RIDGID SeekTech SR-60 Manual page 15

Direct Connect Mode: The transmitter is attached by direct met-
al-to-metal connection to the target conductor at some access
point such as a valve, a meter, or other point. Important: The
connection between the transmitter and the conductor must
be a clean, firm connection. The transmitter is also connected
to a ground stake providing a strong open path to ground.
Important: A weak ground connection is the most frequent
cause of a poor tracing circuit. Make sure the transmitter is well
connected to ground, and has enough exposure to the ground
to allow current to flow through the circuit.
Inductive Clamp Mode: The transmitter is connected to an in-
ductive clamp which is then closed around a pipe or cable. The
transmitter energizes the clamp, which then induces a current
in the conductor. Important: Make sure the SR-60 is set to trace
mode and set to the same frequency as the transmitter. Do not
clamp onto a live conductor. This mode works best when both
ends of the conductor are grounded.
Inductive Mode: The transmitter is placed over the conductor.
There is no direct connection; the internal coils of the transmit-
ter generate a strong field through the ground which induces
a current in the underground conductor of interest. Important:
If the transmitter is too close to the SR-60 in this mode, it can
cause "air-coupling" which means the locator is reading more on
the signal from the transmitter's field, than on the target conduc-
tor. (See page 15.) Note: When using Inductive Mode, it is always
possible to move the transmitter to a different point along the
target line. This will sometimes improve the circuit and provide
a better signal.
WARNING
Connect ground and power leads of the transmitter
before powering the transmitter on, to avoid electric
shock. See warning on page 5.
1. Energize the target conductor according to the transmit-
ter manufacturer's instructions, using one of the meth-
ods described above. Select the transmitter frequency.
Set the frequency on the SR-60 to the same frequency
used on the transmitter, using the Frequency Key
Be sure the frequency has a line trace icon
Menu Key to return to the operating screen. To activate
frequencies not yet made active, see Frequency Selection
Control on page 34.
Frequency Key (This screen will flash briefly when a new
2. Observe the Proximity Signal to ensure that the receiver
is picking up the transmitted signal. The Proximity Signal
should peak over the line and drop off on either side.
When tracing, the direction of the detected field will
be shown on the screen by the Tracing Line. The Tracing
Line will be a clear, single line if the field being detected is
undistorted.
If other fields are interfering in some way, the distortion
caused by those fields will be reflected by a blurring of
the Tracing Line. The more distorted the detected field, the
broader the cloud around the Tracing Line will be. This alerts
the operator that the apparent axis of the line may be influ-
enced by other fields, and requires careful evaluation.
The Tracing Line has three important functions. It repre-
sents the location, and the direction, of the signal being
traced. It reflects changes in direction of the target utility—
when the utility makes a turn, for example. And it helps rec-
ognize signal distortion. It does this by becoming cloudier
as distortion increases. Disagreement between different in-
dicators can also indicate distortion.
.
. Push the
Ridge Tool Company
SeekTech SR-60
Figure 20: Line Trace Frequency Chosen with the
frequency is chosen)
Figure 21: Tracing Line Showing
Low Distortion
15