Extech CT20 Remote and Local Continuity Tester with Remote Probe, Audible Tone, Long-Distance Cable Testing, LED Indicators, Hands-Free Operation for Electrical, HVAC, Telecom and Low-Voltage Work

I haven't had it long, but I bought with a need to trace some electrical wires at a couple of sites and it hasn't disappointed me yet. It's been working great. As others have mentioned, if you're only tracing 1 wire, you can attach the other (black) lead to ground with the main device and the remote, and the red lead to the wire you're testing, and that works. It's been pretty accurate for me up to 50 feet, which is all I tested. Highly recommended for your electrical toolbag, and I'd definitely buy it again. Worth it at this price for the time it's saved me.

Received today and really helped me find my issues

Ignore the bad review in the Video clip by some bearded dude with long hair wearing a floral dress ?! Yes, the product does come complete with a 9-volt battery ( "not a deal breaker"), and secondly the loose clip for the accessory detector should only be used when storing the product away in the provided carrying case / pouch, which if I had anything negative to say about, could have been made slightly larger in size to better accommodate.

................... this is a very simple tool so it does not need an overblown 20 paragraph or extra complicated review so this one will be simple and to the point. first this tool is designed to do a very simple job its basic job is to check circuits for electrical continuity obviously. but it does have some other uses as well it can also be used to find both sides of an electrical circuit like for instance trying to chase the traveler or common wires on a two or three way switching circuit used on things like kitchen chandeliers or ceiling fans / track lighting and such. it can also be used to localize any circuit between your main panel and any single branch circuit leaving that panel. this tool can also be used for the telephone OR H.V.A.C. industry as well. these different scenarios can be tested as well as numerous others as long as you the user makes sure that the circuit being tested no matter what the working voltage of that circuit 120 volt 240 volt or 12 to 24 volt has been disconnected or powered down before testing or you will fry this tester as it is self powered by an internal 9 volt battery. the tool has a very user friendly setup with two lights on the top of the tester one shows that the tool is turned on with the green light and the red light shows the continuity test the slider switch in the center turns the tool on or off and the little L.E.D. indicator device that is attached to the side of the unit gets removed to attach to the opposite side any circuit being tested by the main tester box. the tester box sends power to the little indicator light allowing you the user to locate both matching sides of any circuit being tested. this tool is so simple that I personally cant find any major issues with the tool but I am not a professional electrician but more of a quality oriented home handyman who specializes in electrical work and I haven't had the chance to use this tool on a major project as of yet. I personally do like the fact that extech does supply a nice heavy cloth carrying case that the device can be carried in and protected with as well . the final synopsis of this detector is that it is a very simple easy to use tool and doesn't really have any major drawbacks or technical issues known at least to me and should get the job done simply and effectively for whomever the end user is whether you are a professional or not.

I have an old one of these; a Sears Craftsman. Exactly the same, down to the letter. The leads to the battery finally broke off and I decided not to try to repair it, but buy a new one. I'm in the process of remodeling my home; well, with the help of a contractor and a crew of guys! I had a lot of Romex cable running to and from places, just stopping or connected up to something for some unknown reason. I'm using this Extech (and my old Sears) to track down which wires go where. It is a simple principal; the device just sends a small charge from the 9 volt battery through two wires (hot and neutral as an example) and if it's the same hot neutral at the other end, the light and buzzer lets you know. Now REMEMBER, TURN OFF THE POWER! Get an A/C tester, like the Klein, so you don't get a shock. Great product!

DOES NOT WORK AFTER SITTING FOR A YEAR.

I'm sure there are competitor products out there... but I really like this as a non-electrician. I don't have to relearn multi-meter functions to figure this thing out. It took me a matter of seconds to trace my doorbell wiring and gives an audible sound. I wish I had this years ago when I renovated a 1950s home and replaced much of the wiring that had been installed incorrectly by the homeowner. One of the best products I've purchased.

I bought this several months ago, and used it for the first time yesterday. This is a great, labor saving device. You can use the basic tester to determine continuity very quickly -- great for checking incandescent lights, switches, etc. For long wire runs, just connect the tester to one end of a set of two wires, and connect the remote indicator to the other end. The remote indicator does not light if you have the wrong wires, lights up red if you have the right wires but are reversed from the tester at the other end, and lights up green if everything is good. I have a couple of very minor gripes - the tester is only for use with non-energized wires, and should have come with probes as well as alligator clips for access to electrical outlets. All-in-all, a great, reasonably priced product.