Metals & cables detectors
(58)A cable detector is a device which is especially useful for those who deal with the broadly understood installation works and electrical equipment servicing. Usually, a cable detector consists of a transmitter and a receiver of a specially modulated signal. The transmitter of a cable detector locates the pipe, wire or bundle of wires that you are looking for. Then, by using the receiver and tracing the places where the strongest signal is emitted, you can trace their route. In addition, some of the cable detectors allow you to search for a specific cable in the bundle, which is especially useful when working with telecommunications equipment and home automation. You can also use the cable detector to find the approximate location of a cable interruption.
Cable detectors – additional applications
Some models of detectors not only allow you to search for cable or pipe routes, but also to estimate the depth of their location. The operating range of cable detectors can be up to several metres. This is invaluable especially when the technical documentation of installation is not available. In such a situation, a good detector makes it easier to decide on the scope of groundworks, use of tools and thus reduces time and labour costs.
Metal detectors
Metal detectors work on the same principle, but they do not have a signal booster transmitter. A sensor is mounted at the tip of the device which is also used as a probe. The sensor most often detects a change in inductance when a metal object is close by. A metal detector can be used to search for screws, nails, reinforcement bars or fixing elements before starting construction works, but it can also be helpful in finding cable routes. Modern detectors are often multifunctional devices, offering a variety of operating modes and allowing you to measure the distance from the object, find live wires, estimate the value of their voltage without making contact with the wire and locate circuit breaks. They can also have built-in multimeter functions or be adapted to connect measuring clamps.
What should you consider when choosing a cable detector?
When deciding to purchase a cable detector, it is important to note that there are specialized models of cable detectors, designed for specific or industrial applications. Most of the cheaper devices have a relatively small operating range and will therefore work well for installation works carried out e.g. in a building or industrial plant. They are also suitable for searching for cables running in shallow grooves in a residential building, in PVC ducts and tubes, in bundles laid on the surface or shallowly buried underground. Due to the attenuation of the radio signal, an attempt to find a cable buried deep in the ground or enclosed in a metal shielding using such a popular, standard detector may end up in failure. In such cases, you should use instruments equipped with a more powerful transmitter and a highly sensitive receiver. Transmitters for specific industrial applications, e.g. for computer network installers, can be equipped with RJ45 sockets for easy connection. Some will also work even when the voltage is present in the system.
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