[DPPEW]

Hi, New to this Forums and have a question on how to find the same cable from two different locations. Basically I have 7 runs of Bx cable running thru a wall into another room. I have an access hole exposing all 7 bx cables in each room. What is the best way to identify the same cable from both rooms? The Cables runs Horizontal and each cable separated from each other. Any Idea's on the best method to use?



~DPPEW~

 

[joed]

Toner?
Short black and white in one cable. Go to other end and find cable with short. Identify cable at both ends and repeat for all cables.

 

[220/221]

Hmmmm....if it's metal clad cable I think it will be a challange. It doesn't seem like a toner would work thru the metal....would it?

Both ends of the cable are terminated I assume so continuity thre the sheath wouldn't work..

Wonder if an amprobe would read thru it???

That was helpful, huh? :jester:

Have someone dead short it while you are grabbing onto it and you'd feel it vibrate. If the breaker works, you wont die.:laughing:

 

[jimmy21]

Short the ends on one side and check the resistance on the other side

 

[ScottR]

Pretty sure I saw a Three Stooges episode where they accidentally connected the water supply line to a house's electrical conduits. Water shot out of all the electrical fixtures. Comedy ensued. IIRC the consequences to a dinner party were dire.

I guess what I'm saying is that you could hook a garden hose to the end of the BX.. The cable with the most water shooting out of it is the winner.

 

[frenchelectrican]

You can able dail down better if you know what they are used for like three way swiches or others.

Look at the white conductors and see how many are tied together.

For myself I just either tone or ohm it out. { only if you verified the power is off with real voltmeter or neon test light }

Merci,Marc

 

[DPPEW]

Basically Threre are two panels, 3 bx cables go in one panel and 4 in the other.Both panels are Countersank in wall. Putting in a door way and the 7 cables run thru where the door is going. Have to cut lines and mount to j-boxes in a drop ceiling. Cant see where the bx cable terminate in the panels nor have any access to the wires inside of cables. The cables go to god knows where. Judging from the access holes in both rooms, 4 cables look to go to one panel and 3 to the other. So what to know best way to make sure the 7 bx across door way are the same 7 cables that I have access in the other room, without tearing out hugh amounts of wall. Well I think of something this morning, Doing a Favor for my brother at his work which has several shops and the panels are are not well marked


~DPPEW~

Guess I can Send a charge thru each bx cable coating and have bro test with his hand lol

 

[ScottR]

If you just need to re-route them, then it doesn't matter which is which. As long as you can turn the power off to the entire building, you can just mark each side of a cut on each cable, cut 'em, and then re-connect them via the new jboxes and wiring..

 

[220/221]

Short the ends on one side and check the resistance on the other side

He wants to identify them in the middle of the run and the wires are not exposed.


I don't know why but that's what he asked.

Like Scott said, cut them, mark them, jumper them into a junction box or two somewhere. You are probably going to have to cut some drywall somewhere unless you get really lucky.

 

[Leah Frances]

ScottR - Good point. Sometimes the obvious solution isn't so obvious. In my house, I spent hours trying to figure it out before it occurred to me that it didn't really matter.... In the end, I threw some breakers and did some testing. I could isolate it down to: two of the four wires are from breaker 2 and 4 and two are from 6 and 8. And beyond that it doesn't really matter.

 

[spark plug]

Best way (or contest) to ID one of multi cable run

Pretty sure I saw a Three Stooges episode where they accidentally connected the water supply line to a house's electrical conduits. Water shot out of all the electrical fixtures. Comedy ensued. IIRC the consequences to a dinner party were dire.

[I guess what I'm saying is that you could hook a garden hose to the end of the BX.. The cable with the most water shooting out of it is the winner.]

...Provided you don't get a fatal shock along the way...!:yes::no::drinkon't Drink and Drive!!!

 

[ScottR]

...Provided you don't get a fatal shock along the way...!:yes::no::drinkon't Drink and Drive!!!

The Stooges got shocked, but it wasn't fatal. I don't think the NEC explicitly prohibits piping the water supply into armored cable, so it must be safe! :thumbsup:

(Note to anyone reading this that isn't sure: I AM TOTALLY JOKING. NEVER IMITATE THE THREE STOOGES DURING YOUR PROJECTS. EVER.)

Leah - I was banging my head against the wall thinking of how to use a tracer or magnets (!?) or something to identify the cables.. It was only after the OP posted his goal that I realized it didn't matter and I felt some bizarre relief. BTW - I read one of your old posts the other day and finally found out who DH is!

 

[Leah Frances]

Dumb Husband. Whoops. I mean DEAR Husband.

 

[Chemist1961]

Finally the mystery solved ....like MFW, my first (one and only) wife

 

[DPPEW]

Got the job done, after tearing out a few more holes Finally got to trace out each cable. Was a tricky one, The jobs was in a mini mall, and of course there was no one panel per store. Due to stores coming and going and/or expanding by taking over space next door there could be several stores pwr shut off's on one panel. Could not do job after stores hrs and disconnect pwr due to the fact there could be security line tied in to a breaker I need to turn off.And During stores hrs there were breakers with cashes and pc on it. Bet they love to get half way thru checking in and Power shut off..lol, After locating each line and the termination in panel. Shut one breaker off at a time and chk with storer to see what they lost, then rerouted pwr so they can continue business as I repaired the line. Had to do this for each of the 7 lines. Hr job took Several due to running aroung the dam mall.. lmao

Thanks for suggestions

~DPPEW~

By the Way DPPEW is short for DESPISE PIZZ POOR ELECTRICAL WORK, Take an extra second and DO IT RIGHT!!!

 

[frenchelectrican]

Got the job done, after tearing out a few more holes Finally got to trace out each cable. Was a tricky one, The jobs was in a mini mall, and of course there was no one panel per store. Due to stores coming and going and/or expanding by taking over space next door there could be several stores pwr shut off's on one panel. Could not do job after stores hrs and disconnect pwr due to the fact there could be security line tied in to a breaker I need to turn off.And During stores hrs there were breakers with cashes and pc on it. Bet they love to get half way thru checking in and Power shut off..lol, After locating each line and the termination in panel. Shut one breaker off at a time and chk with storer to see what they lost, then rerouted pwr so they can continue business as I repaired the line. Had to do this for each of the 7 lines. Hr job took Several due to running aroung the dam mall.. lmao

Thanks for suggestions

~DPPEW~

By the Way DPPEW is short for DESPISE PIZZ POOR ELECTRICAL WORK, Take an extra second and DO IT RIGHT!!!

I wrote underline which you mention now but not before due in the minimall it is a commercal location and this really it must be done by legit electrician and have proper permit for it.

The minimall have alot of goofy set up with electrical system and belive or not it don't take much to get screw up.

I allready did see some of the store owner or GC's try to do the shortcut and the result is pretty messy if not done properly.

Merci,Marc