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Underground Wire Locator Mistakes to Avoid

Author: GE

Oct. 21, 2024

Underground Wire Locator Mistakes to Avoid

If you or someone you know is trying to locate underground wires or cables, you&#;ll need an underground wire locator tool. An underground cable locator tool helps you detect and locate buried wires. Using this tool can help you pinpoint both the location and depth of the utilities before you even start digging.

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At Wood Inspection Services, we understand the importance of using these tools correctly, and we&#;ve seen the consequences of making mistakes when using them. The potential outcomes can be severe, from damaging the utility line, causing service disruptions, or even risking injury or death if there are live electrical wires in the area.

Underground wire detection is crucial to ensuring a safe and effective excavation. In this article, we&#;ll highlight five rookie mistakes to avoid when using an underground wire locator. 

Mistake #1: Skipping Device Calibration

Improper device calibration is one of the most common mistakes that people make when using an underground wire locator tool. Calibrating these tools is so important because it ensures the accurate detection of underground wires. Without calibration, you&#;ll get inaccurate readings, and this can later lead to damaged utility lines and disruptions in service. 

Fortunately, calibrating a subsurface wire locator tool isn&#;t complicated. To start, all you have to do is select a known wire and then adjust the settings until you&#;re getting an accurate reading. After that, start adjusting the sensitivity based on the specific environment you&#;re in to get the best performance. For example, if the soil is dry, you&#;ll most likely have to increase the sensitivity for more accurate readings. 

Mistake #2: Not Testing the Wire Locator Before Use

Testing the device before use is critical to ensure that it&#;s functioning correctly and will accurately detect the underground utilities you&#;re looking for. To properly test the device, you&#;ll need to find a known underground utility, such as a live wire, and ensure that the device can accurately locate and identify it.

Failure to test your wire locator before use can result in:

  • Inaccurate readings
  • Misidentifying locations
  • Not knowing the depth of utilities

There are costly mistakes that can happen by not testing the wire locator before use. For example, assuming that the locator is functioning normally because it&#;s detecting a signal when the signal is coming from a completely different source than the one you&#;re looking for could lead to costly issues during repair work.

To test out your wire locator:

Set up the device: Find a live wire that you know the location of and switch your device to the correct mode.

Scan: Scan the area and make sure the readings are accurate.

Interference: Check to see if nearby power lines or other utilities are causing interference.

Mistake #3: Overlooking Underground Wire Detection Interference

Overlooking underground wire detection interference can affect the accuracy of your device. This can cause incorrect readings and improperly identifying buried utilities. Some of the more common sources of interference include nearby electronic devices, power lines, or other buried wires. To avoid interference, turn off nearby electronic devices and avoid scanning near other buried wires or power lines.

By taking the necessary precautions and not overlooking underground wire detection interference, you can avoid mistakes from occurring. Interference is another mistake that can lead to the misidentification of buried utilities that can cause issues during the excavation process.

Mistake #4: Failing to Mark Detected Wires

Failing to mark the location of detected wires can result in accidental damage and disruption during repair work. To mark the location of detected wires, it&#;s recommended to use bright spray paint or a brightly colored flag. Additionally, mark the location at intervals throughout the entire stretch of the wire so it&#;s all marked. 

You&#;ll also want to place a mark where the wire is at the surface level and keep note of the depth at which the wire is buried. Something as easy as failing to mark detected wires can cause repair work and excavation to be done in the wrong areas. It&#;ll cause miscommunication among team members and lead to safety hazards. 

Mistake #5: Not Double-Checking the Accuracy of Wire Locator Results

To guarantee that the detected wires are correctly identified and labeled, it is important to double-check the accuracy of the buried wire locator results. Failure to verify the accuracy of the results might result in costly repairs and serious safety issues during excavation or repair operations.

Some common mistakes that can occur due to not checking the accuracy of wire locator results are:

  • Misidentifying the type of wire or utility, leading to damage during excavation
  • Conducting excavation in the wrong area
  • Safety hazards
  • Confusion

FAQ

Q: How do I find a buried wire?

A: To find a buried wire, use an underground wire locator tool by connecting a transmitter and receiver to each end of the wire, then scanning the area with the receiver to detect the magnetic field and locate the wire. Follow safety guidelines to avoid hazards and damage.

