TDR Find

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ptonsparky

ptonsparky

Tom
Location
NE (9.06 miles @5.9 Degrees from Winged Horses)
Occupation
EC - retired
Farm implements snagged this underground in several spots. Years of erosion. Used my TDR just to see what it would look like. The conductors I have the leads on are not going to ground. I did not believe the blib downward so I dug it up. I believe it is just the sand packed in around the conductors. Still learning yet so comments from the learned are most welcome.

Also learned that new 2wd limited slip does not like sand. Stuck twice. Will carry tow rope from now on.
 
While it may not be going to ground phisically - it may be nicks or cuts in the insulation at that point. And while it may not be a short - it could be when it rains - or in this case gets irrigated...:roll: The instrument is much more sensitive than you think - I am assuming?
 
Some of the other anomalies there are your connection at the end (Kind of makes a bubble at the near/dark end a lot) - separation of the conductors there, then coming close and making turns in the ground. You should do traces from both side IMO and compare them for better accuracy, as sometimes things will 'hide' or be distorted by another fault.

I still think you got a great deal on that - how you liking it so far?
 
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I of course would never do this. :wink: but I have seen guys cut the pvc with mason line with the wire in the pipe without damaging it at say 8 ft and slip it off and slip on a new piece of unbroken the same length. :wink: Btw what brand tdr is this mine will only do network cable.
 
So far anything I have found has just been luck.

In hindsight, I realize now I could have used it on a couple other projects but I haven't gotten to use it all that much yet.

It is a Megger CFL510F. Every chance I get I measure the VF on a known lenght of whatever and store it on laptop. 4/0 was one of my lucky numbers.

We measured the depth on this conduit run every 20' for a 1/4 mile. Several hundred feet of it is less than 20". It was hit in at least one other spot. We either dig a new ditch next to it and drop it all down with repairs or bury all new and pull out the old cable. Not looking forward to either option.
 
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