Vivax Metrotech vLoc3-5000 User Handbook Manual Download

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vLoc3-5000 User Handbook

(English Edition)

Version 1.7

P/N:4.04.000106

Summary of Contents for vLoc3-5000

Page 1: ...vLoc3 5000 User Handbook English Edition Version 1 7 P N 4 04 000106 ...

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Page 3: ...ternal clocks within some units similar to computers Generally they have a life of three to five years Under no circumstances should any attempt be made to charge these batteries Dispose of to your company s work practice environmental standards the prevailing laws or recognized best practices Always dispose of batteries responsibly 5 General Rules regarding Disposal of Batteries Never disassemble...

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Page 5: ...g Modes Response 12 2 6 1 Peak Response Mode 12 2 6 2 Broad Peak Mode 12 2 6 3 Null Mode 12 2 6 4 Delta Null 13 2 6 5 Omni Peak Response Mode 13 2 7 Information Pushbutton Depth Current 13 2 8 Alternate Locate Screens 14 3 Using the vLoc3 5000 18 3 1 Using the Receiver 18 3 2 Passive Locating 18 3 2 1 Detecting Power Signals 19 3 2 2 Detecting Radio Signals 20 3 3 Active Locating Applying the Tran...

Page 6: ...tion Pushbuttons 44 5 1 4 Transmitter Connections Block 44 5 2 Transmitter Batteries Li ion and Alkaline 45 5 2 1 Charging the Li ion Battery Tray 45 5 2 2 Removing and Installing the Battery Tray 46 5 3 Transmitter Modes 46 5 3 1 Direct Connection Mode 46 5 3 2 Clamp Mode 47 5 3 3 Induction Mode 47 5 4 Transmitter Frequencies 48 5 4 1 Frequencies and Maximum Power Output 48 5 4 2 Most Used Freque...

Page 7: ...lows 1 1 1 Model Serial Number NOTE Software Revision Number On both receiver and transmitter the software revision number is displayed on the LCD during the startup sequence or found in the About section of the user menu Receivers with the Tx Link option installed will show this icon label on the blade where it meets the yellow upper housing Transmitters with the Tx Link option installed will sho...

Page 8: ...Website www vivax metrotech com Email LatinSales vxmt com Central South America and the Caribbean Vivax Metrotech AUS Unit 1 176 South Creek Road Cromer NSW 2099 Australia Tel 61 2 9972 9244 Fax 61 2 9972 9433 Website www vivax metrotechaus com Email sales vxmtaus com service vxmtaus com Shanghai Vimap Technology Co Ltd 9 F Building 89 Xinhuiyuan No 1122 Qinzhou North Road Shanghai China 200233 Te...

Page 9: ... vLoc3 5000 Receiver 2 Mini USB cable 3 Li ion battery 4 Charger 5 AA Alkaline batteries Not supplied in all regions 6 Alkaline battery holder 7 Power cable for charger Provided based on geographical location 8 User manual 9 Padded kit carry bag Compartments and Controls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Pushbutton keypad and display 5 Mini USB port 2 Model number Serial number label 6 Battery compartment cover 3...

Page 10: ...er Connect the charger to the mains and switch it on The LED indicator on the charger will illuminate red until the batteries are fully charged at which time the LED will change to green WARNING Rechargeable batteries are supplied with a mains or 12V DC charger The charger is specific to the battery Only use the charger that is appropriate for the battery in the product Failure to use the appropri...

Page 11: ... other options that may have been ordered Informational Covers the receiver s configuration firmware version and regulatory information It is recommended that the setup section be done first It will be easier to finish the receiver s setup if it is done in the native language To enter the user menu press and hold the i key release the key when in the menu Note that where you see this symbol pressi...

Page 12: ...an be switched off Use the Enter key to select your preference Auto Power Off The unit can be set to switch off after a set time Options are 5 minutes 10 minutes or Never Note that when the accessory A frame is connected the timer defaults to Never 2 4 2 Setup Operational Frequency Press the Enter key to enter the Frequency sub menu Scroll up and down the table of available frequencies using the a...

Page 13: ...ture is used to control a transmitter with the Radio Link activated remotely For more information see the section Remote Operation of the transmitter DFT Discrete Fourier Transform is a tool to help choose a frequency to apply to the target conductor The DFT feature will aid the user with nearby interference that may affect the locate quality 2 4 4 Setup Informational About This section holds the ...

Page 14: ...p it vertical this will improve its accuracy Overhead Cable alerts indicate that the source of the signal is mainly radiating from above This alert is usually caused by the signal traveling along overhead cables 2 5 2 DFT Discrete Fourier Transform DFT is a tool to assist in choosing a frequency to apply to the target conductor The DFT feature will aid the user with nearby interference that may af...