Q: Can a metal detector find underground wires?

A: A regular metal detector won&#;t be able to detect underground wires because the wires don&#;t emit a strong enough magnetic field for the metal detector to detect it.

Q: How do you use an underground wire locator?

A: To use an underground wire locator, connect the transmitter to one end of the wire and a receiver to the opposite end. Turn the transmitter on and calibrate the device, adjusting frequency and sensitivity as necessary. Scan the area and locate your wire.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Underground Sensors.

Q: How do I find hidden electrical cables?

A: If you need to find hidden electrical cables, an underground wire locator tool can be of great help.

Still Not Feeling Confident? We Got Your Back

Avoiding these common mistakes listed above when using an underground wire locator is crucial for a safe and successful excavation or repair work job. However, if you&#;re not confident in your ability to use an underground wire locator or want to save time and effort, consider using the services of an expert like us at Wood Inspection Services.

Our experienced team of professionals can provide private utility locating and ensure that your project is completed safely and efficiently. Don&#;t hesitate to contact us for your underground wire detection needs!

Back to Basics: Sensor tips & techniques

Working with resistive sensor elements and rewiring proximity sensors are two recently discussed topics in the blog, &#;Ask Control Engineering,&#; at www.controleng.com/blogs.

Regarding resistive sensor elements, a reader asked: &#;I&#;ve read that RTDs (resistance temperature detectors) are often the most precise temperature sensing devices. Given the relatively narrow range of resistance involved, how is it practical to get precision with two, three, or more decimal places on a Celsius scale?&#;

Sensors that measure a process variable using changes in resistance extend beyond RTDs. Thermistors also use resistance, as do many types of strain gages that are used in pressure and weight sensors. RTDs that use platinum wire can, at least in theory, measure temperature changes as small as 0. °C. (Of course saying that one technology or another is the most accurate needs to be qualified in the context of specific types of application because few of those evaluations are true universally.) The kind of precision is only possible when coupled with highly sophisticated signal processing.

Modern electronics are capable of reading very small changes in resistance which makes this sort of thing possible. Interestingly enough, one of the basic elements of precise resistance measuring circuits dates back more than 150 years. The Wheatstone bridge is still the basic approach for quantifying very small changes in resistance that are characteristic of these sensing elements.

The traditional approach of four resistors arranged in a diamond formation is able to measure very small changes in resistance by looking at resistance differences. A Dataforth six-page application note, &#;Basic Bridge Circuits,&#; goes well beyond basic high-school physics and explains uses in industrial applications. Find it online at www.dataforth.com.

Sensor wiring

Separately, another reader of Ask Control Engineering wanted to know, &#;Is it practical to replace a 3wire proximity sensor with 2-wire type?&#;

Panasonic Electric Works says it can be done. When using inductive proximity sensors for a control application, it is common to choose a 3-wire dc proximity sensor with a dedicated NPN (ground switching) or PNP (positive switching) control output and bring the output into a PLC input. Choosing between polarities means determining how the common is wired and selecting accordingly. If your machines mix NPN and PNP sensors, there&#;s an alternative to stocking both types of spares to prevent a line-down situation.

Panasonic suggests that instead of having the control output circuit separated from the power circuit, the 2-wire design puts everything in parallel, which consolidates circuitry into one loop. In a typical 3-wire PNP circuit, the output wire is specific in its polarity so that it will only function on with a 0 V common. With the 2-wire variation, the output operation is along the two power wires in the form of a voltage drop, thus making the sensor free to work with either polarity on the common. With wiring as the diagram shows, a 2-wire sensor can replace NPN and PNP 3-wire models, just by following the flow of current. This greatly simplifies the usage and replacement of inductive proximity sensors across all applications, the company says. Find out more online at https://pewa.panasonic.com.

Mark Hoske is Content Manager of Control Engineering. Reach him at MHoske @CFEMedia.com.

Find other tips and answers at www.controleng.com/blogs

See also these links:  www.dataforth.com

https://pewa.panasonic.com

Ask Control Engineering blog

Control Engineering sensors channel

Cover story: Proximity Sensors: How to Choose, Use Them

For more perimeter intrusion detection systeminformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

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