Topic: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit? (Read 34634 times)

Tom Reid · « **Reply #10 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:21:06 PM »

My method requires two people, no shorting of outlets, and no out of date labeling required.

I have two outlet checkers (you know the three light dudes that tell ground faults).

Plug one into circuit A, one into hopeful alternate circuit B, flip the breaker. Both go out, same circuit.

BTW, newer digital jukeboxes 'phone home' sometime during the night/morning. Removing power from said jukeboxes (and not restoring it) around here results in the owner getting an extra charge from the vendor. Then there goes your electrical troubleshooting capabilities in THAT club ...

Matt Vivlamore · « **Reply #11 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:28:22 PM »

What you need is a high powered vacuum cleaner that draws 25+ amps and where you need to plug it into the wall with two power cables.
On the vacuum there is a red/green light. When you flip the "Stage 1" switch and if it is RED it’s on the same breaker and if it’s green you have two separate breakers.

I wish I grabbed the freaking name of that HVAC duct cleaner machine.

Art Welter · « **Reply #12 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:35:21 PM »

Adam,

If you measure 208-240 volts between the hots (hot should be the smaller straight blade on USA standard household outlets) on two 120 V outlets, they are on two circuits. You can use an extension cord to bring the two outlets within the length of your VOM test leads.

Measuring 0 volts between the two hots does not necessarily indicate they are on the same circuit, they may be on different circuits but on the same hot leg.

There are outlet circuit testers, like the Sperry CS-500A that use a transmitter that is plugged into the circuit under test, and a receiver that “sniffs” the signal at the circuit breaker.
Unfortunately, other appliances plugged into the circuit can give false readings, and the units are a bit touchy to start with. I have only found the CS-500A good to narrow down the possibilities, especially when the circuit breaker cover is in place.

Plugging a radio into the circuit and flipping breakers can be useful if you have a quiet enough environment to hear the radio in the first place.

You will want to make sure that cash registers and computer circuits are not flipped while they are running...

Art Welter

Bennett Prescott · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2009, 03:49:43 PM »

The vacuum cleaner method was how I determined that every important outlet in my house, across two floors, is on the same circuit. Home theater, laptops, floor standing lights, dining room outlet, and all the outlets in my finished basement. Awesome!

Brad Weber · « **Reply #14 on:** May 12, 2009, 04:11:49 PM »

But at least that makes it easy to know what breaker to throw when you need to! My Electrician nicely labeled all the breakers, I've found about half of them to be accurately labeled and I no longer assume that something is off just because the breaker labeled for it is off.

Matt Vivlamore · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2009, 04:22:26 PM »

Bennett Prescott wrote on Tue, 12 May 2009 15:49

The vacuum cleaner method was how I determined that every important outlet in my house, across two floors, is on the same circuit. Home theater, laptops, floor standing lights, dining room outlet, and all the outlets in my finished basement. Awesome!

I found a sample of the Vacuum cleaner I was talking about.

The vacuum cleaner is called a "Negative Air Machine" used for cleaning the air ducts.

Picture:

http://www.air-care.com/images/graphics/catalog/807/neg_air/VentVac/vv4x4_1.jpg

Link: http://www.air-care.com/categories/BC5CD56E-A450-4AA7-8874D5 A900DBEA9F/vent_vac_4x4.html

---------------------------
Searching sites for one with a nice instruction booklet... I found this, its called a "breaker buddy". Plug the Breaker Buddy in to two separate outlets and if the green light comes on you are on separate circuits.

http://www.steam-brite.com/store/pdfdocs/breaker_buddy_circu it_locator_May_12th_2009.pdf

Jeff Hague · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2009, 04:57:03 PM »

The poor (and lonely) mans method;
Plug a radio into an outlet and turn it up loud enough to hear it from the panel - start throwing breakers until you dont hear it anymore. Then go move the radio to the next plug and repeat...
You may want to tell the staff that things may go on and off for a few minutes too.

David Kaiser · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2009, 05:09:58 PM »

Internet explore shuts down every time I click on that steam brite link.

Matt Vivlamore · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2009, 05:23:14 PM »

David Kaiser wrote on Tue, 12 May 2009 17:09

Internet explore shuts down every time I click on that steam brite link.

Its a PDF.

Here the page link: http://www.steam-brite.com/store/breaker-buddy-circuit-locat or-p-7533.html

Dave Rickard · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2009, 05:40:21 PM »

http://www.etweb.fju.edu.tw/essay/print/Angels-on-a-Pin.pdf

think outside the box

Very Happy

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Author Topic: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit? (Read 34634 times)

Tom Reid

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Matt Vivlamore

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Art Welter

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Bennett Prescott

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Brad Weber

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Matt Vivlamore

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Jeff Hague

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

David Kaiser

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Matt Vivlamore

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?

Dave Rickard

Re: Best way to tell if two outlets are on the same circuit?