I have customers ask me how to locate utilities underground. The first thing I ask is, “what exactly do you want to locate?” This is the most important question when you are purchasing an underground locator. There are two tools for locating items underground a Magnetic Locator and a “Pipe and Cable Locator.” Each locating system will locate different objects underground. The Magnetic Locator will detect ferrous objects, like those made from lead and steel. In other words it will detect anything that a magnet will stick to. Pipe and cable locators detect signals. They can be used to detect power lines, cable lines, telephone lines and plastic pipes (with the use of a sonde.) Schonstedt has a special tool for customers who need both a Magnetic Locator and a Pipe and Cable Locator. The MAC-51Bx is the most cost-effective, all-purpose locating system on the market. It consists of a Transmitter, Pipe and Cable Locator and a Magnetic Locator all in one unit.Pipe and Cable Locators will ONLY locate objects that have some type of "charge" or "signal" placed on them. Many utilities already have a signal of their own that can sometimes be detected, such as live for power lines. The Mac comes with a transmitter built directly into the hard case. This is used to induce a charge on utilities. It is capable of locating on two different frequencies: 571Hz and 82.5 kHz. Different frequencies work better on different objects and soil types.
To use it as a Magnetic Locator just set the Mode switch to MAG, the Gain control to mid-range, and you're ready to locate underground ferrous pipes, water meters, water valves, and property markers - or anything that has a magnetic field including the 50/60Hz electro-magnetic field generated by energized power lines.
The MAC-51Bx is the most cost-effective, all-purpose locating system on the market. It comes with a Three Year Manufacturer’s Warranty. It comes standard with a Hard Case designed with a built in Transmitter, Receiver (the wand), Instructional Video, Users Manual, Conductive Cable and Clips Assembly (8 Ft long cable with two clips: 1 large, 1 small) and Batteries.
Use a Pipe and Cable Locator to locate the following items underground
electrical power cable made of aluminum or copper, cable TV lines, fiber optic lines with a metallic conductor along side, irrigation lines, plastic pipe or conduit (plastic pipe can be located by inserting a sonde or mini-transmitter and locating the sonde), plastic pipe tracer wire, power lines, streetlight power, and water lines.
Use a Magnetic Locator to locate the following items underground
Anything Ferrous including cast iron pipes, property corner markers, steel enclosures or hardware, hazmat drums, mag & pk nails, manhole and handhole covers, marker magnets, septic tanks, unexploded ordnances, curb & valve boxes, weapons, and well casings. Basically speaking anything a magnet will stick to, a Magnetic Locator will detect.
