Tempo Communications 701K-G Tone Generator and Probe Kit - Professional Wire Tracer Kit (Latest Model)

Q: Does this come with a metal tip?

The 200EP probe in the 701K-G is supplied with a conductive plastic tip fitted and a spare plastic and a spare metal tip. The metal tip is great for “proving” that you have got the correct “pair”. If the toner is hooked up to a pair at the source, when you get to the far end you can prove the pair is good all the way by shorting the two wires of the pair together and to the tip at the same time. If considerable tone remains then the pair does not conduct equally all the way to the end or is not the correct combination of wires from the bundle.

Q: . can i use this to trace coax behind drywall?

If you know where both ends of the coax are and can ensure it is disconnected from ground, then yes. But if the shield remains grounded then there will be no signal to detect. If you have an unknown cable you want to trace then you will need Tempo’s 402K that has a magnetic induction mode in the probe in addition to electrostatic mode specifically for this task.

Q: How long a cable can I trace?

On a standard telephone style twisted pair way beyond 12k ft (4 km). For other types of cable, especially shielded ones then it can depend on how you hook up the “toner”; if you don’t get far with the toner connected between two conductors, put one side to ground and the other to one or both (or all) the conductors.

Q: n I use this on armored cabling?

To trace an armored cable can be tricky. The armoring of the cable is most often grounded; this can effectively “shield” the electric field originating from the toner from the probe. So if you are trying to trace the route of a particular armored cable which you know the source and destination of, disconnect the armor and any shield at both ends first. Then apply the toner one side to the shield/armor and the other to ground. The same applies to any form of shield – cables buried in the “ground”, coaxial cables or wires inside metal conduit or trunking. The best option for tracing these may be Tempo’s other products 501 Tracker II or 508S-G.