[RE-wrenches] Wire locator

[Kristopher Schmid]

A reply from Theo Van regarding wire locators.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Theo Van <theomaan at yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 11:27 AM
Subject: Re: Wire locator
To: Kristopher Schmid <solman at legacysolar.com>


I have a Greenlee 508 S, my second one. Transmitter sends a signal tone on
conductor and receiver whines when near target and nulls out when dead on.
Very accurate once you're used to it.

On plus side:
About $300.00
Compact, fits in truck nicely in a good case.
Locates 3' deep and more and at least 2000' in my use.
Will trace anything conductive.
Conductors can be energized (to 120VAC I think?) or not.

Cons are:
User learning curve but prob same w most units.
Wimpy alligator clips but carry a bigger one and clip to that.
Not so good in walls.
No provisions for fault locating other than tone fades or stops.
Can pick up interference from AC and DC sources.

Call USA and use them as a guide if possible.
And ALWAYS make sure the buried wire you think is de energized REALLY is. A
local wire jocky just died here cause he cut buried wire he was sure he de
energized.
More than once I've come across underground hack work (and not) that was
hard to make sense of because I couldn't see where the wires really came
from or went. My locator didn't lie; it just didn't tell the whole story.
On a related note, something new to think about considering  long distance
underground high voltage DC runs now becoming more common; how can you test
if it's live? How would anyone even know it's there?
One day someone is going to drive a steel fence picket through a DC feeder
that nobody remembered was there....
Be safe. Good luck.



On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 1:57 PM, Kristopher Schmid <solman at legacysolar.com>
wrote:

> Wrenches,
>
> Michael requested that i keep replies to this wire locator thread on
> list.  Below is a reply from Travis Jordan reposted with permission.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Travis Jordan <travis at mtsolar.us>
> Date: Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 11:34 PM
> Subject: Greenlee Locators Wrenches
> To: solman at legacysolar.com
>
>
> Kris,
>
> I have the greenlee model 501 locator at roughly $500 and it works fine :
> http://www.greenlee.com/products/CABLE-LOCATOR-TACKER-II-(501).html
>
> I also bought the greenlee pulse fault locator at roughly $1,100 and I
> have been very happy with the combination. The fault locator is especially
> awesome, my employees as first time users can find faults in quarter mile
> long buried lines over 4ft deep with no trouble within a few inches....
> worth every bit of the investment!
>
> Good luck,
>
> *Travis Jordan**Owner/ President**844-687-6527, Ext. 104**406-206-5105*
> *travis at mtsolar.us <travis at mtsolar.us>**www.mtsolar.us
> <http://www.mtsolar.us>*
>
>
> *travis at jordansolar.net <travis at jordansolar.net>www.jordansolar.net
> <http://www.jordansolar.net>**MT Solar LLC*[image: MT Solar Logo]
> <http://www.polemount.solar/>
>
> On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 3:59 PM, Chris Mason <cometenergysystems at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
>> We have a Schonstedt unit, works very well for electrical services. There
>> has to be current in the cable to see it. Otherwise you can find data
>> cables and dead electrical cables by injecting a signal using the signal
>> generator, either by induction or direct connection.
>> It can find a service very accurately and give you the depth. However, it
>> takes some practice as you can get fooled by stray currents and water
>> pipes. It's nicely made and robust.
>> Price is a bit more than you were expecting, if memory serves me right.
>> You can rent for one-offs.
>>
>>  www.schonstedt.com
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 3:36 PM, Kristopher Schmid <
>> solman at legacysolar.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Wrenches,
>>>
>>> Do any of you use a underground wire locating device?  If so, can you
>>> recommend a brand?  I've seen them for $50 and $2,500.  Reply off list,
>>> please.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Kris
>>>
>>> --
>>> Shine On!
>>>
>>> Kris Schmid
>>> Legacy Solar, LLC
>>> 864 Clam Falls Trail
>>> Frederic, WI 54837
>>> www.legacysolar.com
>>> 715-653-4295
>>> NABCEP Certified PV Installer
>>> Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician
>>> BSEE
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Chris Mason
>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
>> Solar Design Engineer
>> Generac Generators Industrial technician
>>
>> www.cometsolar.com <http://www.cometenergysystems.com>
>> 264.235.5670
>> 869.662.5670
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>>
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>
>
> --
> Shine On!
>
> Kris Schmid
> Legacy Solar, LLC
> 864 Clam Falls Trail
> Frederic, WI 54837
> www.legacysolar.com
> 715-653-4295
> NABCEP Certified PV Installer
> Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician
> BSEE
>



-- 
Shine On!

Kris Schmid
Legacy Solar, LLC
864 Clam Falls Trail
Frederic, WI 54837
www.legacysolar.com
715-653-4295
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Licensed Wisconsin Master Electrician
BSEE
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