Locate buried electric line?

[ultrarunner]

When we redid my brothers house 25 years ago I bought a contractor pack of GFCI from the Box Store...

Eventually had to replace all of the ones that were outside... some would not trip and others would not reset.

At the hospital we use Hubel... so I went with Hubel and no more problems.

It is easy to see why some have strong opinions based on experiences both ways.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I never had a gfi fail in 21 yrs now.

 

[grsthegreat]

I actually have a greenlee 501 tracker II, WORKS GREAT. Mind you it set me back about $700 bucks, but im always trying to locate underground wires.

But this system wont locate a break location. When i encounter a line break, i usually subcontract to an underground location company. They have $$$$$$$ system that can locate exact break location and tell its depth. Costs about $150 on average. Beats digging up 200 feet of trench to locate break.

 

[Fallon]

Check with your local utilities ... around here we have a free locating service that will come and mark buried lines. When the guy comes to locate, If you ask nicely they will likely locate your buried line for you..at least give you a ball park locate

By policy most if not all utilities only service their wire/pipe. They will locate their stuff between the pole/curb & the house (always call 811 before digging) within 3 days. But they won't do your wire or pipes. Stuff out to your barn, shop or a light pole are on you. Sometimes the locater will be nice or can be bribed, but not always.

 

[ultrarunner]

I never had a gfi fail in 21 yrs now.

What brand do you use?

Never had a Hubel go bad...

Early 90's is when I was very active in the property rehab business... GFCI were part of every job... it is the only thing I ever got call backs on... nothing else.

I still have GFCI related calls for property management.

Almost always the GFCI is doing what it is supposed to do... but, that doesn't prevent me from losing several hours for time on each call... things like a bad cord on a vacuum or bad power strip and one that caused a lot of problems for me in lost time is a tenant owned defective washing machine... it would trip every time the water level on the washer was set to high... a few drops of water splashed out for lack of a better term... several service calls by me and also the appliance manufacturer...

Tenant ended up jamming a paper clip into the GFCI button so she could wash... I bet I had more than a day on this... plus the GFCI was replaced when nothing was wrong.

Also... I refuse to daisy chain GFCI... been that route in an apartment building... just way too much time spent where no time was ever spent before.

 

[JD15302155870]

Take 2 welding rods or similar wires. bend them 3 inch from one end hold one in each hand like a water witcher search for the wires

It does work. A lot of buried phones have been located that way. We used coat hangars and when they cross you have found it. Try it first before dismissing it

 

[YLee Kioti]

Back in the old days (early 50s) using fingers was common. Guy I helped for awhile one winter had it down; one finger= 120V, 2 fingers same hand = 240V, 2 fingers same hand standing/kneeling on rubber pad= 480V. He could tell the voltage working down from 480 if it was unknown. He had calluses on his fingers 1/4" thick from twisting wires and pulling wire/cable. He warned "do not use both hands as it will go through your heart". I did not try it either, I already knew what it did to me. He was a crusty old guy in many ways. Learned a lot in the 4 months I worked with him, including bending 1" conduit by hand.

Ron

Well tractor seabee are you a FESA alumn?
I went to school with a lot of seabees (76-77, a 52 week school).
Some of my best times studying and partying were with these hilarious guys.
FESA, Facility Engineering Support Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

It was our old Army Nuclear Power Plant course but Jimmah Cahtah nixed it. But if your an alumn you knew all that!
Have a great weekend.
About the old crusty sparky using his fingers; yeah I forgot how calloused my Journeyman's fingers were!
heh...ah the good old days eh?

well snap one of these days I'm gonnah have to learn to read. You mentioned back in the old days, early 50's. SO don't know that dates you or not! ha.....or if it was just a reference point of the old practice.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

What brand do you use?

Never had a Hubel go bad...

Early 90's is when I was very active in the property rehab business... GFCI were part of every job... it is the only thing I ever got call backs on... nothing else.

I still have GFCI related calls for property management.