Page 15: ...ng the least possible interference detected and 0db with the largest amount of possible interference 7 The results are ranked from the least interference possible at the top to the largest amount of most possible interference at the bottom 8 In this case the higher the dB number 80dB the less interference has been detected by the receiver Frequency 491Hz 491Hz 512Hz 8 19kHz 32 8kHz 65 5kHz 131kHz ...

Page 16: ...and the vLoc3 Pro classic screen This manual will first explain the functions of the Classic Screens as familiarity of these screen will help understand the functions of the others 2 5 4 The Classic Screen Status Bar All vLoc3 series screens have a status bar at the top indicating various locator settings The vLoc3 Series Status Bar 1 Antenna configuration meter response described later in the man...

Page 17: ...nor distortion proceed with care Red Excessive distortion treat all data and measurements with caution 5 Compass line direction indicator when using an SiS frequency arrow points forward on correct line it will reverse on incorrect line 6 Line position indicator 7 Peak level indicator 8 Frequency selection flashing frequency indicates frequency selection is not valid for this screen Choose another...

Page 18: ...ried line The compass line direction indicator aligns itself parallel to the direction of the cable together with a line position indicator showing which side of the line the locator is available in Active modes This gives a less defined peak than the twin horizontal antenna Peak mode but is useful in some situations such as deep lines because using a single antenna has the effect of boosting the ...

Page 19: ...he depth and signal current The top left of the display shows Longitude Latitude positional information To the top right is the height above sea level This information will only appear when the receiver is paired with a GPS module that is receiving a signal It is also possible to save the data to the internal memory see the Datalogging section of this manual IMPORTANT When locating a cable or pipe...

Page 20: ... view of target 7 Cross section views that show vectors to target Using the Vector screen 1 Apply the signal to the target line in the usual way and select the vector screen by using long presses on the return button until the desired screen appears 2 Position the locator within the approximate position of the target line Use the plan view to help guide you towards the target line You can imagine ...

Page 21: ...e from above ground When the line is in the center and pointing forward back then you are directly over the line and pointing in the direction of the line 12 9mA 4 3 2 1 4 41m 32 8kHz 5 32 8kHz 12 9mA 4 41m 1 Depth and current readings 2 Frequency selected 3 Target line 4 Lines of confidence closer these are to the target line indicates more confidence 5 Arrow indicates direction to move towards l...

Page 22: ...rent i e checking for large changes will ensure the correct line is detected 0 18m 3 59mA 32 8kHz 6 A short press on the info button will display the Information Screen More information relating to the Information Screen is described in a previous section Information Pushbutton Depth Current Log 2 0 54m 163mA 50 42 59 90570 N 3 26 35 54358 W 27 50m 0 SD 233mA Transverse Plot Screen The Transverse ...

Page 23: ...ter a set period of a few seconds Clear the screen by pressing the button Now walk across the line of the target at a steady pace until you are on the other side of the target line Immediately press the button to save the plot on the screen It is still possible to walk back over the target locating the position of the line when in the transverse screen while still retaining the saved screen ...

Page 24: ...ipe or cable the signals are re radiated It is these re radiated signals that can be detected by the Radio mode Power signals are created by mains power running in the supply cables These signals are 50 or 60Hz depending on country For instance the UK is 50Hz power but in the USA has 60Hz When electrical power is distributed throughout the network some of the power finds its way back to the power ...

Page 25: ...cked keeping the orientation so that the blade is in line with the direction of walking see diagram above If using the Onmi Peak mode the orientation of the locator is not important 5 Continue in a grid across the area 6 If at any time the meter reading starts to increase carefully move the locator side to side to detect the maximum signal Use the Peak Level indicator to help confirm the correct p...

Page 26: ...ne so using active signals ensures more lines are detected Choosing the correct frequency will depend on the application but as a general rule select low frequencies as these tend to bleed off less than higher frequencies A good general purpose frequency is 33kHz and is a good starting point if in doubt When using Induction or the Signal Clamp the frequencies available are limited to a set of freq...

Page 27: ...ll interfere with the locating signal Always start with a low output and increase the output if the received signal is not strong enough Setting the output to high when it is not required may result in some of the signal bleeding off onto other services and will drain more power than necessary from the battery When connecting to a ferrous material it is sometimes not possible to find a suitable pr...

Page 28: ... difficult access such as in manholes or overhead cables not to be used on uninsulated overhead power cables The extension rod is also fitted with a female thread in the handle which enables the rods to be fitted together to further extend the range To access this thread slide the yellow handle off the extension rod To operate the clamp jaws when attached to the rod gently pull on the clamp cord w...

