SPX Radiodetection RD8100 Operation Manual Download Page 2

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Table of Contents

Section 1 - Preface ....................................... 2

1.1 Important notices ......................................... 2

1.2 Compliance .................................................. 3

1.3 Intellectual property ..................................... 3

Section 2 - Introduction ............................... 4

2.1 About this manual ........................................ 4

2.2 About the RD8100 ....................................... 4

2.3 Extended warranty ....................................... 4

2.4 Manual outline ............................................. 4

2.5 Safety .......................................................... 4

2.6 Training ....................................................... 5

Section 3 - System overview ....................... 7

3.1 RD8100 locator ............................................ 7

3.2 Tx-1, Tx-5 and Tx-10 transmitters ................ 9

3.3 Using the menu............................................ 9

Section 4 - Operation ................................. 11

4.1 First use ..................................................... 11

4.2 Power on / off ............................................ 13

4.3 Keypad actions & shortcuts ....................... 14

4.4 Antenna modes.......................................... 14

4.5 System setup ............................................. 15

4.6 Dynamic Overload Protection™ ................. 16

4.7 TruDepth™ measurement ......................... 16

4.8 Passive Avoidance .................................... 16

4.9 Strike

Alert

™

................................................ 16

4.10 Backlight .................................................. 16

4.11 Bluetooth wireless .................................... 17

4.12 iLOC™ and SideStep™ ........................... 17

4.13 SideStep

auto

™

......................................... 17

4.14 Transmitter power output ......................... 17

4.15 Transmitter Eco mode .............................. 18

4.16 Measure mode ......................................... 18

4.17 CALSafe™ ............................................... 18

4.18 Usage-Logging ........................................ 19

4.19 GPS (GNSS) ........................................... 19

Section 5 - Locating cables and pipes ..... 20

5.1 Frequencies ............................................... 20

5.2 Antenna modes.......................................... 21

5.3 Compass ................................................... 23

5.4 Trace ......................................................... 23

5.5 Pinpoint ..................................................... 23

5.6 Sweep and search ..................................... 24

Section 6 - Depth and current readings ... 25

6.1 TruDepth™ ................................................ 25

6.2 Verifying depth measurements .................. 25

6.3 Current readings ........................................ 26

Section 7 - Locating techniques ............... 28

7.1 Identifying target utilities ............................ 28

7.2 Signal & ground connection ....................... 29

7.3 Double-ended connections ........................ 29

Section 8 - Using accessories .................. 30

8.1 About accessories ..................................... 30

8.2 Headphones .............................................. 30

8.3 Locator clamps .......................................... 30

8.4 Transmitter clamps .................................... 31

8.5 Sondes ...................................................... 32

8.6 Stethoscopes ............................................ 34

8.7 Submersible antenna ................................ 34

Section 9 - Fault-finding ........................... 36

9.1 About fault-finding ..................................... 36

9.2 Preparation ............................................... 36

9.3 How to find a fault ..................................... 37

Section 10 - Current Direction (CD) ......... 38

10.1 Understanding CD ................................... 38

10.2 CD reset .................................................. 39

10.3 CD clamps & stethoscopes ..................... 39

Section 11 - Survey measurements ......... 40

11.1 Saving measurements ............................. 40

11.2 Survey measurement transmission over

Bluetooth ................................................ 40

11.3 Erasing measurements ........................... 40

11.4 Surv ...................................... 41

Section 12 - Bluetooth wireless
connections ............................................... 42

12.1 Switching Bluetooth On ........................... 42

12.2 Switching Bluetooth off ............................ 42

12.3 Pairing to a transmitter ............................ 42

12.4 Pairing to a PDA or PC ............................ 43

12.5 Bluetooth Protocol ................................... 43

12.6 Bluetooth standby mode .......................... 43

12.7 Troubleshooting ...................................... 44

Section 13 -

iLOC™ ................................... 45

13.1 Using iLOC .............................................. 45

13.2 iLOC functions ......................................... 45

13.3 SideStep™ .............................................. 46

Section 14 - Appendices ........................... 47

14.1 Care and maintenance ............................ 47

14.2 Enhanced Self-Test ................................. 47

14.3 RD Manager™ ........................................ 47

14.4 Warranty and extended warranty ............. 48

14.5 Upgrading software ................................. 48

14.6 eCert ....................................................... 48

14.7 Time and date error messages ................ 48

14.8 List of supported accessories .................. 49

Summary of Contents for Radiodetection RD8100

Page 1: ...RD8100 Precision Multifunction Cable Pipe Locator Operation manual 90 RD8100 OPMAN ENG 03 ...

