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Operation Manual  27

7.4.6  Checking sonde depth

The locator will automatically display the depth 
of a located sonde providing the locator is correctly 
oriented and positioned above the sonde. Using the LCD 
compass as a guide, rotate the locator until the compass 
indicates the sonde is in East/West position.

Calculation method

Pinpoint the sonde. Move the locator in front of the sonde 
and still with the antenna in line with it, increase sensitivity 

to find the peak of the ghost signal. Move the locator 

to behind the sonde ensuring that the locator blade is 
always in line with the sonde. Find the null positions A 
and B (see Figure 7.8). Measure the distance between 
them and multiply by 0.7 to give an approximate depth 
measurement.

7.4.7  Types and range of sondes

Standard sonde

The standard sonde combines compact size with 
a strong signal and is the standard sonde for most 
applications unless a smaller size, greater depth or 
rugged construction sonde is required.

Figure 7.9: Standard sonde

Super small sonde

This is a specialized sonde particularly suitable for no-dig 
applications. This type of sonde has an interchangeable 
battery compartment so that the length of the sonde can 
be altered. Shortening the length of the sonde means that 
fewer batteries can be accommodated and this will affect 
battery life.

Figure 7.10: Super small sondes

Sewer sonde

This sonde incorporates a very strong housing and makes 

the sonde suitable for use in municipal sewer systems. 
The sonde has a long life for daily use in all conditions.

Figure 7.11: Sewer sonde

Super sonde

A particularly rugged sonde for use in deep sewers.

FlexiTrace

The FlexiTrace is a traceable plastic covered fiberglass rod 

incorporating wire conductors and is used for locating small 
diameter, non-metallic pipes to a depth of to 3 meters. 
The FlexiTrace can be inserted into a pipe or duct as 
small as 12mm/0.5 inch internal diameter with a minimum 
bend radius of 250mm. Batteries are not required, as the 
FlexiTrace is powered by the  transmitter.

The FlexiTrace can be used in two modes: Sonde mode or 
Line mode. In sonde mode only the tip of the FlexiTrace is 
energized whilst in line mode its whole length is energized.

To use as a sonde, connect both transmitter leads to the 
FlexiTrace stud terminals. As the FlexiTrace terminals are not 
color coded it does not matter to which terminals the leads 
are connected. To use the FlexiTrace in line mode, connect 
the red transmitter lead to a FlexiTrace terminal and ground 

the black lead.

Figure 7.12: FlexiTrace

Summary of Contents for Radiodetection RD7000+

Page 1: ...RD7000 Radiodetection s utility specific cable and pipe locators Operation Manual l Issue 1 l January 2011 90 RD7K OPMAN ENG 01 ...

Page 2: ......

Page 3: ...can get hot after prolonged use at full output power Take care while replacing or handling the batteries Battery disposal Batteries should be disposed of in accordance with your company s work practice and or the relevant laws or guidelines in your country or municipality Before you begin Thank you for your interest in Radiodetection s RD7000 cable and pipe locator The RD7000 delivers the very lat...

Page 4: ...f de radiocommunication de catégorie II respecte la norme CNR 310 d Industrie Canada Training Radiodetection provides training services for most Radiodetection products Our qualified instructors will train equipment operators or other personnel at your preferred location or at Radiodetection headquarters For more information go to www radiodetection com or contact your local Radiodetection represe...

Page 5: ...ing down 8 3 5 Headphones 8 3 6 Frequencies 8 3 6 1 Passive frequencies 8 3 6 2 Active frequencies 8 3 6 3 Selecting frequencies 9 3 7 TruDepth measurement 9 3 8 SideStepauto 9 3 8 1 Using SideStepauto 9 3 9 Dynamic Overload Protection 9 3 10 StrikeAlert 10 3 10 1 Using StrikeAlert 10 3 11 Antenna modes 10 3 12 Backlight 10 3 13 Audio 10 3 14 Transmitter power output 11 3 14 1 Adjusting power outp...

Page 6: ...inal factory calibration certificate 33 9 4 Upgrading software 33 9 5 Care and maintenance 34 9 5 1 General 34 9 5 2 Batteries and power supply 34 9 5 3 Cleaning 34 9 5 4 Disassembly 34 9 5 5 Service and maintenance 34 Section 10 Appendices 35 10 1 Specifications for the locator and transmitter 35 10 2 Supported frequencies 35 10 3 Supported accessories 36 Table of figures Figure 2 1 RD7000 locato...

