WHAT IS A MAGNETIC LOCATOR?
A magnetic locator can be used to find ferrous objects underground, underwater, or inside a layer of snow. It can also come with adjustable sensitivity settings, so you can find a small object up to 3 feet underground or a large object up to 17 feet underground. This tool can be used to find a variety of objects (such as PK nails and iron pipes), which is why it’s a common tool for anyone who does excavation work. If you’re looking for a CST magnetic locator or a tool from some other brand, be sure to look at what we have at Engineer Supply.
PRINCIPLES OF UNDERGROUND MAGNETIC LOCATING
The Earth’s magnetic field is represented by lines that resemble a common magnet. There’s a level of this magnetic field present at every point, and there are some metals (such as iron and steel) that start to develop their own magnetic fields. Non-magnetic metals (such as aluminum, copper, and gold) aren’t affected by the Earth’s magnetic field. So, they don’t respond in the same way. Magnetic locators can detect the difference in the magnetic field, which is present when an object is affecting it. This is achieved through sensors that are spaced a certain distance apart. When there’s no object, the difference is the same. But it changes when an object is present. This difference is called a “gradient,” which is represented by a tone that changes pitch. And some models display it on a bar graph.