Page 29: ...hould point along the line of the target line The induction mode is particularly useful where there is no access to the line but it should be noted that this is the least efficient method of applying a signal and it is also prone to signals being applied to adjacent lines 65ft 20m d d Also note that the signal will radiate out to the side of the transmitter as well as below For this reason it is r...

Page 30: ... a maximum signal is achieved It may be necessary to reduce the sensitivity to keep the bar graph on the scale This is a normal occurrence and should be expected Try to keep the vLoc3 receiver vertical and avoid swinging it as this may create false readings Move the locator side to side to ensure a maximum signal is detected Use the peak level indicator to assist With the maximum signal found and ...

Page 31: ...a Buried Line Where possible trace out from the transmitter connection point Having pinpointed the line hold the locator vertically and in front of you with the compass line indicator pointing forward back Start by moving the locator left to right right to left over the line Keep the movement over the center of the line i e the largest meter response adjusting the gain when necessary Whenever prac...

Page 32: ...size in the presence of possible distortion The Plan view screen has Tram lines on either side of the calculated position which moves further from the line as possible distortion is detected However when using the traditional screen the risk of an inaccurate location can be reduced further by doing the following Check to see if other radiated fields are distorting the signal Locate the cable first...

Page 33: ...r Peaks on each side of the large one A Null point will be between each small peak and the large peak The sonde is located under the center of the large peak The vLoc3 receivers detect the two Null signals and the position of the main Large Peak It uses this information to provide a reliable and efficient method of sonde location NULL NULL MAIN PEAK The vLoc3 Sonde Screen will display the Large Pe...

Page 34: ... may be necessary to confirm the Sonde position when directly over the Sonde left to right Do this by moving the locator left to right to identify the strongest signal s position as indicated on the bar graph At this time the depth of the Sonde will be displayed at the top of the display 12 Having pinpointed the Sonde position it can now be pushed into a new location and the process repeated It is...

Page 35: ...e sure that it is the correct line Then standing facing away from where the transmitter is attached press the i pushbutton The unit will display the information screen showing the depth of line signal current and an SD icon positioned over the return pushbutton Pressing the return pushbutton will synchronize the system and return the unit to the locate screen The green forward arrow will light and...

Page 36: ...detected Apply the transmitter SiS tone using the Loc3 10SiSTx transmitter Preferably use the direct connection method as this does not require transmitter receiver synchronization See below synchronization reference Not all frequencies are available with Signal Select Frequencies available are identified with SiS to ensure the receiver and transmitter are set to the same frequency mode 48 5 SIS 9...

Page 37: ...ns that using traditional methods can be seen below In this case there is a significant bleed over from the target line to a shallower line with the current running in the same direction forward in both lines Since the bleed over line is shallower its effect diminishes as the receiver is positioned farther to the right or left Thus the red filling is at a lower level in the Guidance Compass in the...

Page 38: ...ynchronize the equipment The screen will also revert to The locate screen Notice the compass arrow will now be pointing forward and the distortion meter should be empty The system is now synchronized Note that if the unit is switched off for any reason the synchronization will automatically revert to the default settings for direct connection ...

Page 39: ...t screen press the pushbutton to save the data The Log number indicates the number of records stored To exit the screen without logging the data press the button Log 1 0 87m 261mA 50 42 59 90570 N 3 26 35 54358 W 27 50m 0 SD 261mA If the GPS function is enabled the GPS coordinates will also be displayed and attached to any saved file For more information on Data logging and GPS see section 4 2 2 W...

Page 40: ...y to cancel Are you sure 7 After the deletions are complete the vLoc3 will return to the locate screen Deleting logs 4 1 Bluetooth As an option the vLoc3 series receivers can be upgraded by the user with a Bluetooth module to communicate with external GPS modules or Dataloggers vLoc3 Series Bluetooth Module ...

Page 41: ...oth module is installed A Black GPS icon indicates that the Bluetooth module is installed Bluetooth pairing with external devices 1 Switch on the external device 2 Switch on the vLoc3 series receiver and enter the user setup menu by a long press on the i button 3 Use the and keys to scroll to and select Bluetooth Pairing 4 Press the Enter key 5 Press the Enter key to start a Bluetooth search for e...

Page 42: ...gle MyLocator3 is a free downloadable App available at www vivax metrotech com in the Apps section Follow the instructions to download and install the application A MyLocator3 icon will appear on the computer desktop after the app is installed Connect your vLoc3 series receivers to the computer via the mini USB connector which can be found under the battery cover flap Launch MyLocator3 by double c...