Page 2: ...6 3 Current readings 26 Section 7 Locating techniques 28 7 1 Identifying target utilities 28 7 2 Signal ground connection 29 7 3 Double ended connections 29 Section 8 Using accessories 30 8 1 About accessories 30 8 2 Headphones 30 8 3 Locator clamps 30 8 4 Transmitter clamps 31 8 5 Sondes 32 8 6 Stethoscopes 34 8 7 Submersible antenna 34 Section 9 Fault finding 36 9 1 About fault finding 36 9 2 Pr...

Page 3: ...n to live conductors is POTENTIALLY LETHAL Direct connections to live conductors should be attempted by fully qualified personnel only using the relevant products that allow connections to energized lines WARNING The transmitter is capable of outputting potentially lethal voltages Take care when applying signals to any pipe or cable and be sure to notify other technicians who may be working on the...

Page 4: ...e equipment must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment This equipme...

Page 5: ... Manual outline Section 1 includes an overview of safety procedures and notices Review them before moving on to Section 2 and the rest of this manual Section 3 provides an overview of the RD8100 system with annotated diagrams of the locator and transmitter Section 4 introduces basic setup and operation using the RD8100 locator s menu system Section 5 introduces the theory and practice of cable and...

Page 6: ... only the minimum level necessary to take your measurements Excessive exposure to loud sounds can cause hearing damage Do not attempt to open or dismantle any part of this equipment unless directed specifically by this manual Doing so may render the equipment faulty and may void the manufacturer s warranty You are responsible for determining whether you consider the measurement results to be valid...

Page 7: ...015 Radiodetection Ltd 6 Figure 3 1 RD8100 Locator GPS active seeking satellite lock GPS satellite lock acquired 3 5 satellites fixed 6 8 satellites fixed 9 11 satellites fixed 12 or more satellites fixed ...

Page 8: ...icon Displays the volume level 22 Current Direction arrows 23 Radio Mode Indicates when Radio Mode is active 24 Power Mode Indicates when Power Mode is active 25 Accessory indicator Indicates when an accessory is connected 26 CD Mode icon Indicates when Current Direction Mode is active 27 A Frame icon Indicates when the A Frame is connected 28 Operating mode indicator 29 Bluetooth icon Indicates s...

Page 9: ... 2015 Radiodetection Ltd 8 Figure 3 2 Tx Transmitter ...

Page 10: ...smitter is in Induction Mode 18 A Frame Tx 5 B or Tx 10 B only Indicates when the transmitter is in Fault Find Mode 19 CD Mode indicator Tx 10 B only Indicates that the transmitter is in Current Direction Mode 20 Voltage warning indicator Indicates that the transmitter is outputting potentially hazardous voltage levels 21 Volume icon Displays the volume level 22 Pairing icon Tx 5B or Tx 10B only A...

Page 11: ...na modes with the exception of Peak FREQ Enable or disable individual frequencies ALERT Enable or disable StrikeAlert BATT Set battery type Alkaline NiMH or Li Ion ARROW Select NULL or proportional Guidance GUIDE arrows in Peak mode COMP Enable or disable display of the Compass feature Table 3 1 Locator menu options Navigating the transmitter menu 1 Press the key to enter the menu 2 Use the or key...

Page 12: ...artment Insert 2 good quality D cell batteries Note the polarity of the cells when inserting them in the battery tray Figure 4 2 Inserting locator batteries On the transmitter To fit the D cell batteries in the transmitter unlatch the accessory tray The battery compartment see figure 3 2 is located underneath the transmitter body Use the turnkey to unlatch the battery compartment Insert eight D Ce...

Page 13: ... battery pack If using the Li ion battery pack plug the lead into the battery connector fig 4 7 Figure 4 7 Connecting the Li Ion lead NOTE Fully charge your lithium ion battery pack before its first use Transmitter battery pack 1 Unlatch then remove the accessory tray Figure 4 8 Release then remove the accessory tray 2 Turn the release catch then open the battery compartment 3 Release the retainin...

Page 14: ...put connector on the front of the battery pack Transmitter Li ion battery pack To recharge the battery pack remove the pack from the transmitter and connect the transmitter battery charger Figure 4 13 Charging the transmitter Li Ion battery pack For more information about recharging batteries refer to the instructions that came with your charger 4 2 Power on off Switch the locator or transmitter o...

