Best Tone Generator And Probe Kit: Top 7 of 2024 Reviewed

Fluke Networks PRO3000F60-KIT Includes Tone...

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A good tone generator and probe kit makes it simple to trace wires and identify unlabelled cables.

The best tone generators produce a clear, audible tone over a long distance – making sure that you’re working with the right wire. On the other hand, a badly made model is a fantastic way to waste your time messing around with wires and listening for a sound that doesn’t exist.

There are a lot of good tone generators out there – like Fluke, Ideal, and Extech – which can make finding the best choice difficult for apprentice electricians and lineman.

So we’ve taken the hard work out of it – here’s our review of the Top 7 Tone Generator And Probe Kits of 2024.

Fluke Tone Generator

• The tone can propagate for ten miles
• Convenient feedback feature
• Durable housing

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Ideal Tone Generator

• Tests & traces coax, twisted pair & telephone cables
• Includes VDV & amplifier probe
• Extremely reliable

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Greenlee Tone Generator

• Large speaker for noisy environments
• Comes in a rugged, woven nylon carrying case
• Excellent price

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Best Tone Generator and Probe Kit

Fluke Tone Generator – Best Overall

Our favorite tone generator and probe is the Pro3000 from Fluke Networks, as it features SmartTone technology which uses five different sounds to make it easier to identify pairs. You can use this model to tone and trace non-active wiring, so it’s also more versatile than other products.

The tone can travel for up to ten miles along a cable before it starts to diminish, and this model is equipped with a louder speaker so that you can hear it in busy work environments.

The toner even comes included with a convenient lanyard from which you can hang it to keep your hands free.

Durability is another one of this tone probe’s main advantages, as it’s built to last for years, as long as you take proper care of it. When working with larger bundles of wire, the included noise filter makes your life so much easier that we can’t imagine working with another kit.

The feedback feature also makes it easier to verify cables by shorting pairs of them momentarily. The probe will also shut down automatically after five minutes so that it doesn’t run through the battery. If you’re looking for a downside to this product, there aren’t many besides the relatively high price.

While the Fluke Tone Generator commands a higher price, its unmatched quality and performance justify the investment, making it an indispensable asset in any electrician’s toolkit. But overall the Fluke Tone Generator is a great product and an excellent addition to any electricians tool kit.

Ideal Tone Generator – Premium Choice

The Ideal wire toner is a little more expensive than our best overall product, but it offers a few extra capabilities for your money. This kit comes with a wide range of connectors that will allow you to test everything from ethernet connections to COAX cables, making it as versatile as possible.

This kit is optimized to find issues in connections that range from shorts, to split pairs, all the way to reversals. To ensure that you know the problem, this kit comes with a VDV unit that is equipped with an LCD screen to display information about errors and whether or not the wiring passed or failed.

The Ideal Tone Generator sets itself apart with its remarkable portability and compact design, weighing just 1.65 pounds. It’s not just about the size; its sturdy construction ensures it can endure the inevitable drops, making it a reliable companion for any electrician.

The main advantage of this model is that it comes included with all of the attachments that you’ll need for residential work, and it’s reasonably priced for a complete kit. The only problem that we had with this product was that it wouldn’t work as well on shielded cables. But that aside the Ideal Tone Generator is a high-performance premium product, and a great choice for those willing to spend a little extra.

Greenlee Tone Generator – Great Value

For a more affordable option, the Greenlee 701K-G is an excellent probe tracing kit that comes with a range of useful accessories. Features like a headset jack and an extra-large speaker make this model perfect for electricians who work in loud environments where the tone may be drowned out.

This model is designed to be easy to use, making it a great choice for beginners who are getting their first tone generator and probe kit. Other convenient features include an LED headlight so that you can see what you’re doing in the dark and a beeper to warn you about short circuits. The tone probe amplifier even comes equipped with a replaceable tip, which is a nice addition.

The Greenlee Tone Generator works with twisted pairs, single conductors, COAX cables, and non-live AC wires. You can perform both polarity and continuity tests using it, putting it a step above a lot of other budget models with fewer capabilities.