Page 7: ...stem Section 4 introduces the theory and practice of cable and pipe location using the RD7000 locator and transmitter Section 5 introduces depth and current readings Section 6 provides general locating tips Section 7 introduces the range of accessories that are compatible with the RD7000 Section 8 introduces cable sheath fault finding using the RD7000TL and PL models and an accessory A frame Secti...

Page 8: ... RD7000 Operation Manual 1 2 3 6 5 4 7 8 9 10 9 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26 Figure 2 1 RD7000 locator Figure 2 2 locator keypad Figure 2 3 locator LCD 22 ...

Page 9: ...peak marker Signal strength Numeric indication of signal strength Peak arrows Indicates the location of the line relative to the locator Battery icon Indicates the battery level Volume icon Displays the volume level Fault Find arrows PL and TL models only Radio Mode Indicates when Radio Mode is active Power Mode Indicates when Power Mode is active Accessory indicator Indicates when an accessory is...

Page 10: ...RD7000 Operation Manual 3 2 1 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 8 5 6 7 7 4 Figure 2 4 RD7000 transmitter Figure 2 5 Rechargeable battery pack Figure 2 6 transmitter keypad Figure 2 7 transmitter LCD ...

Page 11: ...ic description of selected operation mode Standby icon Appears when the transmitter is in Standby Mode Output level Displays transmitter output power Clamp icon Indicates when a clamp or other plug is connected DC icon Appears when the transmitter is powered from a DC source Induction indicator Appears when the transmitter is in Induction Mode A Frame Tx 3 and Tx 10 only Indicates when the transmi...

Page 12: ...ystem The locator and transmitter are battery powered Install good quality D cell LR20 NiMH or Alkaline batteries into the locator and transmitter battery compartments or install the appropriate rechargeable battery pack Alternatively you can power the transmitter from a mains or vehicle power source using a Radiodetection supplied adapter To switch the locator or the transmitter on press and hold...

Page 13: ...the transmitter to enter the BATT submenu Scroll up or down to select the correct battery type 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 Press the key to accept your selection and return to the main menu Press the key to return to the main operation screen The RD7000 is now ready to use 3 3 Using the menu The RD7000 locator and transmitter menus allow you to select or change system options Once entered the ...

Page 14: ... range of locatable active and passive frequencies For a complete list of supported frequencies please refer to the table in Appendix 10 2 3 6 1 Passive frequencies Passive frequency detection takes advantage of signals that are already present on buried metallic conductors The RD7000 range supports up to three types of passive frequencies Power Radio and Cathodic Protection System CPS RD7000DL on...

Page 15: ...t as follows Less than 1 meter depth is displayed in centimeters Greater than 1 meter depth is displayed in meters Less than 3 feet depth is displayed in inches Greater than 3 feet depth is displayed in feet 1 2 3 1 2 For more information on measuring depth please refer to Section 5 3 8 SideStepauto SideStepauto allows the transmitter to calculate the optimum frequency based on ground impedance Th...

Page 16: ...PL and TL models only Combined Peak Null mode all models For more information on selecting and using the various antenna modes to assist with cable and pipe location please refer to Section 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 3 12 Backlight The transmitter and locator feature a backlight to improve LCD visibility when required The locator s backlight is controlled by an ambient light sensor and does n...

Page 17: ...ting potentially lethal wattages Exercise extreme caution when using Boost To configure boost Switch on the transmitter Press the key to enter the menu Scroll to the BOOST option using the or arrows Press the key to enter the BOOST menu Set the BOOST duration using the or arrows You can choose 5 10 15 and 20 minute periods Press the key to accept your changes and exit the BOOST menu Press the key ...

Page 18: ...of the direction of the target cable pipe or sonde The compass is available when locating active frequencies as well as CATV and CPS passive frequencies The compass is unavailable when the locator is set to detect passive Power and Radio signals 1 2 1 2 This section introduces the principals and techniques of locating buried cable and pipe utilities with the RD7000 system For more information on t...

Page 19: ...rt with medium output power from the transmitter medium frequency on the transmitter and locator and peak mode on the locator Set the locator sensitivity to approximately 50 NOTE it may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity level throughout the pinpointing to keep the bar graph on scale Peak mode Null mode True Position Peak Position Null Position Figure 4 3 Pinpointing with Peak Null With the an...