Page 15: ...l Select standby maximum standard power Table 4 2 Transmitter key actions NOTE to scroll through frequencies from high to low hold while pressing the button applies to both locators and transmitters 4 4 Antenna modes The RD8100 locator supports 5 antenna modes to suit your particular application or the local environment To scroll between locate modes press the key PEAK For accurate locating the Pe...

Page 16: ... menu using the or arrows 3 Press the key on the locator or the key on the transmitter to enter the BATT menu 4 Scroll through the battery options using the the or keys 5 Press the key to accept your selection and return to the main menu 6 Press the key to return to the main operation screen 7 If you are using the optional Li Ion RD8100 battery pack the locator will automatically select the correc...

Page 17: ... a flashing mode icon Both the depth and current measurements will be disabled in the event of an overload 4 7 TruDepth measurement All RD81 00 locators use TruDepth to measure depth automatically when a good quality reading can be assured NOTE TruDepth only indicates a locate depth when The locator is correctly oriented above the target line cable or sonde The local signal conditions are assessed...

Page 18: ...eneral purpose locate frequency for the intended locate task by measuring the impedance of the target cable or pipe SideStepauto helps to improve locate accuracy by determining the best signal SideStepauto can also help to prolong battery life SideStepauto operates only in Direct Connection mode Using SideStepauto To enable SideStepauto Connect the transmitter to the target utility then 1 Press th...

Page 19: ...erity It is also possible to measure potential voltage that may be present on utilities to warn of potentially dangerous or harmful voltages present In measure mode the measurement is derived from an AC signal applied to the utility from the transmitter Impedance voltage measurements 1 Connect the Direct Connection leads to the utility and switch on the transmitter 2 Hold down the key until MEAS i...

Page 20: ... paired device OFF Select this to switch off the internal GPS module and save battery SBAS Select this to switch ON or OFF SBAS Satellite Based Augmentation System SBAS can improve GPS accuracy particularly in N America EXIT Select this to exit the GPS menu 4 Press the key to accept your changes and exit the GPS menu 5 Press the key to exit the menu Note When SBAS is ON the GPS system may take lon...

Page 21: ...ION When using custom frequencies in the range of 692Hz to 704Hz or 981Hz to 993Hz the locator audio may interfere with the locator and must be turned off NOTE Some frequencies e g 440Hz may be reserved for specific applications in your country and permission from the relevant operator s may be required for their use Contact your local Radiodetection sales office or distributor if you require help...

Page 22: ...ocating Buried Pipes and Cables which is available as a free download from www radiodetection com To select a frequency on the locator 1 Press the key to cycle through available frequencies 2 Alternatively hold down the key and press the or keys to cycle up or down the range of frequencies If locating using an active frequency you must also set your transmitter to output the matching frequency You...

Page 23: ... response is at its maximum level where the Null point is located then there is no or very limited distortion present In Peak mode the following indicators are displayed by the LCD Right and left arrows Signal strength Compass Current Depth To select Peak mode 1 Press the key until the Peak mode icon is displayed on the LCD Guidance mode Guidance mode offers good performance in distorted fields an...

Page 24: ...ition of a target line after it has been traced and its position is approximately known Start with medium output power from the transmitter medium frequency on the transmitter and locator and Peak or Peak mode on the locator Set the locator sensitivity to approximately 50 by pressing the or key NOTE it may be necessary to adjust the sensitivity level throughout the pinpointing to keep the bar grap...

Page 25: ...nductive search procedure is a more certain technique for locating unknown lines This type of search requires a transmitter and locator and two people This type of search is referred to as a two person sweep Before starting the sweep define the area of search and the probable direction of lines crossing the area Ensure the transmitter is switched on in induction mode Figure 5 5 Inductive search Th...

Page 26: ... to note that the RD8100 locator will only display depth and current in applicable modes when the locator is correctly orientated above the target line cable or sonde To ensure the locator is correctly orientated use the Compass feature When locating lines make sure the Compass display is in the North South orientation position When locating sondes see Section 8 5 make sure the Compass display is ...

Page 27: ...ter 1 Switch the locator on 2 Select the same frequency as is selected on the transmitter but make sure that this frequency is in the sonde mode 3 Move the locator from left to right and when the bargraph reading is at its Peak note the depth as indicated on the locator Measure the distance from the base of the locator to the center of the transmitter using a tape measure 4 Compare this reading wi...

Page 28: ...oducts that allow connections to energized lines Signal current measurements Pinpoint the line and confirm the accuracy of the Peak pinpoint with null arrows Check the locator is directly over the line with the antennas at right angles to it and vertical The locator will automatically estimate and display depth on the LCD A signal coupled to a nearby line may distort the accuracy of the measuremen...

