C-SCOPE Cable Avoidance Tool, Instruction Manual

Page 1: ...Instruction Manual Cable Avoidance Tool Cable Avoidance Tool XD Signal Generator SG A Signal Generator SG V CABLE AVOIDANCE TOOLS ...

Page 2: ...l conditions such as hills and mountains can effectively screen radio signals and prevent a detectable ground current The C Scope Cable Avoidance Tool alone will not always locate every conductor so always use a Signal Generator The C Scope Signal Generator leads must not be connected directly to a live service System performance may be impaired by unusually strong electromagnetic fields WARNINGS ...

Page 3: ...ointing 10 Tracing 11 Using the Signal Generator 12 Batteries 13 Direct connection 14 Street lighting 16 Signal Clamp Injector 17 Searching 18 Tracing 19 Induction 20 Searching 21 Multiple Services 23 Inductive Sweep 24 Non Metallic Pipe Tracing 25 Sonde 26 Plastic Pipe Tracer 28 Depth Measurement 30 Sonde Plastic Pipe Tracer 32 Function checks 33 Maintenance 37 Specifications Cable Avoidance Tool...

Page 4: ...tch Sensitivity control 3 position mode switch Battery compartment Replaceable wear foot The C Scope Cable Avoidance Tool And XD Model Digital display Mode selected Generator Power Radio showing frequency Depth display XD Model only Signal strength bar display Battery condition indicator 1 ...

Page 5: ...ch Batteries Direct connection socket Auxiliary earth lead socket Accessory tray The C Scope Signal Generator SG A and SG V Models Digital display SG V only Battery condition indicator Mute loud setting Power output level indicator Induced or connected mode indicator Signal strength bar display 2 ...

Page 6: ...The C Scope Signal Generator SG A and SG V Models Accessory tray Accessory tray holding clips Earth stake Direct connection leads Crocodile clips Auxiliary 10m earth lead Connection magnet 3 ...

Page 7: ...ower signal is created Supplies to buildings or plant using very little or no electricity will not have a detectable power signal Pot ended or capped cables These will never have any current flowing through them but are possibly still live Disused or abandoned cables A few high voltage electricity cables These can be well balanced electrically and therefore radiate little or no Power signal Direct...

Page 8: ...to determine WHAT the service is in Radio mode only it s position Radio signals do not favour one utility over another The depth of the buried service CANNOT be judged by the strength of the radio signal alone Normally it is only possible to detect Radio signals present on services up to 2 metres deep A short service may not have enough signal to be detected Locator Operating Modes Radio Mode NOTE...

Page 9: ... Direct Connection The Signal Generator is attached directly to the service using either the Direct Connection Leads or one of the accessories available for use with the Signal Generator such as the Signal Clamp of Signal Injector Induction The Signal Generator can induce a signal onto a buried metallic service remotely from the surface without the need to physically connect to that service Limita...

Page 10: ... Locator Batteries Push the two clips back to release the battery compartment door Remove ALL EIGHT used batteries and replace with new ones Be careful to insert the new batteries the correct way round in the holder Replace the holder in the battery compartment making sure that the two terminals on the holder make contact with the two terminals within the battery compartment Close the battery comp...

Page 11: ...ER swing the locator such that it moves away from the vertical Your middle or little finger should be used to squeeze and hold on the On Off trigger Your index finger will then be free to adjust the sensitivity control Using the Locator Holding the Locator 8 ...

Page 12: ...alk slowly and keep the locator upright at all times and stationary by your side 5 As you approach the area in which there is a signal the locator will emit an audible response and show a visual response on the bar display 6 Keep walking until the audible and visual responses disappear Using the Locator Searching NOTE This search technique applies only to the Power and Radio modes See Using the Si...

Page 13: ... the sensitivity is reduced enough then a clear peak response will be seen on the bar display as the locator traverses the service The locator is positioned directly above the buried service when the bar display is at its highest peak reading 3 Carefully rotate the locator over the peak reading until the visual response falls to a minimum level The locator will now be roughly IN LINE with the dire...

Page 14: ... depth of the service a T connection or the end of the service Finding Lost Signals 1 Locate in a circle at least 1metre around the point where the signal was lost This should locate the service if it has simply changed direction sharply or T d into another service 2 If you find nothing then increase the sensitivity and repeat the circle This should find the service if it has continued but at a gr...

Page 15: ...the route of that service Signal Clamp The Signal Clamp is an accessory that allows the Signal Generator signal to be applied to a specific cable without having to make electrical contact with that cable Although the Signal Clamp is not physically fixed to the cable we still consider it as a Connection method because it is using the Signal Generator in Connection mode Signal Injector The Signal In...

Page 16: ... of the indicator filled in then the batteries will need to be renewed before locating work can begin Changing the Batteries Remove the accessory tray Undo the two round knurled retaining screws situated on the underside of the Signal Generator holding the battery cover Remove ALL FOUR used batteries and replace with new ones Be careful to insert the new batteries the correct way round in the comp...