Page 20: ...or 20 paces upstream or downstream of the transmitter Hold the transmitter with its length aligned with the assumed direction of any lines Switch to null response mode and move the locator to find the null position If the position of the peak and the null pinpoints correspond it can be assumed that the pinpoint is precise The pinpoint is not precise if the marks do not correspond but both marks wi...

Page 21: ...ds keeping the locator vertical as they proceed in parallel with the transmitter This method allows for misalignment of the transmitter locator and buried line The transmitter applies the strongest signal to the lines directly below it which are then located with the locator Move the transmitter from side to side to establish the highest signal which indicates that the transmitter is also directly...

Page 22: ...bove the target line cable or sonde To ensure the locator is correctly oriented use the LCD Compass When locating lines make sure the Compass displays the line in the 6 o clock position When locating sondes see Section 10 4 make sure the Compass displays the line in the East West position Figure 5 1 Taking a depth reading To avoid signal distortion do not apply the signal by induction If direct co...

Page 23: ... as another cable or pipe running in close parallel to the target pipe or cable There are two ways of checking the calibration of the locator in the field Both methods require the use of a transmitter Method 1 Place the transmitter on top of a non metallic object such as a cardboard box on the ground and away from any buried lines Switch the transmitter on ensuring that no accessories are connecte...

Page 24: ...sudden or abrupt current change indicates that the line or its condition has changed In congested areas where there is more than one line the locator may sometimes detect a stronger signal from an adjacent line to which the signal has coupled or shares common grounding because it is nearer the surface Although current measurement compensates for depth signal response will be less as the depth incr...

Page 25: ...on and display the depth reading on the LCD A signal coupled to a nearby line may distort the accuracy of the measurement If the accuracy of the reading is suspect sweep the area to check if other nearby lines are radiating the signal If other signals are causing interference it may be necessary to make the current measurement at another point along the line Both antennae are needed to make a curr...

Page 26: ...r This will null the signal directly below the transmitter and in addition enable the other conductors to be located Locate each conductor and mark its position Move the transmitter down the route and continue locating and marking Trace each conductor out of the search area until the target line can be accurately located 6 1 2 Unwanted signal coupling Unwanted coupling of the signal from the targe...

Page 27: ...lmost as effective as connecting to the cable sheath itself Normally the cable sheath is bonded to the metal column therefore a simple connection onto the column enables the user to locate the street lighting quickly and safely without having to call out a technician from the lighting company If the lighting column is made from concrete make the transmitter connection to the cable sheath unless th...

Page 28: ...ful technique for positively tracing and identifying a target line in a situation such as a heavily congested industrial site provided there are access points at each end of the line 6 3 1 Making a double ended connection Connect the transmitter to an access point on the target line The transmitter ground is connected with a long cable to another access point further along the line A complete circ...

Page 29: ...running close together A target cable can be identified in a chamber on a tray or other access point by fitting a clamp to the locator and examining each cable in turn Signal strength response shown on the locator display should be noted for each cable 7 2 1 When to use clamps Clamps can be used where Several cables or pipes run in close proximity to each other A cable or pipe is accessible at an ...

Page 30: ...e same function as the standard clamp but is useful in cramped situations where there is insufficient access for the standard clamp The small clamp is suitable for cables up to 50mm diameter 7 3 Transmitter clamps The transmitter clamp fits around a pipe or cable and safely applies a signal to a live cable without interrupting or disconnecting the supply The clamp applies a very discriminating sig...

Page 31: ...eck that the sonde has sufficient range for the application and is dimensionally small enough and sufficiently robust for the application Ensure that the frequency of the sonde corresponds with the locator frequency the locator will not locate the sonde unless the frequencies are the same Sondes are marked with their transmitting frequency Ensure that the means of propelling the sonde is available...

Page 32: ...d locator changes Propel the sonde three paces along the drain or duct and stop Place the locator over the supposed position of the sonde Do not adjust the sensitivity level To locate a sonde Move the locator backwards and forwards and stop when the bar graph indicates a peak You can use the LCD compass to orient the blade of the locator with the direction of the sonde Rotate the locator as if the...

Page 33: ...at the length of the sonde can be altered Shortening the length of the sonde means that fewer batteries can be accommodated and this will affect battery life Figure 7 10 Super small sondes Sewer sonde This sonde incorporates a very strong housing and makes the sonde suitable for use in municipal sewer systems The sonde has a long life for daily use in all conditions Figure 7 11 Sewer sonde Super s...