Page 43: ...Locator3 Application is started its version number is checked against the latest version available on the Vivax Metrotech server The user is notified if an update is available as in the below illustration This feature will only be available if the computer is connected to the internet Clicking on the Update Now button will download the latest version from the Vivax Metrotech server which the user ...

Page 44: ...he PC This feature allows the user to install older versions of firmware stored on the computer although it is advised that only the latest version of firmware is used 4 3 3 Toolbar The vLoc3 series receivers can be configured so that features can be switched on or off Doing this enables the user to tailor the instrument to meet their application s needs while keeping the user interface uncluttere...

Page 45: ...v bin kml or shp files and examined later The default filename is based on the serial number of the connected locator but can be changed during the saving process If it is only required to export a portion of the log for instance a survey on a particular day use the data log scroll facility at the bottom left of the display to scroll through to the start date and time Note the log number and then ...

Page 46: ...licking and dragging the left mouse button anywhere on the image To insert your startup screen first click on the Open button Then browse your files to select the picture required as the startup screen The application is compatible with file formats jpg bmp png and gif The startup screen will be displayed in the application The Download button can be used to set the splash screen immediately or th...

Page 47: ... user control over which menu items appear on the locator and the menu item s initial setting when the locator is first used after configuration The menu items with a right pointing arrow can be expanded to reveal additional sub menu items If the On Menu item is ticked then the item will appear on the locator menu The item displayed in the Setting column will be the initial locator setting after c...

Page 48: ...ur computer via a standard USB socket the icons for the Splash Screen page Frequencies page and the Menu Settings page will change color to green This color indicates the page is unlocked Levels of Dongle security 1 End user supervisors 2 Vivax Metrotech distributors repair centers and managers The Splash Screen page Frequencies page and Menu Settings page can be individually locked by double clic...

Page 49: ... step bar graph 7 Digital readout mA volts ohms 8 Units mA volts ohms 9 Tx Link Status Blinking icon Tx Link is not paired Solid icon Tx Link is active and linked to the transmitter Output Protect Warning The transmitter checks the line when connected Output protected against accidental momentary connection to up to 230V AC RMS it will display the high voltage warning icon and not allow the transm...

Page 50: ...lected NOTE The number of i button presses and available sub menus will vary with the transmitter s mode 5 1 4 Transmitter Connections Block Transmitter Connection Block 1 2 3 4 FUSE 1 Output connection 3 pin XLR 2 Fuse holder Output protection 1 6A 250V Fuse 3 Speaker 4 Battery charging DC input socket All the connections made to the transmitter are made at the connection block except for a USB s...

Page 51: ...ent 5 2 1 Charging the Li ion Battery Tray The rechargeable battery tray can be charged while attached to the transmitter or on its own The battery condition status is displayed on the transmitter s display 1 Connect the charger to the charging socket on the transmitter s side or directly into the battery tray s charging socket 2 The LED on the charger will glow red while charging and turn green w...

Page 52: ... has three transmitting modes which are selected automatically They are Direct Connection Induction and Clamp WARNING Always connect the transmitter to the target line following your company s procedures These operations should only be performed by authorized personnel Always make connections before switching on the unit Turn the transmitter off before disconnecting 5 3 1 Direct Connection Mode Th...

Page 53: ...round the cable Clamps are also used when it is not safe to connect because the target cable is live carrying electricity The clamp is a specialized inductive device sometimes known as a toroid or coupler All clamps are optimized to work at specific frequencies In most cases clamps are designed to be used at frequencies generally between 8kHz and 9 82kHz The transmitter will only allow the selecti...

Page 54: ...tputs Loc3 10SiSTx Direct connection 10 watt 98Hz 45kHz Direct connection 5 watt Direct connection 1 watt 45kHz 200kHz Clamp Connection Available frequencies between 8 19 kHz and 200 kHz Induction Frequency Multiple induction frequencies between 8 19kHz and 200kHz 200kHz 131kHz 83 1kHz 65 5kHz 32 8kHz 8 19kHz Pushbutton Pushbutton As with most manufacturers signal clamps are tuned to specific freq...

Page 55: ...frequencies list is 12 The advantage of this feature is the user can work with only their preferred frequencies rather than having a more extensive list of frequencies to scroll through Enter the Frequency Menu 1 Press the i pushbutton four to six times based on the mode that the transmitter is in until reaching the Frequency menu sub menu In Direct Connection mode Volume Voltage Resistance Multi ...

