CST Berger Magna Traks

Blog cst berger magna trak magnetic locators

You can use a magnetic locator to find underground objects that contain ferrous metals. Unlike a utility locator (which transmits and detects a specific radio frequency), it uses the Earth’s magnetic field to locate objects underground.

Surveyors, excavators, and construction workers often use this tool to find objects at different depths. This can include anything from small corner pins to large tanks and drums. One of the most recognized brands for these location devices is CST Berger, and one of their more popular lines is the Magna Trak.

Types of Magnetic Locators in the Magna Trak Line

Blog cst berger magna trak magnetic locators

CST Berger makes several magnetic locators in the Magna Trak line. Some of them include but may not be limited to:

Magna Trak 102 Series— This magnetic locator can give you great performance at a lower price point. It can find ferrous metal from 6 inches to 15 feet in depth (depending on the signal strength. And with a water-resistant construction, it can do its job in the harshest environments. It also has an erase feature that allows you to “erase” signals that come from interfering objects (such as metal fenceposts). It emits an audio signal with a volume control, and it will increase in pitch as you get closer to an object.

Magna Trak MT202 Series— This model has all the features you need in a magnetic locator. It has an ergonomic design and can be operated with one hand. It can find a variety of ferrous object underground, in water, or in snow. It also comes with a large LCD display, which can give you a digital readout and a bar graph that allows you to find what you need with a visual reference. It even has a battery level indicator, so there won't be any surprise power losses.

Magna Trak 101— This magnetic locator can find ferrous objects under the ground, underwater, or in snow. And it has variety of convenient features in a water-resistant casing. It has excellent battery life. And like many of its products, every unit is manufactured and quality controlled by CST Berger. It even comes with a soft carrying case, which gives you a convenient way to store and transport the device.

Magna Track 100 Series— This particular utility locator can detect ferrous objects from depths of up to 20 inches, and it has an LCD indicator with a digital bar graph so you can find what you need with a visual reference. It also has a power line indicator and an “erase” feature, which can help you to find what you need without interference. Like the Magna Trak 101, you can purchase this unit with a soft carrying case that will make storage and transport easier.

Magna Trak 200 Series— This model is light in weight and can be operated with one hand, so you’ll have the other hand free for using other equipment. With a large LCD display, you can get a digital readout and bar graph that will allow to locate ferrous objects with a visual reference. It even comes with battery level and power line indicators, so you can find what you need more efficiently and without experiencing an unexpected loss of power.

If you’re looking for the CST Berger Magna Trak or some other utility locator, be sure to look at what we have at Engineer Supply.

What is a magnetic locator?

Blog cst berger magna trak magnetic locators

Magnetic locators can find objects made of ferrous metals located underground. Unlike pipe and cable locators, they don’t emit an electrical current or radio frequency. They use the Earth’s magnetic field to find a metal object that’s buried underground, and they’re often used by surveyors, excavators, and construction workers to find what they need from a variety of depths.

How do magnetic locators work?

The purpose of a magnetic locator is to find objects that are made of iron or steel, so it will only detect ferrous materials. The Earth’s magnetic field creates a secondary field inside any material that’s affected by magnetism. In terms of utilities, some of these objects can include but may not be limited to:

Manholes
Valve boxes
Street survey markers

A magnetic utility locator can detect the magnetic fields surrounding these objects with a pair of sensors that are spaced along its shaft. And because the field weakens as you get farther away, the signal differential between the sensors will allow you to determine if a ferrous object is located nearby.

What's the difference between a magnetic locator and a metal detector?

Both of these tools can be used to find metals, but there’s a key difference between the two. Magnetic locators are primarily used to find ferrous metals, and their sensitivity isn’t affected by the size of the object or the amount of insulating material surrounding it. Metal detectors have a lower sensitivity, so it doesn’t have the level of reliability you would find in a magnetic locator.

If you’re looking for a magnetic utility locator or any other tool by CST Berger, feel free to look at what we have at Engineer Supply.