Underground cable identification 1

[xchnauzer]

We have a suspected cable fault in one of our facilities. We have isolated both ends of the cable but the cable route is not known. We have excavated a joint on a cable which is suspected to be the same one but there is no way to confirm before working on the joint.
We have also tried to use a C.A.T.+ but the equipment seems to respond in the same way to energised and unenergised buried conductors.
Can anyone advise on what to do?

 

[ScottyUK]

Does your CAT scanner have an active source unit which you can use? I've used these successfully tracing cables in our plant in close proximity to a massive copper earthing grid, lots of buried pipework, and 1" rebar everywhere. It sometimes takes a bit of tinkering to get a good return path for the injection source. If you can earth the conductors at the remote end and connect the active source between the conductors and a good local earth you will form a loop which the source can drive current around. The CAT scanner should be able to follow the signal from the surface if it isn't too deep, and you should definitely get a positive response at the exposed joint.



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If we learn from our mistakes,
I'm getting a great education!

 

[xchnauzer]

Thanks Scotty. I'll try it out.