A system for locating a circuit interrupter, e.g. a circuit breaker, associated with a selected branch circuit (40-45) from amongst a plurality of circuit interrupting devices, CB1-CB6. The system includes a receiver (300) and a passive transmitter (100). The passive transmitter (100) when electrically connected to a branch circuit creates a current spike signal on that circuit at a predetermined frequency. This current spike signal has a sufficiently short spike duration so as to only generate a weak electromagnetic field about the circuit wire, which in turn, substantially minimizes the development of a sympathetic signal on other branch circuits adjacent to the selected branch circuit. Thus, the true current spike signal is easily distinguishable from any sympathetic signals. Accordingly, the receiver (300) can be broadly tuned about the predetermined frequency of the current spike signal and drives a user-perceivable signaling device upon sensing the current spike signal. A method for locating a circuit interrupter is also disclosed.