Western Service Locators 
Plan, Locate, Pothole, Protect, Proceed


                               Call us: 0487 339 001

 

underground service locating perth

 
 
underground service locating
 
underground service locating perth
  
  
  
  
  
  

Electromagnetic Cable/Pipe Locating


WSL use the market leading RD8000 cable locating tool along with Flexirods, Flexitrace and frequency trasmitting sondes to offer electromagnetic locating solutions:


Electromagnetic Locating is used for the location of live conductive services and mains, and is ideal for the location of:


  • Water
  • Telecommunications
  • Electrical
  • Gas and Fuel lines

Pipe and cable locating equipment does not locate the physical pipe or cable, the equipment detects the magnetic field or signals created around the pipe or cable. The signals radiating from the pipe or cable can be passive or an active signal. An active signal is one that has been induced by a signal generating transmitter by either direct connection to the target line or by induction which is a signal radiated from the generating transmitter to all underground pipe or cables. A passive signal is naturally radiated on many pipes or cables as the earth has power return currents and broad cast transmissions frequencies that penetrate the earth to flow along the metallic pipes or cables as these metallic lines offer a lower resistance
 

Electromagnetic utility locators are used for tracing metallic pipes and utility cables and clearing drilling and excavation locations. These utility locators consist of a separate transmitter and receiver. The transmitter emits a radio frequency (Electromagnetic field) that induces secondary fields in nearby metallic pipes and cables. The receiver detects these fields and accurately locates and traces the pipes, often to distances over 100 m from the transmitter. Modern utility locators are also capable of providing approximate depth estimates of the pipes.


Electromagnetic locating is by far the most reliable technology for detecting metallic pipes and cables and provides accurate location and detection in accordance with Australian Standard AS 5488 Confirmation by Non Destructive Digging (NDD) if location and depths are critical. Along with advanced technology such as GPR, non-metallic pipes and cables can be located.







 













 

tracing a sonde along a concrete sewer


Sondes are used to locate non-metal sewer pipes, storm drains and conduits. Sondes also are used to locate cast iron drain pipes. 


A sonde is a small radio transmitter inserted into a pipe. Once inside, a conventional pipe locator is used to locate the sonde using a Flexrod. The pipe’s position is then marked on the ground. The sonde is pushed further into the pipe, the receiver relocates the sonde and the pipe’s position is again marked. This process is repeated until the desired section of pipe is traced.

The FlexiTrace is similar to the Flexrod in construction but incorporates wire conductors and a transmitting coil. It can be activated by any signal transmitter. The FlexiTrace is self-contained flexible rod and transmitter alternative for tracing non-metallic pipes.