Page 56: ...D and SiS modes The frequencies have to be available in the main menu Enter the Multi frequency Setup menu 1 Press the i pushbutton seven times to get to the Multi Frequency screen and press the f pushbutton to activate the multi frequency mode An x symbol will appear indicating that the multi frequency mode is activated Press the f pushbutton again to go to the Multi Frequency Setup screen to cho...

Page 57: ...isplayed R E C E I V E R L I N K D I S A B L E 2 Press the key to enter the Receiver Link menu Press the or key to highlight the ENABLE option then press the F key to start the process The display will show the message WAIT until the setup is complete R E C E I V E R L I N K E N A B L E B A C K 3 An ID number will now be displayed at the bottom of the screen for identification purposes R E C E I V...

Page 58: ...nsmitter Link Transmitter Link TX10W Enabled Forget 40 7 The Beacon icon on the transmitter should not be flashing anymore at this point A solid icon indicates that the link has been established 8 From the main menu select the Transmitter Control option that will become visible when the two devices are linked A screen similar to the below should be seen Menu Imperial Metric Continuous Information ...

Page 59: ...are linked changing the Receiver Frequency will automatically result in a similar change to the Transmitter frequency so there is no need to re enter the menu screen to change the Transmitter frequency remotely The Frequency indicator will flash when resetting or if an invalid frequency is requested If the Tx Rx Radio link is not being used make sure the receiver s link is set to Disabled on both ...

Page 60: ...n use SIS at frequencies of SiS 8 44 kHz and SiS 9 82 kHz Signal Select Clamp Mode Plugging the Signal Select Clamp supplied by Vivax Metrotech into the output socket will place the transmitter in Signal Select Clamp mode An icon confirming this is displayed on the display The icon flashes when the transmitter is transmitting When using the clamp no ground connection is needed The Signal Select Cl...

Page 61: ... also possible to apply an 8 44kHz SIS signal using the 4 or 5 100mm or 125mm standard clamp When using clamps it is recommended that a SIS reset is performed at a point that is known to be the target cable 6 2 Using the vLoc3 5000 SiS Remote Antenna The remote stethoscope antenna can be used to help trace a particular cable on a cable tray or where cables are bunched together Signal Select Antenn...

Page 62: ...on to the cable Removing any cross bonding between cables prevents the signal travelling along commonly bonded cables 5 It is best not to use Induction method as the signal will appear on all cables in the area of the transmitter 6 Connect the remote stethoscope antenna to the accessory input of the receiver The correct settings and user interface will be automatically selected 59 6 65 5kHz 120dB ...

Page 63: ...m 3 At the point of interest if possible part the suspected cable from the bunch then run the remote stethoscope antenna along the suspected target cable keeping the flat portions of the antenna in line with the cable If the correct cable is being assessed the signal will increase and decrease in sympathy with the twist of the two conductors within the cable 4 If the signal is a steady level and d...

Page 64: ...mitter Select the frequency using the f button so that it matches the selection on the transmitter The screen should look similar to the below picture 52 1 SiS8440 25dB 4 If necessary adjust the sensitivity so that the bar graph is on scale Note that the front half of the circle is red indicating slight signal distortion and the polarity sign is This indicates that the signal is flowing forwards 5...

Page 65: ... polarity 52 1 SiS8440 25dB Enhancing the loopback method of cable identification with the aid of the SIS signal As described before a more reliable method of loop backing the signal on the cable is possible if the cable is out of service This method can be further enhanced with the aid of the SIS signal Method Set up the transmitter as below with the far end connected together and with the transm...

Page 66: ...ong the cable with bthe flats in line with the cable stopping at a positive peak signal Rotate the antenna around the cable keeping the antenna at the same point along the cable If on the correct cable when directly on the opposite side of the cable the signal will again peak but the polarity indicator will show SIS ...

Page 67: ...pipes the faults consist of coating defects In cables faults are usually caused by insulation damage allowing the metallic sheath or internal conductor to contact the earth 7 3 vLoc3 MLA Marker Locator Adapter The vLoc3 MLA Marker Locator Adapter is designed for easy fast and accurate location of buried EMS markers Once located the MLA will give the depth of cover to the buried marker with the tou...

Page 68: ...s or cables These signals come from a variety of sources in the environment and couple to the buried overhead lines Typical examples 50 60 Hz and LF VLF radio Peak A maximum response to a buried line Pinpoint Using a receiver to identify the exact position of a buried line Response The indication that the receiver gives which is caused by the signals it is receiving This can be visual audio or bot...

Page 69: ...Notes Vivax Metrotech Corporation 3251 Olcott Street Santa Clara CA 95054 USA Toll Free 1 800 446 3392 Phone 1 408 734 1400 Website www vivax metrotech com ...

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