you to trace electrical circuits from the box to the plug, simply turn it on, plug one end it, its pretty clear which end then aim the other unit at the circuit board and you can tell which breaker is used for the plugin.

A little hard to use at first. But it does it’s job!

Dont waste your money at times it wont say the other unit is plugged in any where in the house and other times it tells me its powered by 3 to 4 breakers very hard to get a good read

I was a little hesitant to buy this based on one of the reviews. But, I had walked about ½ mile back and forth between the breaker panel and the other end of the house trying to identify outlets to breakers by myself. I figured that for $20 I would give it a try. It worked great! I put in a fresh 9V battery, plugged the transmitter into an outlet I wanted to identify, and walked to the breaker panel. I did the first pass calibration scan, followed by the identification scan, and bingo - breaker identified. There was no question which breaker it was. Not being too trusting, I tried it several more times moving the transmitter around the house - just to make sure it was really that simple and accurate - and it is! This is brain-dead easy to operate, and worked flawlessly for me. I should have bought it before I did my last re-model project; I would have saved several hours and a lot of walking.

It worked as advertised. I would have given a fifth star if I hadnt discovered that it sometimes gives false positives--when the sensor is over an adjacent breaker and not the correct one. I found that running the sensor around the panel a second time gave the correct signal.