Underground Fault Locator

[frogneck77]

Anyone have any helpful ideas? Im working in a high traffic parking lot and half the pole lights arent working. The last place Ive traced the line working is a manhole- Ive got 480V between all (3) #2AL phase legs and 277V to ground. The next closest pole has only (2) #4CU phase legs with 0V to ground on one of them. Any ideas for finding the buried splice or break point. Ive already mapped the piping out with an underground circuit tracer(tone generator). Any helpful hints would be appreciated.
Bill

 

[ptonsparky]

I use an Ideal. Ditch Witch makes one, as do others. A TDR may work. All expensive. Some of the guys here use an Amprobe. Unless you have the dollars to purchase equipment, hire the locate done and then make the repairs yourself.

 

[masterinbama]

Energize only the suspected conductor. You should then be able to find the break with the same tracer you used to map out the underground .

 

[ptonsparky]

Did I read piping? Pull new wires.

 

[cmanningjr]

Plusar 2000 secondary thumping machine will put you directly on the spot.

I I believe that Green Lee carries them now.


OR call your local one call.(Line Locate) If you get an experienced Locator. He can pin point the fault by watching the meter on his equipment.

Ask them if they have an older Subsite Locator at the shop to bring out. If they are experienced enough, they will know how to do it.

 

[Cow]

Did I read piping? Pull new wires.

I agree.

I'd try to pull it out and replace it first. If it doesn't budge, then I'd assume the conduit is broken and start using a locator.

 

[bth0mas20]

Everytime I go on a job that their is an underground fault I will practice with my Ridgid sr-20 locator and amprobe at 2005 tracer to find the break. Usually its easy to talk the HO into letting me trench a new line.

Does anyone have any tips for using a locator or tracer to find underground faults?

 

[ptonsparky]

The actual fault locator I use is a no brainer. It says "Go this way stupid" "Back up you idiot", "About time!!"

Not quite but pretty close.

Using a cable locator to find faults takes a knack that I never did develop although the method is described in the instruction sheets.

 

[cmanningjr]

The only locator that I've ever had any luck with is the older subsite locators. (Made by Ditchwitch)

Connect to the line you think/know is faulted and watch the signal meter. As soon as the meter drops. There is your fault.


I've done fault locating for the Power Company for around 8 years. You get a knack for this after a while.

 

[frogneck77]

I found the location using the tip about energizing the broken conductor and was able to find the approximate location of the fault. There appears to be a buried junction box in this vicinity. The excavator will be digging a new trench as soon as CBYD comes out. Thanks for the tips

 

[SiddMartin]

I've always used an Ideal "wand" ( it looks like a wand, about 3' long). You set up the one box with the strengh meter with one lead on a phase wire and the other to an earth ground. (dont use conduit ground, in the event that it is fused to phase wire). And the wand makes a tone and the meter goes high when your above it, and lower when not. You can actually find out the depth of the wire by how far left or right you take the wand without losing tone. Very nice, but does take some gettin use to.


Sorry, dont have product info