CABLE TRACKER

Model 94181
Assembly And Operation Instructions

Due to continuing improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
Transmitter includes a phone jack (������
RJ11��) adapter
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that may not be shown in all illustrations.
®

3491 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93011

Visit our website at: http://www.harborfreight.com
To prevent serious injury, read and understand
all warnings and instructions before use.
Copyright© 2006 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved. No portion of this
manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in any shape or form
without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools.
For technical questions or replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353.
 Specifications
Receiver: Battery 9 VDC
Dimensions 15-5/16 (H) x 1-5/8 (W) x 15/16 (D) inches
Controls On/Off Switch with sensitivity control; Test Button
Transmitter: Battery 9 VDC
Dimensions 2-11/16 (L) x 2-3/16 (W) x 13/16 (H) inches
Controls On/Off Switch, toggle: Off / Tone / LED
Cables Red/Blk., with clips, 24-9/16 (L) inches
Weight 0.7 lb. total
The Cable Tracker is designed to safely identify and trace wires or cable
without damaging the insulation, and to check cable circuits for shorts and open
circuits.

Save This Manual

You will need the manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly
instructions, operating and maintenance procedures, parts list and diagram. Keep
your invoice with this manual. Write the invoice number on the inside of the front
cover. Keep the manual and invoice in a safe and dry place for future reference.

Safety Warnings and Precautions

WARNING: When using tool, basic safety precautions should always be
followed to reduce the risk of personal injury and damage to equipment.
Read all instructions before using this tool!
1. Keep work area clean. Cluttered areas invite injuries.
2. Observe work area conditions. Do not use machines or power tools in damp
or wet locations. Don’t expose to rain. Keep work area well lighted. Do not use
electrically powered tools in the presence of flammable gases or liquids.
3. Keep children away. Children must never be allowed in the work area. Do
not let them handle machines, tools, or extension cords.
4. Store idle equipment. When not in use, tools must be stored in a dry location
to inhibit rust. Always lock up tools and keep out of reach of children.
5. Use the right tool for the job. Do not attempt to force a small tool or attachment
to do the work of a larger industrial tool. There are certain applications for which
this tool was designed. It will do the job better and more safely at the rate for
which it was intended. Do not modify this tool and do not use this tool for a
purpose for which it was not intended.
6. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Do not reach
over or across running machines.
SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 
7. Maintain tools with care. Keep tools clean for better and safer performance.
Periodically replace batteries. Inspect tool cables periodically and, if damaged,
have them repaired by a qualified technician.
8. Disconnect power. Turn off Receiver and Transmitter Switches when not in
use.
9. Stay alert. Watch what you are doing, use common sense. Do not operate
any tool when you are tired.
10. Check for damaged parts. Before using any tool, any part that appears
damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate properly
and perform its intended function. Do not use the tool if any switch does not
turn On and Off properly.
11. Guard against electric shock. Prevent body contact with grounded surfaces
such as pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerator enclosures. Remove all power
sources from cables being tracked.
12. Replacement parts and accessories. When servicing, use only identical
replacement parts. Use of any other parts will void the warranty.
13. Do not operate tool if under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Read warning
labels if taking prescription medicine to determine if your judgment or reflexes
are impaired while taking drugs. If there is any doubt, do not operate the tool.
14. Maintenance. For your safety, service and maintenance should be performed
regularly by a qualified technician.
15. The Cable Tracker is not recommended for use in tracking facility electrical
cables where dangerous voltages may be present.
16. Before tracking cables, verify that all voltage has been removed from the
circuit being tested. Disconnect the cable from the appliance or application
before testing.
17. Do not use on vehicle components or circuits of the ignition system, or any
system that uses more than 48 VDC. This could damage the Cable Tracker.
18. Warning: People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s)
before using this product. Electromagnetic fields in close proximity to a heart
pacemaker could cause interference to or failure of the pacemaker.
19. Warning: The warnings, cautions, and instructions discussed in this
instruction manual cannot cover all possible conditions and situations
that may occur. It must be understood by the operator that common sense
and caution are factors which cannot be built into this product, but must be
supplied by the operator.
Note: Performance of this tool may vary depending on variations in battery power.

SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 

 Unpacking
Transmitter (1)
Receiver (2)

Speaker Switch: Tone /

Continuity Black Vinyl Case (3)
Test Button

Switch / Sensitivity Wand Battery, 9 Volt (4)

Control Knob Head not shown

When unpacking, check to make sure the parts shown above are included. If
any parts are missing or broken, please call Harbor Freight Tools at the number
on the cover of this manual.

Operation
The Cable Tracker is used to trace cables, and to isolate cable breaks. It can be
used on cables in vehicles, and connections to alarms, telephone, computer,
intercom, television, and thermostats.
Warning: Live, facility electrical circuits can cause serious shocks, burns, and
even death if the circuit is touched by hands or arms. If the Cable Tracker is
used for this type of circuit, the circuit breaker or fuse must be removed from
the main breaker box before tracking any electrical circuit. In this case, the
cable tracking should be done by a licensed electrician.

