What is the best underground cable locator?

How to Choose the Best Underground Cable Locator

Finding your underground cables can be a challenge, but with the right cable locator tool, you can get it done fairly quickly. Locating the path of underground wires and their depth requires a special device that can identify conductive material and measure distance.

But how do you know which is the right one for you? Read below to learn about factors to consider. We'll help you find what you need.

Several Important Factors to Consider

When you're deciding which cable locator is right for you, think about the transmitters and receivers, safety, accuracy, speed, connection types, and cost.

Transmitters and Receivers

Before you start digging, you need to find an underground utility locator that can efficiently transmit signal and receive it back. A transmitter is an AC generator that supplies the electrical current (signal) to the underground cable you're looking for. A receiver is what lets you know you've found the cable or not, using an electrical signal on the cable you're tracing, using a particular frequency set by the transmitter.

Safety

Many products have a software system built in that allows you to get video support, alerts about unusual usage, and specialized diagnostics to protect both your workers and your worksite property. No one should come into contact with high voltage electricity or exposed wires. These features deter harm and add peace of mind.

Accuracy

Your underground pipe locator also needs to be accurate. You want to minimize the amount of digging needed and leave the cement, asphalt, or lawn intact as much as possible. Sometimes, a weaker or older device requires that you conduct multiple sweeps before a match is found underground.

Newer products should provide an accurate reading on the first or second sweep, saving you time and frustration. The last thing you need is a false negative, indicating that there is no pipe or cable, only to be uncomfortably surprised once you've already broken ground.

Connection Types

You want to be able to move around your worksite with flexible and reliable components. Bluetooth technology allows you to avoid the use of cords or wires for mobile devices and field controllers. Information that you gather can be downloaded and saved to your dashboard, to reduce the need for additional paperwork or apps.

With GPS positioning, your location data can also be saved and shared with those back at your home base or company headquarters. All of your data should be auto-synced with all necessary users so that communication and decision-making can be efficiently streamlined.

Products and Costs

Some of the top-of-the-line products may cost a few thousand dollars. For example, the Leica DD 220/230 SMART Locator  is one of the most powerful and reliable products out there. Its digital signal processing performs deeper, faster, and more accurately than any other product on the market. This item is usually around $3,600-$4,000 for the 230 version.

The 220 version of the Leica is a few hundred dollars less, with all the same features, just not quite as much accuracy. The same company also has its DD 130 product which does not have the same SMART software features but performs a similar function for approximately $2,500 - $3,000.

Other products can get the job done for a fraction of the cost. If you don't need a robust series of transmitters, software systems, and data-sharing networks, you may consider a simpler magnetic locator. These usually cost in the $500 - $700 range and operate more like metal detectors that reveal anything ferrous (iron-based) up to 10 feet of depth.

Frequently Asked Questions