Page 17: ... to the pipe at your point of access using the crocodile clip Ensure that you have a secure and clean grip on the pipe with the crocodile clip 3 Turn the Signal Generator on WARNING Never connect directly to electrical services WARNING You may need to seek permission from the service owners before connecting on to some buried services NOTE The type of metal that the pipe is constructed from or it ...

Page 18: ...he better the signal will be on the metal pipe If there is no change of tone at all it may be that some dirt rust or paint on the pipe is preventing the direct connection lead from making a good contact with the pipe Alternatively it may be that your earth point is at fault Change the position of the earth stake or use an alternative earth point NOTE If it is not possible to use the Earth Stake us...

Page 19: ...ules as for connecting the Signal Generator to a metal pipe except attach the red direct connection lead to the OUTSIDE of the lamp column WARNING NEVER open the lamp column door to gain access to the cables this is dangerous and not necessary NOTE Make sure that the direct connection crocodile clip is not insulated from the metal of the column by paint NOTE If the column is concrete attach the cr...

Page 20: ...ndoned cables that have been cut off where they appear above ground or small cables supplying unearthed equipment WARNING DO NOT use the Signal Injector on systems with voltages in excess of 240 volts AC Domestic systems will normally be below this voltage NOTE On two wire Protective Multiple Earth PME systems it may be necessary to also provide an external earth using the yellow 10 metre Auxiliar...

Page 21: ...gnal Generator 2 Adjust the Sensitivity so that the locator is just showing a visual response and emitting an audible response 3 If possible walk in a COMPLETE circle around the connection point trying to keep the same distance from this point at all times When a signal is detected pinpoint that signal as shown in the Using the Locator section 4 Having pinpointed the first signal do NOT readjust t...

Page 22: ... tracing technique used on Power or Radio Modes but with the following differences The signal that the locator is detecting will get weaker the further away from the Signal Generator that you go It will be necessary to regularly adjust increase the locator sensitivity to compensate for this NOTE It is not possible to search for the signal above any leads connecting the Signal Generator to the serv...

Page 23: ...cally to Induction Mode when the socket is clear 2 Place the Signal Generator UPRIGHT on the ground where you suspect there may be some services buried Make sure the Signal Generator is IN LINE with the expected route of these services 3 Turn the Signal Generator on and check that the batteries are OK 4 The signal will be radiated into the ground immediately below and for approximately 3 metres ei...

Page 24: ...g up the airborne signal rather than the signal induced onto the buried service 2 Stand so that you are roughly in line with the end of the Signal Generator and hold the locator so that the side of the locator is facing towards the end of the Signal Generator 3 Adjust the Sensitivity so that the locator is just showing a visual response and emitting an audible response NOTE A Signal Generator will...

Page 25: ...strength of the induced signal on the buried service by improving the positioning of the Signal Generator Once the buried service has been pinpointed then by moving the position of the Signal Generator slightly either side an increase or decrease in the locator response will be noticed Remember the closer the Signal Generator is to the position of the buried service then the stronger the signal wi...

Page 26: ... of the Signal generator but NOT directly below Limitations of Induction Method There are limitations concerning what can be achieved when using a Signal Generator on the Induction mode compared to the Connected mode It is not normally possible to identify what the service is that has been detected with an induced signal If the signal can be followed far enough a visible feature such as a valve co...

Page 27: ...d end on whilst you hold the locator 3 Adjust the Sensitivity so that the locator is just showing a visual response and emitting an audible response 4 In unison slowly walk across the site staying the same distance apart and being careful to keep in line with each other When the Signal Generator gets close to a buried metallic service the signal will be induced onto it and you should see this in t...

Page 28: ...pointed by using the Locator switched to Generator mode The Sonde can be used in pipes as small as 50mm in diameter and up to 5 metres deep It will NOT transmit a signal through a metal pipe The Sonde does not send a signal ALONG the pipe but does transmit a distinct signal that the locator will detect It is inserted into and then moved along the pipe to the point at which the pipe needs to be loc...

Page 29: ...ointing Before inserting the Sonde into the pipe itself it is best to set up the locator such that the Sensitivity is already correctly adjusted to suit the pipe depth 1 The blade of the locator must be held IN LINE with the Sonde at all times 2 Turn the locator to Generator mode and switch on Check the battery level indicator to confirm the locator batteries are usable Replace if necessary NOTE T...

Page 30: ...e position of the Sonde The locator is now set up ready for tracing the Sonde 5 Push the Sonde up the pipe 6 With the locator turned on walk from the pipe access point in the direction that the Sonde was pushed A strong peak signal directly over the Sonde should be detected with two lesser ghost signals found either side of the Sonde s true position These ghost signals are always weaker than the m...

