FlukeBK120 SmartTrace Breaker Finder and Socket Tester

I choose Fluke for test equipment. Pricey but a cut above the rest. I also use Hioki and Kyoritsu. Other brands I let my friends borrow indefinitely.The BK120 SmartTrace Breaker Finder comes with a Quick Reference Guide, a double-sided sheet of water-resistant paper with pictorial instructions for an international audience.Visit Fluke's website to download their Users Guide that explains in English language how to use the BK120, including tips for resolving ambiguous readings that are not mentioned in the pictorial Quick Reference Guide. Fluke also has a webpage ("How do I find where my breaker goes?") that explains less content in English language. I recommend the Users Guide.Here's an excerpt from their Users Guide (9/2023, Rev. 2, 10/24 (English)), only text, no drawings:--begin excerpt--Breaker and Fuse identificationTo identify a breaker:1. Plug the Transmitter into the socket (See Figure 3.).2. Turn ON the Breaker Finder and slide the function selector to BREAKER FINDER position (See Figure 4.).3. Hold the Breaker Finder perpendicular to the breakers and scan slowly at the breaker panel with the flat surface of the tip end directly on the circuit breaker. During this scan, it may beep and/or have visual indication at several breakers as it measures the relative signal strength during the first scan process (See Figure 5.). Note: Inaccurate reading may occur if the tip is placed at any other angle. 4. Repeat step 3 for the second scan, solid green indication illuminates when the Breaker Finder identifies the breaker that is powering the Transmitter (See Figure 6.). For optimal results or if the Breaker Finder detects two adjacent breakers on the second scan, reset the Breaker Finder, and turn the Breaker Finder 180⁰ (see Figure7). Repeat step 3 and 4.5. To confirm you have found the correct breaker, trip off the breaker and check that the Transmitter in the socket is off (See Figure 8.).--end excerpt--By "turn the Breaker Finder 180⁰" Fluke means holding the tester in your other hand (that is, your left hand instead of your right).Shopping tip: If you are considering buying a Fluke 1AC II VoltAlert Non-Contact Voltage Tester and a Fluke ST120 GFCI Socket Tester, then instead buy a Fluke BK120 SmartTrace Breaker Finder and Socket Tester (the product of this review) because you get the functionality of both devices plus a circuit breaker finder. Costs more, gets more.I do not know whether the ST120 and BK120 transmitter are identical other than the ST120 being rated up to 300V while the BK120 transmitter is limited to 150V. The 2 devices look almost the same (see my photo of them side by side). I simultaneously plugged in both kinds to different electrical outlets, and the BK120 tester identified each circuit on the breaker panel. This is not how you are supposed to use the device -- I did this because I was curious.Good luck to all of you.

After some other reviews, I was a little worried that the "breaker finder" functionality wouldn't work very well. But it worked great for me!I was a little puzzled by the instructions at first, but it made sense after I tried it. You put the plug in your power outlet, and it sends some kind of signal over your house wiring between that outlet and its breaker. Then you go to the breaker box and use the wand to "sniff" each of the breakers in turn. The wand seems to calibrate itself continuously, so that the strongest signal it's been exposed to so far lights up as "green". Depending on what order you go over the breakers in, there may be two or three greens the first time through. But once you've done them all once, only the strongest one will still light up green when you go back over them the second time. If you don't follow the instructions and do it twice, you don't get the benefit of the calibration effect, so you'll be trying to guess which green is the correct one.

Read and follow the instructions, orient the probe properly, the product works perfectly. I was able to map our circuit breaker panel easily and quickly. If only there were a way to use it with light fixtures...

The transmitters shape is difficult.

Awesome

Very happy so far. It filters the return signal and on the second pass only shows the strongest signal to point you to the correct breaker. Quickest and most user friendly breaker finder I’ve used.

NCV detector works awesome and the circuit finders works every time. Glad I discovered this item before buying all 3 different tools

Súper contento, Los recomiendo, son muy buenos .