Ideal Electrical SureTrace Plus Circuit Tracer (61-948) 0-600 Volts AC/DC wit...

I have 50yr experience as a professional electrician, I have used many different types and brands of signal tracers, the tech today is so much better. I'm really impressed with all the capabilities of this TR-948! I've been using someone else's Klein ET450 for awhile now and decided I was gonna buy one for myself, but first I wanted to see what else was available. I started out reading and watching you tube video reviews on different tracers, then to the testing reports...etc. This ideal sure trace TR-948 came up as the top rated tracer for it's accuracy, it's ability to auto check continuity and having a view screen in the bottom really does make it easier to see results while scanning over wiring, breakers...etc. First thing I noticed was when I turned the receiver over, the display flipped over as well to stay legible, that's the first time I've ever seen this function on a electrical tool. The NCV tip of the receiver does very well at detecting induced and live electrical voltage and the flashlight function is also another bonus when scanning in dark boxes, panels...etc. This Ideal Suretrace 948 is the best I've ever used, so much more accurate than the Klein I've been using lately, oh and another thing is it's more efficient with batteries! You will not be disappointed... get yourself one!

Great for the money, not as stable as the big brother. I've used the $1500 version and this one. The more expensive one is definitely better but this one is good enough. This one is more excitable than the calm big brother. I actually have to turn down the sensitivity a lot most of the time. It'll give me a false positive initially and I have to wait a split second before it'll calm down and give the accurate reading. It may not be as pinpoint accurate as the two-receiver version but I'm OK with that. This one is accurate enough. The ability to trace a dead circuit has saved me days worth of time.

This instrument has proven to be highly effective, enabling the successful detection of a buried wire at a depth of 3-5 inches within concrete. Given its cost-effectiveness, it represents a valuable investment, although its sensitivity requires a degree of proficiency. Based on my observations, individuals unfamiliar with this technology would benefit significantly from dedicated practice, as the time invested will yield substantial returns. Furthermore, the comprehensive package of accompanying components significantly enhances its overall value proposition.

I will give it 4 1/2 stars. We use the 61-959 at work which is extremely accurate but I bought the 61-948 for personal use. I wanted to compare the two at work so I took the 61-948 to one of our buildings and plug it into a receptacle. I went to the panel and located the breaker and turned it off. Then I went to the transmitter and it was still on. To make a long story short, it was the correct breaker but for some reason, it was reading a dc voltage in an ac circuit and stayed on. Then I plugged the transmitter of the 61-959 into the same outlet while the transmitter of the 61-948 was still plugged in and that caused the 61-948 transmitter to go off. I then unplugged the 61-959 transmitter from the receptacle and then the 61-948 transmitter came back on. I was frustrated and never figured out why that was happening but I realized if I had tested the receptacle with a plug tester or a voltage meter, that would have confirmed the receptacle was off and that I had the correct circuit breaker. I have never had that problem with 61-959. That's why I give it 4.5 stars. As I continued to test it in that building, I did not experience that problem again and you may never experience that. The DC function of the 61-948 transmitter may have caused the problem or the some strange voltage may have been going through the receptacle. It is beyond me. The 61-948 is a very good tracer but the 61-959 is better!

It works by injecting a specialized AC signal onto the conductor, and even when the wire is “open,” the signal still forms a usable return path through the environment because every conductor in a building has capacitance to ground, neutral, nearby wires, or the building structure, creating what the SureTrace manual calls a remote return path that completes the loop electromagnetically rather than through metal conduction, allowing a tiny AC displacement current to flow even across openings where DC or 60 Hz AC would see an infinite break; this current—although extremely small—creates a magnetic field that the receiver detects, because, as the manual notes, the transmitter “emits a signal onto the conductor and the receiver senses the strength of that signal” and the “remote return path” enables tracing when the transmitter cannot rely on normal conductive continuity; importantly, while capacitive coupling means some of the signal leaks weakly onto other conductors, only the intended wire carries the dominant current because it is directly driven by the transmitter, while all other wires receive only tiny parasitic currents through high‑impedance capacitive paths, producing magnetic fields that are orders of magnitude weaker, allowing SureTrace to reliably identify the correct conductor by simply detecting the strongest magnetic field signature, consistent with the manual’s instructions to scan for the highest reading when locating the correct breaker or wire. This thing operates based on magnetic field detection which is key difference from Klein ET450 (electric field detection) - what difference? ask AI!

I do a lot of troubleshooting. I love good meters like this one. Takes a minute to understand how it works. But once you do it’s great.

works as advertised

I was seriously disappointed when I realized this device was faulty! 🤬 I had three appointments at a high-end security facility. Because of their strict security measures, I was being watched every second — every move. 🎥👀 The pressure was already high. Then I realized this device couldn’t even trace a circuit. Absolutely useless. 🚫⚡ I urgently needed to shut off a live circuit — and I couldn’t do it! I started questioning myself, thinking I was the one messing up. After testing it on multiple panels, it became clear: the device itself was defective. Not me. 🔧❌ I’m honestly shocked they don’t properly test these units before releasing them. This is basic quality control. This caused me a serious amount of stress and unnecessary embarrassment. Completely unacceptable. 😡🔥

I recently began upgrading the wiring in my house. The previous owners had added a number of circuits to existing wiring which made it extremely difficult to follow. These tools make it easier and much safer to do the work. I feel that although they may seem expensive they can potentially save your life and also save you a lot of money.

Absolutely AMAZING!!! Exactly what I needed for a job, I contacted seller ahead of time and asked for even faster shipping. They got it here FAST!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Also, product worked great, and is exactly what I wanted