Need help designing an underground wire detector

by Prospector Sep 3, 2007 10:27AM PDT

Sorry if I'm in the wrong place, but I thought the Electronics Forum would be the best place to go for help. I'm trying to locate a buried water line which is made of black polyethylene plastic. This is not detectable, but the 10/3 + ground ga copper wire running from the well to the house is. Miss Utility will not mark private lines so I would like to make an audio detection device similar to the ones used by the utility companies to locate underground wires. Basically an audio signal is transmitted on the underground wire and a microphone is used above ground to detect a null signal. I have tried using portable walkie talkies, boomboxes and laptops with no success. I've even tried an electric fence charger. If someone could suggest a workable system or refer me to another source I would be very appreciative. Thank you.

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interesting

by ozos Sep 3, 2007 10:43AM PDT

know any septic repair people, or others that work in the ground in a residential area often?

not really sure what device you're talking about, but it sounds like something that doesnt come cheap, i'd suggest a metal detector but not sure if it'd pick anything up (depends on depth, sensitivity, wire's content, etc)

i think the setup you might be talking about involves transmission of a null signal, not neccisarily audio, and that signal's frequency is recieved above ground, which sounds like something that gets very expensive very fast

assuming it runs in a straight line or near straight line, you could figure its rough position with math and observation, if it goes around corners, trig comes into play, but it'd atl east give you a heads up as to where you might not wanna go digging blindly

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Re: buried wire detector.

by Prospector Sep 3, 2007 10:57AM PDT

Thanks for your response. I'm sure a professional model of the instrument I'm trying to jury-rig is very expensive. I've tried a metal detector with and without current in the wires. No result. Based on measurements from the well casing pitless adapter and the soil depth where the water line and wire enter the house I estimate the wire to be buried about two feet underground.

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by sigsauer226 Sep 3, 2007 11:17AM PDT

They make an inexpesive wire locators. What they do is put a signal on the wire and use a detector to pick up the signal. You need like a signal or function generator where you can adjust they amplifcation. Then also something to pick up the signal. A regular audio signal (depending on the depth, soil, dampness may never make it up to the surface. Those invisible fences used for dogs, might work. If you live in an area where it freezes the water line is going to be at least 30in down to avoid freezing. Sorry I'm not much more help.

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Re: Buried wire detector

by Prospector Sep 3, 2007 12:42PM PDT

Thanks for your response. What you describe is basically what I am looking for. My son has a dog fence, but the perimeter wire is only a few inches below ground. The frost line in my area is 24 inches which is where I measured the water line at the well and at the house.

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Re: Buried wire detector

by kevancamp Jun 1, 2008 6:34PM PDT

Here's a couple of suggestions:

1. Buy a dog fence wire break detector. You can find one on ebay by searching with that subject, or on http://www.radiofence.com/customer-service/finding_wire_breaks.htm

2. My understanding of how they work is they transmit a radio signal on an AM frequency, one tone on one wire and a different tone on the other wire. The wire works as an antenna, and you hold an AM radio and walk along the length of the wire. When you start on one end, you hear one tone, when you start on the other end you hear the other tone. When it changes tone you've reached the break.

In your case, you're not trying to detect a break, so you should be able to hook up a transmitter on whatever end of wire you have, and use a radio to detect its presence. If you're handy with electronics, you can build your own AM radio transmitter, this is a standard science fair electronics project. Try googling on something like "build an am radio transmitter".

Ken

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metal detector

by givemeaname Jun 2, 2008 4:14AM PDT

I would call around to your friends & see if any one has a metal detector or see if you can rent one somewhere. 2 feet is a bit to deep for a Stud/metal finder & radio would not be that accurate

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Dig alert

by dinox64 Jun 2, 2008 11:47AM PDT

I use to do look ups for the phone company when I was on the dig crew. Now-adays private companies like Utiliquest do it for everybody but the gas company here in CA. I know they or they use to when they were called UTI(underground technology inc.) would do private property if paid on an hourly basis.
I know sometimes we could pick up shallow drops just using our flicker set and tone receiver. Both of which can be bought at Lowes/Home Depot. for under a 100 bucks.

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I wish you luck. It seems hiring the services to find the

by NM_Bill Jun 3, 2008 1:56AM PDT

cable & water pipe is more practical than trying to buy sufficient equipment for one time.

I'm just not optimistic that a wire break locater or flicker set or tone receiver will be sufficient to pick up a locating signal as the pipe & wire are probably a full three feet or so deep.

That's the way it works around here anyway. I have seen the attempt before & after hard labor digging the three feet or so the next step was a back hoe rental.

This is not to say I personally know of these possible pieces of equipment.

I'd like to be more positive, but think shortcuts will not cut it.

Need help designing an underground wire detector

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