In order to assist you with your electrical tasks, are you looking for a cable detector? A cable detector can be a useful tool to have if you need to find and identify wires, cables, or pipes that are concealed behind walls, under floors, or inside conduits, measure cable length, test network and telephone connections, check for continuity, shorts, opens, and crossovers, or detect live voltage.
But how can you pick the ideal option for your needs when there are so many on the market? The PCE-CL 20, Pro’sKit MT-7071, and PCE-LT 12 are three different brands of cable detectors that will be compared in this article.
To assist you in making a wise choice, we will examine their attributes, details, advantages, and disadvantages. You will be able to identify which cable detector is best for you by the time this article is finished. Let’s get going!
cable detector
PCE-CL 20
The PCE-CL 20 cable detector from PCE Instruments can find metallic and non-metallic gas or water pipelines, as well as live and voltage-free electrical cables.
In addition, it can locate short circuits and trace wires within walls or beneath flooring. It is made up of a signal generator (also known as a transmitter) and a receiver. Both devices contain powerful LED lights that can be used in low-light conditions.
A lighted LCD screen is also included with the receiver. The 125 kHz output signal is suitable for one- or two-pole circuits. Its measurement modes are automatic, manual, and UAC.
Several benefits of PCE-CL 20 include:
Both live and voltage-free cables and pipes can be found with it.
It is able to recognize short circuits and trace lines.
It includes three measuring modes, brilliant LED lights, and an LCD screen with backlighting.
Among PCE-CL 20’s drawbacks are:
It is unable to gauge cable length.
It is unable to evaluate telephone and network connections.
It is unable to detect crossovers, shorts, or openings.
Without contact, it is unable to detect live voltage.
Kit Pro’s MT-7071
The Pro’sKit MT-7071 cable detector from Pro’sKit can locate and check the cable status, measure cable length up to 1200 m (4000 ft), and troubleshoot wiring.
It is perfect for all types of telecommunications, networking, datacom, audio/video, cable TV, and all-weather cabling installation and maintenance.
It has a sizable LCD screen with LED indications, a buzzer, a headphone port, and a backlight that may be used to show the results of pin-to-pin cable mapping, cable status, and troubleshoot wiring for continuity, shorts, openings, and crossovers.
Additionally, it can accommodate up to 8 remote devices, allowing for simultaneous cable testing. A calibration function on the Pro’sKit MT-7071 enables you to measure cable length more precisely by determining the real calibration parameters using a known length of cable.
PCE-CL 20 cable detector
Pros of the Pro’sKit MT-7071 include:
It can measure cables up to 1200 meters (4000 feet) in length.
It can locate the cable and check that it is in good condition. It can also check the wiring for continuity, shorts, openings, and crossovers.
It can figure out the precise calibration settings.
The following are a few Pro’sKit MT-7071 drawbacks:
It is unable to identify active and voltage-free pipes and cables.
It is unable to detect short circuits or trace lines.
It lacks LED lighting and an LCD screen with a backlight.
It lacks a non-contact voltage (NCV) detecting feature.
PCE-LT 12
The PCE-LT 12 cable detector from PCE Instruments has the ability to monitor voltage and current, do network analysis, test phone connections, discover cables acoustically, and detect non-contact voltage.
It can test phone connections as well as LAN connections for proper wiring and functionality. The necessary cable may also be found in a wiring harness or concealed behind walls alongside the transmitter and receiver modules.
It boasts a sturdy casing for usage on the go and a backlight for dim lighting.
A few benefits of PCE-LT 12 include:
It is capable of measuring voltage and current.
It can conduct telephone connection testing and network analysis.
Without making touch, it can detect live electricity.
It features an acoustic cable finder.
Among PCE-LT 12’s drawbacks are:
It is unable to gauge cable length.
It is unable to find the cable and check its status.
It is not capable of checking the wiring for crossovers, shorts, openings, and continuity.
It is unable to identify active and voltage-free pipes and cables.
As you can see, depending on your needs, each cable detector has advantages and disadvantages of its own.
The PCE-CL 20 can be the best option if you require a cable detector that can find short circuits and follow lines, detect live and voltage-free wires and pipes, and have bright LED lights and a backlit LCD screen.
