The Affordable Alternative to the Fluke 2042 Cable Locator

Looking to find cables hidden in walls or behind ceilings? You’ll need to invest in a cable locator if you’re going to be looking for them on the reg. It can be hard to find one that fits within your budget, though, especially when it can cost hundreds of dollars. This affordable alternative will help you find what you’re looking for without going over budget.

Noyafa NF-826 Underground Cable Locator

In need of a professional-grade cable locator but don’t want to fork over hundreds for a professional-grade machine? Noyafa has you covered. Its NF-826 Cable Locator is built for professionals and designed for ease of use.

The NF-826 is one of Noyafa's best-selling products and it only costs $99.95, making it an affordable solution that won't break your budget. The ideal tool for electricians, plumbers, contractors, and anyone who needs a handy device they can count on when working with underground cables without breaking their bank account. 

The NF-826 comes equipped with two different search modes: continuity test mode and impedance test mode. With these two modes combined, you'll be able to identify live cables as well as insulated wires in no time at all. 

The main function of Noyafa NF-826 is to Locate the wire towards which high or low voltage.

The NF-826 also comes with eight standard probe tips that are easy to change out when needed in order to work effectively in different environments. With its lightweight design (2 lbs) and user-friendly interface, finding hidden wires just got easier. 

The NF-826 can help locate underground cables such as phone lines, AC power lines, Ethernet lines, or even pipes/cables that have been accidentally damaged or broken by digging work or road construction nearby.

Difference Between NF-826 and Fluke 2042

In a market full of various choices, you will find NF-826. People often compare it with Fluke 2042 and wonder if there is any difference between them. Firstly, you can note that Fluke 2042 Cable Locator is much more expensive than NF-826 from other brands. Furthermore, both of them have advantages and disadvantages in terms of quality and operation performance. 

As for their similarities, they are equally reliable tools for detecting problems with your wires.  Let’s take a look at what these two products offer. First of all, Fluke 2042 has some cool features such as fault indicators which tell you whether a problem exists or not. 

On top of that, it allows locating faults up to 500 meters away. The best thing about using Fluke 2042 is its three modes: vibration mode which shows wire length by measuring time interval; tone mode which indicates wire length by emitting tones; loopback mode which verifies continuity on each end of a wire. 

With all this information, you're guaranteed to know exactly what you're dealing with when it comes time for decision-making. As for NF-826, it is also equipped with similar functions to Fluke 2042 but without paying extra money. It provides fault indicators so you can easily detect where problems lie. 

Just like Fluke 2042, NF-826 also comes with 3 modes: Tone Mode - To locate non-conductive materials (such as PVC) that may be present within a cable run; Vibration Mode - To locate conductive material (such as copper) present within a cable run; Loopback Mode - For verification of wiring continuity on either end of a cable run. These features allow users to detect potential issues and solve them properly before they turn into big issues later on.

Features Comparison

NOYAFA NF-826
  • Trace and locate cables, electrical wires, and water/gas supply pipelines buried in earth or walls at a depth of 0.1 - 2 meters. 
  • Detect interruptions and short circuits in cables and electrical lines buried in earth or walls. (supports both single-core and multi-core wire fault checking).
  • Find fuses/fuse circuits / covered sockets and junction boxes.
  • Both transmitter and receiver display power level, code, battery, detected voltage type and value, and high-voltage alert.
  • Transmitter built-in DC/AC voltage meter for linear measurement of 12-400V DC/AC voltage. 

    Fluke 2042

    • For all applications (live or dead cables) without additional instruments
    • The set includes a transmitter and a receiver.
    • Proven digitally coded sender signal guarantees clear signal identification.
    • Transmitter with LC display for transmitting level, transmitting code, and external voltage.
    • Receiver with a backlight LC-display for the level of receiving the signal, code of receiving the signal, and live voltage indication.

    Why choose NF-826 (What kind of people are suitable for use)?

    NF-826 is a low-cost and easy-to-use product. If you are looking for an affordable yet powerful multimeter, then NF-826 is a good choice. It can be used in all places with mains voltage. In addition, it has good performance of insulation resistance measurement function and faults locating function, making your home safe from dangerous electrical defects. 

    The new series of testing equipment NF-826 uses advanced frequency pulse technology and requires less power. When working with a standard AC outlet, it can quickly locate wire bundles up to 2 meters, identify different types of wires such as telephone wires and CAT5 cables, and even test for data transmission faults. Also works on batteries or rechargeable power banks. 

    The device comes with a built-in infrared sensor that is capable of detecting heat emissions from electronics. The detection range is approximately 0~50 cm (0-19 inches). This feature allows users to detect hidden-phone lines and other low-power devices without actually touching them—you simply aim your device in their direction until you see infrared waves on the screen.

    It is suitable for both professional electricians and DIY users.  The most attractive feature of NF-826 is that it’s only around $90 dollar. So if you are just starting out as an electrician or do not have much budget, then I recommend that you choose NF-826. It will save your money and still provide satisfactory service.

    Noyafa is also an Excellent Product but the Grounds do not Know

    There are a lot of testers on the market but only a few of them are as good as Fluke. If you need an inexpensive option, we recommend you consider Noyafa because its cable locating technology is nearly identical to that of Fluke. 

    Why do you spend hundreds of dollars more when there are cheaper options on our list that can do just as well. As long as you know what to look out for, it should be easy to see why Noyafa is one of the best in its class. 

    It’s not often that you find something that performs at such a high level while also being so affordable. It doesn't have all of Fluke's bells and whistles, but if your needs are simple then it's hard to go wrong with either one.

    The Bottom Line

    NF-826 is a great option for any technician that needs a reliable and affordable cable finder. For roughly half of what you’d pay for a fluke unit, you can have NF-826 in your toolbox and be confident that it will serve you well when you need it most. If you want to save money and still get quality results, then Noyafa is definitely worth considering.

    Know more other excellent affordable cable finder