Almost always the GFCI is doing what it is supposed to do... but, that doesn't prevent me from losing several hours for time on each call... things like a bad cord on a vacuum or bad power strip and one that caused a lot of problems for me in lost time is a tenant owned defective washing machine... it would trip every time the water level on the washer was set to high... a few drops of water splashed out for lack of a better term... several service calls by me and also the appliance manufacturer...

Tenant ended up jamming a paper clip into the GFCI button so she could wash... I bet I had more than a day on this... plus the GFCI was replaced when nothing was wrong.

Also... I refuse to daisy chain GFCI... been that route in an apartment building... just way too much time spent where no time was ever spent before.

My gfi were probably from HD. Have them in all required locations, baths, kitchen, garage, shed, basement.

 

[/pine]

I never had a gfi fail in 21 yrs now.

Generally this says more about a lack of use than it does practical use experience...or a case of extreme good luck...

An Internet search will lead to failure rates of up to 57%...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Generally this says more about a lack of use than it does practical use experience...or a case of extreme good luck...

An Internet search will lead to failure rates of up to 57%...

Most are always used. Kitchen, basement garage, baths, shed. Most of these have load 24/7. The ones that dont get used much are outside.

 

[ultrarunner]

My gfi were probably from HD. Have them in all required locations, baths, kitchen, garage, shed, basement.

It was the outside ones that failed... and they were all in proper Bell Boxes.

 

[/pine]

Most are always used. Kitchen, basement garage, baths, shed. Most of these have load 24/7. The ones that dont get used much are outside.

Just curious...how often are they tested?...

 

[Diggin It]

Back in the old days (early 50s) using fingers was common. Guy I helped for awhile one winter had it down; one finger= 120V, 2 fingers same hand = 240V, 2 fingers same hand standing/kneeling on rubber pad= 480V. He could tell the voltage working down from 480 if it was unknown. He had calluses on his fingers 1/4" thick from twisting wires and pulling wire/cable. He warned "do not use both hands as it will go through your heart". I did not try it either, I already knew what it did to me. He was a crusty old guy in many ways. Learned a lot in the 4 months I worked with him, including bending 1" conduit by hand.

Ron

Reminds me of the radio guy 'Nitro' in 'Down Periscope':

 

[coobie]

Take 2 welding rods or similar wires. bend them 3 inch from one end hold one in each hand like a water witcher search for the wires

Now thats funny.Being a retired electric lineman I can tell you no way in h-ll this will work.

 

[mbohuntr]

Now thats funny.Being a retired electric lineman I can tell you no way in h-ll this will work.

Have you ever watched, then tried witching a well? I believed before I tried it, then the fella handed it to me, and put his hand on my shoulder... it yanked the branch down like someone was pulling it.

 

[coobie]

Have you ever watched, then tried witching a well? I believed before I tried it, then the fella handed it to me, and put his hand on my shoulder... it yanked the branch down like someone was pulling it.

Every done electric line work,overhead distribution,transmission,fault locating or underground ? I did for 39 years, and can tell you I NEVER seen any one locate a underground fault using witching sticks.You need the proper fault locating equipment to locate a electric fault.

 

[LouNY]

Witching dowsing whatever you call does work for some people,
I've seen people find electrical lines, plastic pipe and water,
I can't do it, one of my brothers can.

 

[coobie]

Witching dowsing whatever you call does work for some people,
I've seen people find electrical lines, plastic pipe and water,
I can't do it, one of my brothers can.

They may find electric lines and such BUT I have NEVER seen anyone find a electric line "FAULT " by witching.

 

[ChiefBodie]

It was the outside ones that failed... and they were all in proper Bell Boxes.

Outdoor Bell Boxes are not 100% reliable against weather. And the standards about them (mostly covers) have changed over the years.

 

[Diggin It]

Outdoor Bell Boxes are not 100% reliable against weather. And the standards about them (mostly covers) have changed over the years.

When I use one where it will be exposed to the weather directly, I add a piece of weatherproof sealing tape over the top and side seams between the box and cover. 'In Use' covers are still the weak point though and do not fully prevent moisture such as wind driven rain or snow, dew, frost, etc.

I had read some previous information that GFCIs expire over time and should be replaced the same as smoke detectors and surge suppressors. I've searched since this thread appeared and can't find any definitive statement either way now.