Page 34: ...s across waterways and estuaries are frequent and critical locating applications Less frequent but equally important is tracing and locating lines between the mainland and offshore islands When locating pipes and cables the locator sensing antennae should be as close as possible to the target line so it is not practical to locate lines buried under a river or seabed from the surface In most cases ...

Page 35: ...uld locate and trace a known line blindfolded receiving directions from the user with the locator out of sight of the line and the diver Because of rapid signal loss and a combination of large surface area and very conductive soil there may be problems applying a suitable signal for tracing a large diameter pipe It may be necessary to use a high power low frequency tracing signal It is necessary t...

Page 36: ...aking the reference reading set up the transmitter and locator as follows On the transmitter Switch the transmitter on by pressing the key Select a fault finding frequency using the key Use the or arrows to increase or decrease the 8kHz power output level If required you can use the BOOST setting if the fault is located on a high resistance cable or if the cable is long WARNING By selecting 8kHz o...

Page 37: ... dB readings will increase When the fault is passed the arrow will point back towards the transmitter Take readings at smaller survey intervals to determine the exact point of the fault When the A frame is directly over the fault the dB reading will drop as shown opposite NOTE The values given are for illustration purposes only and may not be the same as those obtained in other situations To pinpo...

Page 38: ...o carry out the instructions in Section 7 1 of the Centros Manager Operation Manual if they wish users without Administrator Rights to use Centros Manager Go to www radiodetection com centrosmanager Click on the link to download Centros Manager and a File Download Window will appear You will have a choice of either Run or Save Run Centros Manager will automatically install Save you will be given t...

Page 39: ...e the results and print a certificate carry out the following process Note You do not need to purchase an eCAL validation key to retrieve the original factory calibration certificate 1 2 3 4 5 6 Register your RD7000 locator by going to www radiodetection com extendedwarranty See section 9 1 for more details Download Centros Manager by going to www radiodetection com centrosmanager See section 9 2 ...

Page 40: ...not attempt to clean this equipment when it is powered or connected to any power source including batteries adapters and live cables Ensure the equipment is clean and dry whenever possible Clean this equipment with soft moistened cloth If using this equipment in foul water systems or other areas where biological hazards may be present use an appropriate disinfectant Do not use abrasive materials o...

Page 41: ...or rechargeable battery pack Warranty 36 Months upon registration Dynamic overload protection 30dB automatic Compliance CE FCC RSS 310 RoHS WEEE Weight Transmitter 2 84kg 6lbs including alkaline batteries 4 2kg 9lbs including supplied accessories Locator 1 87kg 4lbs including alkaline batteries Environmental protection IP54 Operating temperature range 20 C to 50 C 4 F to 122 F RD7000 will locate t...

Page 42: ...ansmitter Clamp 10 RD4GT0235 Signal Clamp Extension Rod 10 EXT 121 Transformer 10 RD2717 4KTX ENG 12V Car Power Lead with Isolation Transformer New 10 RD7K8KDCI Locator accessories High Gain Stethoscope 10 AC2645 4KRX Small Stethoscope 10 AC2643 4KRX Large Stethoscope 10 AC2644 4KRX 640 512Hz Submersible DD Antenna 10m Cable 10 SM1099 640 4KRX 8kHz Submersible DD Antenna 10m Cable 10 SM1099 8 4KRX...

Page 43: ...ODF120 9mm 60m Flexrod 10 FLEXRODF60 Batteries and rechargeables D Cell Alkaline Battery for RD8000 RD7000 RD7000 Tx 1 Tx 3 Tx 10 LR20 MN1300 04 MN1300 Transmitter Li Ion rechargeable battery pack 10 TXRBATPACK Locator rechargeable battery pack and charger 100 240V UK cordset 10 RX RECHARGEKIT UK Locator rechargeable battery pack and charger 100 240V US cordset 10 RX RECHARGEKIT US Locator recharg...

Page 44: ...e to confirm they have received the training America Radiodetection 154 Portland Road Bridgton ME 04009 USA Tel 1 207 647 9495 Toll Free 1 877 247 3797 Fax 1 207 647 9496 Email rd sales us spx com Web www radiodetection com Pearpoint 39 740 Garand Lane Unit B Palm Desert CA 92211 USA Tel 1 800 688 8094 Tel 1 760 343 7350 Fax 1 760 343 7351 Email pearpoint sales us spx com Web www radiodetection co...

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