Thanks, I do appreciate the input.
There are devices priced up to $3k and beyond....is there much practical
benefit to fancier ones?
On 4/21/2015 1:32 PM, Chuck McCown wrote:
Any wire will work as a locator wire. Needs to be strong enough to
withstand a bit of handling over the years. 19 gauge on down works
fine. Needs to be insulated. You ground the far end when you are
locating it. It acts as a magnetic antenna.
Lots of devices will locate a wire. Fewer will work specifically for
60 cycle AC. You could try with a coil of wire hooked up to an amp
and a speaker. If the coil is directly over the wire with the axis of
the coil pointed at the wire, the sound should null out.
Normally it is free to have the power company come out and find it for
you. Unless it is your wire. If so, disconnect it, ground one end and
use a regular toner to find it.
Here is one of the less expensive units.
http://www.amazon.com/Tempo-508S-Wire-Finder-Locator/dp/B000LDGZLY/ref=pd_sim_hi_1/188-9976256-6669407?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JYB2ZW9N032J3S9R46M
It says it can be used on a live circuit.
-----Original Message----- From: Adam Moffett
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 11:20 AM
To: af@afmug.com
Subject: [AFMUG] locating underground utilities
I have two related questions:
1) I'd like to get a device to locate an underground AC power line. I
see devices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand, and I'm
looking for recommendations. My immediate need is to locate a line
that's believed to be 3' deep. Any suggestions from this group?
2) I'm putting fiber optic in a PVC conduit. I'd like to pull a locator
wire at the same time so we can use the device from question one at some
future date to find the pipe again. Does the locator wire have to be
anything special or should I just pull any ol' cheap wire? My suspicion
is that the locator won't care if it's 12/2 romex or a chain of paper
clips, but I thought I'd ask people who've done it before.
Thanks,
Adam
