Pipe tracer

[nelson]

Hi, does anyone have information on how to make a pipe tracer detector?
I know that this is like a two box detector, but i need to build something like a real pipe locator, that is inductive or conductive, both modes will be excelent.
Regards
Nelson

[Max]

Hi, does anyone have information on how to make a pipe tracer detector?
I know that this is like a two box detector, but i need to build something like a real pipe locator, that is inductive or conductive, both modes will be excelent.
Regards
Nelson

Hi Nelson,
a good , even old, two-box will to the job... I used many times buried pipes in field to test two-boxes.

They are good at detecting 3 meters depth and more also, depending on e.g. pipe lenght... my test stuff are very long pipelines... many hundred meters!

One problem is that two-boxes are yes directional in that but if you have to dig to find pipes you may need something with better pinpointing.

I suggest something that uses e.g. ferrite rods (you can make very directional receiver with that, and also transmitter if needed).

But, most of all, I think if you already know pipeline disposition and just need pinpoint where to dig vertically over the pipe to use e.g. a fluxgate mag... like Carl stuff or EPE project... much better and avoid moving enormous amount of soil... with e.g. a bulldozer.

So, I think depends what you need.

Kind regards,
Max

[nelson]

Thanks Max. Yes i igree that two box can do the job. Also i thinking too on more directional antenas likes the ones you point out (ferrites antennas.)
I had found a site that shows how to make a cable tracer. The circuit is very simple. Here i m attaching the link.

http://www.pic101.com/foxhound/index.html

I don´t know if this circuit can be used to trace pipes lines too.

Another question, could it be possible to make a ferrite antena for delta pulse to trace pipes?

Kind regards

Nelson

Hi Nelson,
a good , even old, two-box will to the job... I used many times buried pipes in field to test two-boxes.

They are good at detecting 3 meters depth and more also, depending on e.g. pipe lenght... my test stuff are very long pipelines... many hundred meters!

One problem is that two-boxes are yes directional in that but if you have to dig to find pipes you may need something with better pinpointing.

I suggest something that uses e.g. ferrite rods (you can make very directional receiver with that, and also transmitter if needed).

But, most of all, I think if you already know pipeline disposition and just need pinpoint where to dig vertically over the pipe to use e.g. a fluxgate mag... like Carl stuff or EPE project... much better and avoid moving enormous amount of soil... with e.g. a bulldozer.

So, I think depends what you need.

Kind regards,
Max

[Max]

Thanks Max. Yes i igree that two box can do the job. Also i thinking too on more directional antenas likes the ones you point out (ferrites antennas.)
I had found a site that shows how to make a cable tracer. The circuit is very simple. Here i m attaching the link.

http://www.pic101.com/foxhound/index.html

I don´t know if this circuit can be used to trace pipes lines too.

Another question, could it be possible to make a ferrite antena for delta pulse to trace pipes?

Kind regards

Nelson

Hi,
the circuit is about a wire tracer... it's different stuff from pipe locator.
This kind of device is useful when you have a big mess of wires all similar colors and cannot find at distance easy which e.g. pair of them you're interested in.

It's common problem with old phone lines and the like... where a big mess of e.g. twisted pairs are used to connect from last switching box to e.g. apartments/houses/buildings.

I think you cannot put a probe directly on the buried pipe... so this method is not good.

You need EM solution, like metal detector or magnetometer. You can also try to use active way... like connecting one end of pipe to a signal generator (RF , something vlf/lf frequency is good) , then try to receive the emitted field (from buried pipe-antenna) using a very directive receiver.

An example: youbuild and wire a signal generator with range 148.5 to 283.5 kHz and amplitude modulation of a tone ...say 500hz or 1khz audio, then wire one output end (signal) to one visible/accessible end of pipe... other wire (gnd) to a ground buried plate.
Then can use directly an lw receiver radio.... just dismantling ferrite antenna-loop and use like sensor.

It's different from metal detecting and more similar to proposed circuit.

Also , all you need is a lw radio + a AM signal generator or transmitter + access to one point of pipe...

It's enough simple to be done... then you use ferrite antenna considering that you'll get minimum signal when pointed straight to pipe direction vertical, and max instead when parallel to it.

Even more easy is using just 2-box or mag if you have.

Kind regards,
Max

[nelson]

Hi Max and many thanks for your explanations and advices.
Yes i was thinking on buying a Fisher 3 Two Box detector, cause this model has the option to separate the TX from the RX, so this way you can also place the TX has an induction emiter over the pipe and the other (RX) , can be used to follow the signal fo the buried pipe line. Al it can be used by the way you said, connecting to pipe and the other and to GND.
There is also the Discovery TR9000 (two box), but i m not shure if it works like the Fisher, cause you can´t separate the boxes.
Finally a magnetometer, i saw the circuit that sells Carl, but not shure jet wich way will be the best on finding pipes.
What i need is flexibility to go anywhere on the field of house and building under constructions to get those pipes that normally a buldoser brokes and cost to people big money.
Well sorry for my english, but i can said that i don´t have to much time these days to build detectors and now a two box. I need to get a solution very soon, so if anyone have a good two box to fit my request, i will be very happy.
By the way i live in Santiago Chile, SA, i have Pay Pal
Kind regards and thanks for all
Nelson
[email protected]

Hi,
the circuit is about a wire tracer... it's different stuff from pipe locator.
This kind of device is useful when you have a big mess of wires all similar colors and cannot find at distance easy which e.g. pair of them you're interested in.

It's common problem with old phone lines and the like... where a big mess of e.g. twisted pairs are used to connect from last switching box to e.g. apartments/houses/buildings.

I think you cannot put a probe directly on the buried pipe... so this method is not good.

You need EM solution, like metal detector or magnetometer. You can also try to use active way... like connecting one end of pipe to a signal generator (RF , something vlf/lf frequency is good) , then try to receive the emitted field (from buried pipe-antenna) using a very directive receiver.

An example: youbuild and wire a signal generator with range 148.5 to 283.5 kHz and amplitude modulation of a tone ...say 500hz or 1khz audio, then wire one output end (signal) to one visible/accessible end of pipe... other wire (gnd) to a ground buried plate.
Then can use directly an lw receiver radio.... just dismantling ferrite antenna-loop and use like sensor.

It's different from metal detecting and more similar to proposed circuit.

Also , all you need is a lw radio + a AM signal generator or transmitter + access to one point of pipe...

It's enough simple to be done... then you use ferrite antenna considering that you'll get minimum signal when pointed straight to pipe direction vertical, and max instead when parallel to it.

Even more easy is using just 2-box or mag if you have.

Kind regards,
Max