Cable Tracing in Vehicles

�. Remove keys from the
ignition.
2. Open the fuse box
and pull out the fuse
supplying power to the
cable being traced.
3. Clip the Red Lead
from the Transmitter
(1) to the cable-tracing
side of the fuse socket.
4. Clip the Black Lead from the Transmitter (1) to either the opposite side of
fuse socket (+), or connect to chassis ground.
Note: The Transmitter can also be connected to the destination of any cable, and
traced back to the source. The appropriate fuse for that circuit must be removed
first.

SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 

5. Push the Transmitter Switch to the Tone position. See illustration on page 4.
The red LED indicator with light. If it does not light, Battery (4) may need
replacement.
6. Rotate the Switch on the Receiver (2) counterclockwise to turn it on.
Turn the knob to mid point for medium sensitivity of the Receiver wand.
7. Press and hold the Test Button on the Receiver.
8. Position the wand head over the cable being traced (at a 90° angle), and
move it along the cable route until the tone stops.
If the tone is not heard from the start, rotate the Switch Sensitivity to
maximum. When the tone stops during tracing, it indicates a break in the
cable wire.
9. When finished with the Cable Tracker, push the Transmitter’s Switch to the
Off (center) position. Turn the Receiver’s Switch clockwise until it clicks in the
Off position.

Wiring Tracing in other Applications

�. Disconnect the cable connections from the application device.
2. Connect the Transmitter (1) clip leads to each wire of the pair of cable.
If there is only a single wire being traced, connect the black clip lead to
ground.

Wand Head

Receiver Wand

3. At the destination of the cable bunch, spread the cable pairs apart.
4. Turn on the Receiver (2), press the Test Button, and place the wand head
across each pair until the tone is heard.
5. When finished tracing, turn the Transmitter and Receiver Switches to the Off
position.

SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 

Tracing Telephone Wires
�. These procedures use only the sender unit. Turn the switch to “OFF”.
2. To identify Tip and Ring, Connect the red test lead to the side of one line and
the black test lead to the side of another line.
a. The CONT indicator light is green when you connect the red test lead to
the Ring (–) side.
b. The CONT indicator light is red when you connect the red test lead to the
Tip (+) side.
3. To identify the state of a working telephone line, connect the phone jack
(������
RJ11��) connector
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into the socket on telephone, and refer to chart below.
When CONT light is Meaning
Green Clear line
Red Polarities reversed
Unlit
Busy line
Faintly Glowing
Ringing line
Flickering Yellow
(Change switch to CONT position to hang up.)

Checking for Open / Closed Circuits

�. Disconnect the cable connections from the application device (remote load)
and any power source.
2. Connect the Transmitter (1) clip leads to each exposed wire of the pair of
cable.

SHORT
CIRCUIT

GREEN LED

3. Press the Transmitter Switch to the CONT (continuity) position.

A short (closed) circuit (less than 10K Ohms) is indicated on the Transmitter
by the lighting of the green LED. An open circuit will not light the green LED.
4. When finished, turn the Transmitter Switch to the Off (center) position.

REV 01/07
SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 
 Maintenance
�. Turn the Transmitter (1) and Receiver (2) Switches to the Off position before
storing the units in the Black Vinyl Case.
2. Remove the 9 VDC Batteries (4) from each unit before storing for long
periods.
3. Store in a clean and dry location.

Battery Replacement

Battery (4)
Receiver (2)

Battery (4)
Single Tone [1]
Transmitter (1) Tone Switch
Duo Tone [2]

�. Unscrew the Back Cover of the unit and carefully pull it up and off.
2. Carefully pry out the 9 VDC Battery (4), and unclip it from the cable.
3. Replace the used Battery with a high quality type, and push it back into the
housing.
4. Replace the Back Cover.

Tone Adjustment
�. Unscrew the Back Cover of the Transmitter (1) and carefully pull it up and off.
2. Slide the Tone Switch to position [1] to hear a single tone from the Receiver
(2), or to position [2] for a duo tone.
3. Replace the Back Cover.

SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page 

 Parts List
Item Description Qty
1 Transmitter 1
2 Receiver 1
3 Vinyl Case, Black 1
4 Battery, 9 VDC 2

Parts Photo
Transmitter (1)
Receiver (2)
Black Vinyl Case (3)

Battery, 9 Volt (4)

not shown

Note: Some parts are listed and shown for illustration purposes only and may not
available individually as replacement parts.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY

THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR DISTRIBUTOR HAS PROVIDED THE PARTS DIAGRAM IN THIS
MANUAL AS A REFERENCE TOOL ONLY. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DISTRIBUTOR
MAKES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND TO THE BUYER THAT HE OR SHE
IS QUALIFIED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE PRODUCT OR THAT HE OR SHE IS QUALIFIED
TO REPLACE ANY PARTS OF THE PRODUCT. IN FACT, THE MANUFACTURER AND/OR
DISTRIBUTOR EXPRESSLY STATES THAT ALL REPAIRS AND PARTS REPLACEMENTS SHOULD
BE UNDERTAKEN BY CERTIFIED AND LICENSED TECHNICIANS AND NOT BY THE BUYER.
THE BUYER ASSUMES ALL RISK AND LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF HIS OR HER REPAIRS TO
THE ORIGINAL PRODUCT OR REPLACEMENT PARTS THERETO, OR ARISING OUT OF HIS
OR HER INSTALLATION OF REPLACEMENT PARTS THERETO.

SKU 94181 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353 Page