A contractor using a utility locating system appears to be a magician of sorts. By slowly waving a wand through the air, he quickly detects the precise location and depth of a buried utility line — and at the same time, greatly enhances job site safety and productivity. Pretty neat trick, right?Of course, such contractors are technicians, not magicians, and they’re wielding some impressive technology. But to the uninitiated, understanding and using these high-tech instruments can seem daunting. Transmitters, receivers, grounding stakes, milliamps, and hertz (Hz) and kilohertz (kHz) frequencies — how does it all work?Understanding the basicsAs confusing as
Demystifying Utility Locating Systems
Don’t be daunted by high-tech utility locators. With a little know-how, this tool can be a contractor’s best friend.
Jul 20, 2015
| by Ken Wysocky |