Page 31: ...nal Generator signal is applied using the Direct Connection to a metal pipe method as shown in Using the Signal Generator Only one lead is connected to the Plastic pipe tracer the other is connected to an earth stake NOTE The Signal Generator signal is unlikely to travel the entire length of the Tracer within the pipe Never assume that you have located the end of the Tracer on Line Tracing mode Us...

Page 32: ...ith the signal from a Signal Generator It is acting much like a Sonde and offers a very reliable way of pinpointing the position of the tip The Signal Generator signal is applied by connecting the red Direct Connection lead to one of the terminals on the Tracer and the black Earth lead to the other terminal As the second connection is made a change of tone should be heard from the Signal Generator...

Page 33: ...osition of the buried service Make sure the locator is directly over the buried service and at right angles to it s route Rest the locator on the ground with the body vertical WARNING The depth indication MUST NOT be used to decide if mechanical digging over the buried service is appropriate WARNING If the following procedure for Depth Measurement is not followed then an inaccurate depth may be in...

Page 34: ...nges in depth Near to a T junction in the service At the very end point of a service At any point where the signal has coupled onto an adjacent service Close to any large metallic objects such as metal fences or vehicles Within 25 metres of the position of the Signal Generator if used on Induction mode Under reinforced concrete The signal is of poor quality Too close to the Signal Generator or lea...

Page 35: ...rror codes when a depth measurement has been attempted 1 The service is too shallow less than 0 20m deep for the Locator to obtain an accurate depth It should be possible to calculate the depth by raising the Locator a set amount and then carry ing out the depth measurement again 2 The service is too deep for the Locator to measure its depth 3 The Signal Generator signal on the buried service is n...

Page 36: ...ool at a fluorescent light from a distance of 1m Switch the light on A loud tone should be heard and the display should read greater than 50 full scale Reducing the sensitivity should cause the displayed reading to reduce and the tone to cut out Radio Mode Select Radio Mode Set the Sensitivity fully clockwise and from a distance of less than 0 25m point the unit at a metal conductor of length grea...

Page 37: ...educed Place the Signal Generator on the ground in the normal orientation and switch on a tone should be heard Set to Continuous and ensure highest output power is selected With the C Scope Cable Avoidance Tool in the orientation shown and Sensitivity rotated fully clockwise the results indicated should be obtained DISTANCE MODE AUDIO METER 6metres Generator Present Full scale 12metres Generator L...

Page 38: ...anged to create an open loop on the ground of approximately 1m diameter Check that a signal can be detected by the Cable Avoidance Tool in Generator Mode when pointed closely at the loop Depth Measurement XD Model Only An area of services metal structures etc should be chosen beware of reinforced car parks A search with the C Scope Cable Avoidance Tool in all 3 modes will help confirm the absence ...

Page 39: ...he Signal Generator The Signal Generator is turned on with lowest power and continuous mode selected The C Scope Cable Avoidance Tool should then be held vertically above the longer wire approximately midway along it ie 10m from the Signal Generator The depth can then be measured It is best to make a few readings at different depths Beware metal step ladders affect the accuracy 36 ...

Page 40: ... Tool and Signal Generator incorporate weather proof seals however they are not guaranteed to prevent water ingress if the units are immersed Cleaning If required the equipment can be cleaned with a sponge dampened with warm water A mild soap may be used if required The use of solvents should be avoided Do not allow moisture in the battery compartments or near the connectors Storage The equipment ...

Page 41: ...curacy 10 of depth Depth Measurement XD Only G Mode only Range 0 2m to 3m line 0 85m to 4 5m sonde Accuracy 5 1m Construction Case moulded from high impact plastic sealed to IP65 Weight 2 9kg including batteries Size 720mm x 270mm x 63mm Designed to withstand 1metre drop onto a hard surface Power source Internal 8 AA LR6 cells alkaline recommended Battery life 40Hrs intermittent use at 20 C Note P...

Page 42: ...aximum short circuit output current 18mA rms Maximum power 320mW into 1kΩ load Connection mode is automatically selected when lead is plugged into socket Induction Mode Maximum field strength at 10m 40 dB_µA m Maximum power output into a single turn close coupled 465 mW 0 22Ω load 0 32V rms Construction Injection moulded high impact plastic case sealed to IP65 Incorporates a clip on accessory comp...

Page 43: ...te the next service is due is marked on the equipment Repairs Before returning equipment suspected of being faulty please check the machine carefully with a fresh set of batteries Check the battery connections and rotate the batteries in the holder Refer to the section on functional checks and if possible substitute known good equipment as a confirmation If the problem persists then contact the co...

Page 44: ...C Scope International Ltd Kingsnorth Technology Park Wotton Road Ashford Kent TN23 6LN t 01233 629181 f 01233 645897 e info cscope co uk w www cscope co uk Part no B1069 01 05 ...