Page 29: ...or to marking the wrong line A certain degree of coupling is unavoidable in many situations but there are ways in which a careful user can reduce coupling and increase location reliability Avoid applying the signal by induction The signal may be coupling to more than one line directly from the transmitter Use the signal clamp where possible Identify points where lines may be bonded or in close pro...

Page 30: ...t the best possible grounding for the transmitter This provides the lowest resistance ground path and the best output signal If it is not possible to use the ground stake the following are examples of good alternative ground points Metal manhole covers Metal drainage grates Metal railings Metal fence posts 7 3 Double ended connections Large diameter water pipes and gas distribution pipes that are ...

Page 31: ...ry Exercise caution 8 3 Locator clamps A locator clamp is used to positively locate and identify a cable when several cables are 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 When to use clamps...

Page 32: ... effective method of applying the signal than Direct Connection The target line will carry the strongest signal The other lines will carry the weaker return signal If the system comprises only two conductors they may carry equal signals WARNING Do not clamp around uninsulated live conductors WARNING Before applying or removing the clamp around a power cable ensure that the clamp is connected to th...

Page 33: ...sewer pipes Consult the precision locate accessory range brochure or web page on www radiodetection com for a full list of all available sondes and their technical specifications Check 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...

Page 34: ...inpoint and mark the position Repeat this pinpoint procedure at similar intervals along the line of the drain or duct until the survey is completed Checking sonde depth The RD8100 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 t...

Page 35: ...her for identifying inaccessible small cables Miniature hi gain stethoscope The miniature stethoscope is similar to the small stethoscope but has no handle or facility for extension rods The miniature stethoscope can also be used as a miniature antenna for locations where the bulk of the locator makes it inconvenient for use such as locating pipes or cables in walls CD stethoscope In restricted ar...

Page 36: ...t is prudent for the pair to practice working together on dry land before attempting to locate underwater Using the antenna the diver should 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...

Page 37: ...nd the connection is clean and that a positive connection is achieved 3 Extend the black connection lead as far away as possible at 90 to the probable route of the target cable and clip the connector to the ground stake ensuring that a positive connection is achieved NOTE Always connect the black connection lead to a ground stake and not a water pipe or buried cable as these may carry the signal R...

Page 38: ...through all available antenna modes until the locator goes back to fault find mode Note While the A Frame is connected to the locator depth and current measurements will not be available If depth or current measurements are required remove the A Frame lead from the locator As a fault is approached the Fault Find direction arrow will lock on to the fault signal point forward and the dB readings wil...

Page 39: ... with a normal clamp or induction These can however be applied with a transmitter CD clamp Using Current Direction CD to aid line identification The RD8100 PDL PTL locators and Tx 10 and Tx 10B transmitters feature several CD frequencies to help you determine the direction of current through a target line NOTE The transmitter and locator must both have the same CD frequency or frequencies installe...

Page 40: ...n the example shown in the illustration by returning to C which is the last point at which a CD reading was achieved and performing a CD reset the response at C will be equivalent to that of A In most cases the phase angle shift does not occur until many kilometers from the transmitter and in some cases a CD reset may only be required every 20 kilometers 15 miles Performing a CD reset You should p...

Page 41: ...plication See chapter 12 4 for instructions on how to enable the Bluetooth transmission to a paired device If your PDA is out of reach or if its Bluetooth features are disabled the locator will display an error code To avoid these errors disable the Bluetooth survey measurements transmission or ensure that your PDA is within range and correctly paired For more information about Bluetooth refer to ...

Page 42: ...nager is compatible with PCs running Microsoft Windows XP 7 8 and 8 1 To send stored data to your paired PDA 1 Ensure your paired PDA is switched on and running the SurveyCERT app 2 Press the key to enter the menu 3 Scroll to the DATA menu using the or keys 4 Press the key to enter the DATA menu 5 Scroll up or down to the SEND option 6 Press the key and the locator will attempt to send your stored...

Page 43: ...ion 5 Press the key to switch Bluetooth off and return to the previous menu 12 3 Pairing to a transmitter To pair to a transmitter you require a Bluetooth enabled model such as the Tx 5B or Tx 10B Before you begin try to switch off all nearby Bluetooth equipment as they may interfere with the locator and transmitter s pairing process On the locator 1 Press the key to enter the menu 2 Scroll to the...

Page 44: ...ort 12 5 Bluetooth Protocol RD8100 locators can transmit survey measurements to a paired PDA device running a compatible program To set the locator to work with Radiodetection s SurveyCERT application you need to set the data format to the PPP protocol 1 Press the key to enter the menu 2 Scroll to the BT menu using the or keys 3 Press the key to enter the BT menu 4 Scroll up or down to the PROT me...