However, Pro’sKit MT-7071 would be a better fit for your requirements if you require a cable detector that can also measure cable length, locate and confirm the cable status, diagnose wiring for continuity, shorts, openings, and crossovers, and establish true calibration settings.
On the other hand, the PCE-LT 12 can be the best option for you if you require a cable detector that can carry out voltage and current measurements, network analysis, telephone connection test, NCV (non-contact voltage) detection, and acoustic cable finder function.
Of course, before making your ultimate choice, you should also take into account other aspects like the cost, availability, warranty, customer service, and reviews. We hope that by comparing the three cable detectors, you can pick the one that best suits your needs.
Here are some more details to emphasize the best qualities of each cable detector:
The PCE-CL 20 is a cable detector with bright LED lights and a backlit LCD screen that can locate short circuits and follow lines as well as detect live and voltage-free wires and pipes. Anyone who needs to swiftly and safely identify concealed wires and pipes without causing damage to the walls or flooring can use this cable detector.
Additionally, it can assist you in avoiding potential dangers like gas leaks and electric shocks.
There are three measuring modes on the PCE-CL 20:
automatic, manual, and UAC. The automated setting, which automatically modifies the sensitivity, is appropriate in the majority of circumstances.
You may manually change the sensitivity in the manual mode, which can be helpful for locating weak signals or preventing interference. The UAC mode is intended to find live wires in one-pole circuits, such as switches or lighting fixtures.
A cable detector called the Pro’sKit MT-7071 can measure cables up to 1200 meters (4000 feet) in length, locate and confirm the cable’s status, check wiring for continuity, shorts, openings, and crossovers, and establish the calibration parameters.
Anyone who has to install, maintain, or repair telecommunication, networking, datacom, audio/video, cable TV, or all-weather cabling systems should use this cable detector.
It has a sizable LCD screen with LED indications, a buzzer, a headphone jack, and a backlight that can show the results of pin-to-pin cable mapping, cable status, and troubleshoot wiring.
PCE-LT 12 cable detector
Additionally, it can accommodate up to 8 remote devices, allowing for simultaneous cable testing. For more precise cable length measurement, the Pro’sKit MT-7071 offers a calibration function that enables you to ascertain the real calibration parameters with a known length of cable.
The PCE-LT 12 cable detector has the ability to monitor voltage and current, analyse networks, test phone connections, discover cables acoustically, and detect non-contact voltage.
It can test phone connections as well as LAN connections for proper wiring and functionality. The necessary cable may also be found in a wiring harness or concealed behind walls alongside the transmitter and receiver modules.
It boasts a sturdy casing for usage on the go and a backlight for dim lighting. Anyone who wants to locate and identify wires without making touch, as well as conduct other electrical tests and measurements, can use this cable detector.
It has good precision and resolution for measuring voltage, current, resistance, diode, and continuity.
With an NCV function that signals visually and sonically, it can also detect live voltage without touching anything. It contains an acoustic cable finder capability that uses a sound signal from the receiver unit to locate the desired cable.
Three cable detectors from various manufacturers—the PCE-CL 20, Pro’sKit MT-7071, and PCE-LT 12—have been evaluated in this article. To assist you in making a wise choice, we have examined their features, specifications, advantages, and disadvantages. As you can see, depending on your needs, each cable detector has advantages and disadvantages of its own.
The PCE-CL 20 can be the best option if you require a cable detector that can find short circuits and follow lines, detect live and voltage-free wires and pipes, and have bright LED lights and a backlit LCD screen.
However, Pro’sKit MT-7071 would be a better fit for your requirements if you require a cable detector that can also measure cable length, locate and confirm the cable status, diagnose wiring for continuity, shorts, openings, and crossovers, and establish true calibration settings.
On the other hand, the PCE-LT 12 can be the best option for you if you require a cable detector that can carry out voltage and current measurements, network analysis, telephone connection test, NCV (non-contact voltage) detection, and acoustic cable finder function.
Of course, before making your ultimate choice, you should also take into account other aspects like the cost, availability, warranty, customer service, and reviews.
We hope that by comparing the three cable detectors, you can pick the one that best suits your needs. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments in the space provided below. Happy detecting and thanks for reading.
