New (sort of)

**GPGrasshopper** · March 17th, 2009, 10:38 PM

Hello to all. I used to read this forum all the time until I forgot my user name and password. A buddy of mine recently mentioned the site and I decided to check it out again. I am glad I did. There are a lot of good threads here. I started as a locator in 1996 and still have some of the fanciest painted boots that Krylon can provide.

**TheCableVine** · March 18th, 2009, 12:44 AM

Welcome back. Glad you made it.

**Goldenboy** · March 18th, 2009, 07:26 AM

Welcome back... Glad you found the site again...

**ifinditunderground** · March 18th, 2009, 08:26 AM

Welcome back GPG

**yahoo** · March 18th, 2009, 07:54 PM

welcome dude to the vine again....post often...

**RD_Wrangler** · March 18th, 2009, 08:09 PM

Salutations.

**paintman** · March 18th, 2009, 09:09 PM

welcome to the vine

**paintitout** · March 18th, 2009, 09:49 PM

Welcome back to the Vine, I think I have done the samething a couple times over the years.It is always good to come back.

**GPGrasshopper** · March 19th, 2009, 04:24 PM

Thanks for the warm reception. Has anyone here ever tried out the new RD4000? I heard today that the new ones can take the 120v so that you can break apart a meter base and hook to the post on the neutral for direct connect. I don't typically use RD, but that would be a useful feature.

**RD_Wrangler** · March 19th, 2009, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by GPGrasshopper

Thanks for the warm reception. Has anyone here ever tried out the new RD4000? I heard today that the new ones can take the 120v so that you can break apart a meter base and hook to the post on the neutral for direct connect. I don't typically use RD, but that would be a useful feature.

Ummm...I would never advise anyone to "break apart a meter base" unless they are a liscenced journeyman electrician with the background to do so safely. There is no need to DC to the Neutral. The Neutral Buss that the secondary connects to is solid ground to the base anyway. DC'ing to the box will provide the same results.

My weapon of choice is the RD4000, started using it in 2004. It will NOT take a 120v current (the current in a secondary in a meter base is 480v anyway) and hooking up to ANY live, or suspected live, electric line is not smart, period.

**GPGrasshopper** · March 19th, 2009, 08:18 PM

I never worked in an area where getting access to inside the meter was an option. We DC to the ground wire on the meter base, or clamp the riser, or clip the transformer. My buddy works for a electric coop and they do things that I personally would not. I also do not have exprerience with RD's. Mine has mostly been pipehorn, metrotech and subsite. I thought it sounded funny when he told me that the box would take 120, but since I didn't know if it true or not, I figured someone here might be able to set me straight.
Back in the mid/ late 90's one of the companies we contracted to would bury electric service stub outs hot. We used to use a voltage tester on the neutral before DC to it to find the stubs. Luckily that went the way of the Dodo.