Page 45: ... RD8100 wireless Bluetooth technology features Radiodetection recommends resetting the connection and then pairing your device again To reset the wireless connections 6 Press the key to enter the menu 7 Scroll to the BT menu using the or keys 8 Press the key to enter the BT menu 9 Scroll up or down to the RESET menu 10 Press the key and the locator will purge all current connections 11 Re pair you...

Page 46: ...uency is displayed on screen 2 iLOC commands are sent using the key press it to send the new frequency to the transmitter 3 The locator s LCD will display SEND momentarily and then OK if the transfer is successful 4 If the transfer is unsuccessful the LCD will display an error code Refer to table 13 1 for a list of codes and their meaning If the process fails you may be out of range or there may b...

Page 47: ...e or there may be an error in the connection Move closer to the transmitter and retry the procedure If the connection continues to fail return to the transmitter and reset the connection using the procedure described in Section 12 7 13 3 SideStep If you are using a preferred locate frequency and having difficulty locating the utility interference could be affecting the locate signal SideStep allow...

Page 48: ...Radiodetection or a Radiodetection approved repair center Regularly check your locator for correct operation using eCert see section 14 6 and the on board Self Test NOTE Service by non approved service centers or operators may void the manufacturer s warranty Radiodetection products including this guide are under continuous development and are subject to change without notice Go to www radiodetect...

Page 49: ...se 10 Indicate if you do not wish to receive e mail or other marketing material with new product information or special offers and promotions related to its product range 14 5 Upgrading software From time to time Radiodetection may release software upgrades to enhance features and improve performance of the RD8100 locator or transmitter Software upgrades are free of charge You can check if your pr...

Page 50: ...rame Bag 10 RX AFRAME BAG A Frame replacement lead 10 RX AFRAME LEAD 2 50mm Locator signal clamp 10 RX CLAMP 50 4 100mm Locator signal clamp 10 RX CLAMP 100 5 130mm Locator signal clamp 10 RX CLAMP 130 CD and Current Measurement Clamp 10 RX CD CLAMP GPS PDA with SurveyCERT 10 RX PDA Transmitter Accessories Live Plug Connector 10 TX LPC XX XX US UK EU Live Cable Connector with Crocodile clips 10 TX...

Page 51: ... SONDE STD 33 Standard Sonde 8kHz depth up to 5m 10 SONDE STD 8 Standard Sonde 512Hz depth up to 5m 10 SONDE STD 512 Sewer Sonde 33kHz depth up to 8m 10 SONDE SEWER 33 External Shell for heavy duty Applications dia as Sewer Sonde 10 SONDE SEWER SHELL Super Sonde 33kHz depth up to 15m 10 SONDE SUPER 33 Slim Sonde 33kHz depth up to 3 5m 10 SONDE SLIM 33 Slim Sonde Plain End Cap 10 SONDE SLIM ENDCAP ...

Page 52: ...s 10 RX MBATPACK LION K XX Li Ion rechargeable battery mains kit includes mains charger Replace XX with US UK EU or CN Li Ion automotive charger 10 RX ACHARGER LION Li Ion mains charger 10 RX MCHARGER LION XX Replace XX with US UK EU or CN Li Ion rechargeable battery pack no charger 10 RX BATPACK LION 2 cells battery tray 10 RX 2DCELL TRAY Transmitter power accessories and spares Mains PSU 10 TX M...

Page 53: ...rd case 10 RD7K8KCASE USA Miscellaneous Safety equipment Warning triangle 10 WARNING TRIANGLE Calibration Certificates Remote Calibration and PC Software Locator Calibration Certificate per unit request with initial locator order 97 RX CALCERT eCert Calibration Credit 10 RX ECERT RDManager Check product documentation for details Visit www radiodetection com rdmanager Warranty Registration for free...

Page 54: ... USA 39 740 Garand Lane Unit B Palm Desert CA 92211 USA Tel 1 800 688 8094 Tel 1 760 343 7350 pearpoint sales us spx com www pearpoint com Radiodetection Canada 344 Edgeley Boulevard Unit 34 Concord Ontario L4K 4B7 Canada Tel 1 905 660 9995 Toll Free 1 800 665 7953 rd sales ca spx com www radiodetection com Radiodetection Ltd UK Western Drive Bristol BS14 0AF UK Tel 44 0 117 976 7776 rd sales uk s...

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SPX Radiodetection RD8100, Operation Manual

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