Induction

[Goldenboy]

I've been inducing more and more over the last couiple years. The main problem I seem to have is jumping onto an abandoned cable. Is there any tips or tricks to avoid jumping off your target line?

In the area I work we locate everything so first I'll locate everything else but it seems like I jump onto abandoned lines quite often. In my area inducing is a necessity because of lines with no hook-up points. I only use induction as a last resort.

[underground quester]

I've been inducing more and more over the last couiple years. The main problem I seem to have is jumping onto an abandoned cable. Is there any tips or tricks to avoid jumping off your target line?
In the area I work we locate everything so first I'll locate everything else but it seems like I jump onto abandoned lines quite often. In my area inducing is a necessity because of lines with no hook-up points. I only use induction as a last resort.

Goldenboy:
From another thread I believe you locate mainly gas mains. I do as well. Is this what you are inducting? When you say "lines" could be power, telephone or gas lines.

I use a 9860 Metrotech and when inducting I can stand it on its end (rather that setting it flat at 90degrees to run of main) and almost overtop the abandoned line, that NULS out the abandoned line and you can then locate the good line. Talked with Metrotech Rep and he made me aware of this capability some time ago.

Also, I am sure as a young, but seasoned locator, you already are aware that there are sometimes breather tubes at roadsides that are connected to an underground "sleeve" and the pipeline of course is inside the sleeve.

I have very good luck filing the rust off any spot on the breather tube (looks like a rusted candy cane), then direct connecting to the breather tube. This sends an electrical signal along the sleeve and induces a current onto the gas main. Have located lines for several Kilometres (1-2 miles) using this technique.
In one area I locate, TWO pipelines pass through one sleeve, and can walk back and forth locating them both at the same time.

At times, however, this does not work, could be broken weld at connection point, etc.

Do not know what equipment you use but may be worth a call to the technical centre, or, if available a look at the book that came with the unit to see if there is a way of "NULLING out" one or more lines.

A bit tricky though and will say that when I "NUL" out there are rarely any other utilities but two or more gas/oil mains in the immediate area.

Have never tried it on power or telephone cables so have no information in that area.

[yahoo]

up to about a year ago i would induce at any given time....one day i located a phone line about sev feet off the rd and 2 weeks later went back to locate it again b.c could not see the paint any more...welll jumped out tried to induce where i thought it was the last time i located it adn bled off on an old cable that was about 2 ft away.......cable got smoked...my fault.....now i only use induction for svc's that i have located already one time .....

[underground quester]

up to about a year ago i would induce at any given time....one day i located a phone line about sev feet off the rd and 2 weeks later went back to locate it again b.c could not see the paint any more...well jumped out tried to induce where i thought it was the last time i located it adn bled off on an old cable that was about 2 ft away.......cable got smoked...my fault.....now i only use induction for svc's that i have located already one time .....

Yes, I am equally cautious. Use it MOSTLY in the rurals where I know I have few other utilities. Have lots of territory where I have another utility such as a telephone duct. Will direct connect and do it first then do the induction that way,of course, I am sure what I have located.

The problem these days is all the abandoned S**T in the ground that is just left in place - most especially the steel gas mains and copper.

[beyond help]

Yes, I am equally cautious. Use it MOSTLY in the rurals where I know I have few other utilities. Have lots of territory where I have another utility such as a telephone duct. Will direct connect and do it first then do the induction that way,of course, I am sure what I have located.

The problem these days is all the abandoned S**T in the ground that is just left in place - most especially the steel gas mains and copper.

By the way. Trying to induce with an RD4000 sucks. Can't get a service off a main. I only induce as a last resort only.

[bixbix78]

Golden~ Go to Pipehorn website~
http://www.pipehorn.com/pages/locati.../bleedover.htm

Offseting the transmitter and nulling conductors has worked wonders for me and vastly improved my induction skills.

Offset the transmitter.

In a lot of cases you can simply move the transmitter slightly to the opposite side of an adjacent conductor. This puts a slightly weaker signal on the target conductor but also significantly weakens the signal put on the adjacent conductor.

Null out the unwanted conductor.

If there are two lines causing confusion you can place the transmitter on its side in "null" position over the unwanted conductor. This will put a signal on the target conductor and make the unwanted adjacent conductor nearly disappear.

[Goldenboy]

I have been using the offset method for a while now. It definately makes life alot easier while inducting. I still only have a Rycom which definately isn't the best for induction. I would love to get a 10 watter like the RD or Verifier but I just use what the company gives me.

[TBONE]

Do what I do just mark it all