Locating - RIDGID A-Frame Operator's Manual

Transmitter
Black
Ground Rod
3" – 6"
(1 – 2 m)
Figure 8 – Transmitter Connections for Fault Locating

Locating

1. Make sure that no one is near or touching
the conductor, transmitter, leads or ground
stake. Press the ON/OFF button on the
transmitter to turn the transmitter ON.
When the transmitter is turned on, it is set
to the last used frequency. If needed,
press the frequency button on the trans-
mitter until "dFF" is shown on screen
(Figure 9).
Figure 9 – Transmitter Screen
Adjust the signal power by pressing the signal
power button to cycle through the settings (low,
medium and high). Using high power may re-
sult in signal going to ground at non-target
points, low power may mean a circuit is not cre-
ated. The transmitter will display circuit resist-
ance (OHMS) at the bottom of the LCD. The
lower the resistance the better the locate signal.
To improve the circuit, improve the ground,
check the lead connections or increase the
power.
The transmitter will continuously beep when
there is a circuit. The lower the circuit resist-
ance, the quicker the beep. The transmitter
will beep three times and a pause (repeat-
ing) if there is no circuit.
If the transmitter display shows voltage warn-
ing (Figure 3), the transmitter is connected to
live voltage. If this happens, DO NOT TOUCH
999-995-095.10_REV. A
Red
Buried Conductor
Return Path
Through Soil
A-Frame Fault Locator
Receiver
THE TRANSMITTER, LEADS OR CONNEC-
TIONS. The target conductor is energized and
there is the risk of electrical shock. Use high
voltage precautions to disconnect.
2. When fault locating, generally the receiver
should be used over the conductor, with
the front receiver spike towards the ex-
pected fault and the rear receiver spike to-
wards the ground stake. The receiver
spikes should evenly penetrate the earth
to make good electrical contact. The cur-
rent flowing in and out of the ground
spikes supplies the signal to locate the in-
sulation fault (see Figure 10).
Conductor (End View)
Figure 10 – Receiver Positioning
3. To start the locate, place the A-Frame
receiver between the ground stake and
the transmitter connection to the conduc-
tor. Press the A-Frame Receiver ON/OFF
button to turn receiver ON.
The signal strength will appear on the
receiver display. Signal strength will be the
highest near the ground stake and at
faults. Press the "Ref" button to store a ref-
erence signal strength near the ground
stake.
The receiver display arrows will indicate
the direction of the fault. Fault direction is
also indicated audibly - a long slow beep
indicates forward direction and a quick
beep indicates backward direction.
Earth
Fault
Conductor (Side View)
9