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2.8 SEARCH HEAD ORIENTATION
Despite having a circular face, the search head is in fact
directional and has a sensitive axis running across the face
parallel to the line of the handle.
The relative orientation of this axis to the line of the rebar
affects the signal strength, and it is by this means that the
direction of a rebar can be determined, and complex structures
resolved.
3 USING THE INSTRUMENT
The best way to learn how to use your Elcometer Protovale 120 Rebar Locator is to practise on situations
where the position and direction of the rebar are known (or visible). Start with the simple case of a single
rebar, and then move up in stages through parallel bars, crossed bars; and finally the special case of welded
fabric (which responds differently). Note that since the machine is not affected in any way by the concrete
itself, experience gained on bars measured "in air" will be just as applicable to bars in concrete.
In all cases, start on the LOW range, and only use HIGH if it is definitely necessary.
3.1 SINGLE BARS
Hold the search head with the line of the handle parallel to the bar, and scan across sideways. If the
machine had been set to maximum sensitivity, a very strong signal will be produced at all typical distances.
If the sensitivity is progressively reduced, the "width" of the signal will become narrower, and it will become
apparent that the maximum signal occurs when the search head is exactly over the bar. The exact position
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