Reliability is another huge advantage of this model as unlike many other budget toners that will fail on you within a few weeks of purchase, the Greenlee 701K-G remains consistent in its performance (this is no surprise to us given the high performance of Greenlee’s electrical circuit tracer).

While the Greenlee Tone Generator may not match the durability of some competitors, it compensates with its cost-effectiveness and inclusion of a durable nylon carrying case for added protection. It stands out as a commendable choice for those seeking quality within a budget.

Fox and Hound Electrical Wire Tracer Tone Generator And Probe Kit

The Fox and Hound Tone Generator from Triplett is another affordable option that features good build quality, which is refreshing in cheaper products. This model can generate pulse and warble tones and it can perform tests on telephone lines including line polarity and ringing voltage examinations.

This tone generator can also perform a continuity test, which you can hear and see, making it versatile enough for use in louder environments. The lightweight design of the probe ensures that you can use it all day without having to worry about your arm getting tired, and it even has LED headlights built into it.

The inclusion of a bandpass filter helps ensure that other frequencies don’t interfere with your tests. Unfortunately, the lower price of Fox and Hound’s Tone Generator also comes with less durability, so you’ll have to store it carefully and make sure that you don’t drop it while you work.

Extech Electrical Wire Tracer Tone Generator And Probe Kit

The Extech Tone Generator is also more affordable than a lot of our top models, and features a heavy duty design that is perfect for busy work environments.

The housings of both the generator and the amplifier probe are designed to put up with plenty of abuse so that they’ll last for years.

You can opt for either a continuous or a variable tone, depending on your preferences and the task that you’re performing.

The probe is also insulated to ensure that conductors don’t end up getting shorted. Since you can adjust the sensitivity of this tone generator, tracing a wire is a lot simpler.

There is also a headphone jack that’s built into the speaker, which further improves this model’s usefulness in busy work environments.

Despite its robust build, the Extech Tone Generator’s bulkier design and basic feature set may not appeal to all. However, its affordability and straightforward functionality make it a practical choice for small-scale tasks and those prioritizing budget over bells and whistles.

Klein Electrical Wire Tracer Tone Generator And Probe Kit

The Klein Tone Generator features a similar price point to the other options on this list so far, but it offers a range of features that help make it more user-friendly.

Reliability is another plus with this model, and we didn’t have any problems getting it up and running.

Equipped with five different tracing zones, keeping track of a wire becomes a lot easier, and there are also helpful LEDs located along the probe and the tone generator.

For example, there is an amplifier overload detector that will let you know if there is a misread that you should be aware of.

This model comes in a nice padded bag that will keep it from getting damaged in transit (although it should be said that the kit is already pretty durable).

The Klein Tone Generator’s reliance on smaller batteries limits its longevity, and its susceptibility to noise interference detracts from its overall performance. These issues prevent it from ranking higher on our list, suggesting a look towards our top recommendations might be more fruitful for prospective buyers.

Since Klein decided to use such small batteries, the tone generator doesn’t last nearly as long as we’d like. We also found that it picked up a lot more noise than other models tested. Better to skip it and go for one of our top 3 models.

Elegiant Electrical Wire Tracer Tone Generator And Probe Kit

When it comes to electrical wire tracer tone generators, cutting costs can lead to disappointing results. The Elegiant Tone Generator exemplifies this, offering an underwhelming performance that ranks it as one of the least reliable tools we’ve encountered.

Trying to test a cable with this model is an exercise in frustration, as the lights will go on and off for no apparent reason.

Good cables will test as bad with this generator and vice versa, meaning that you can waste plenty of time and resources on issues that never even existed.

Even when it is working properly, this product isn’t exactly useful when you consider that the tone function only works on RJ11 phone cables.

This product also features a very loose power switch that can be turned on when it gets jostled around in your toolkit, potentially wasting the battery’s whole charge before you arrive.

The only thing that’s positive about this electrical wire tracer tone generator is its affordable price, which ensures that it won’t be a waste of too much money. Skip it. If you’re looking for a model on the cheaper side, get yourself a Greenlee or a Fluke.