6 Best Underground Wire and Cable Locators [2024]
Cables and electrical wires are buried underground rather than on poles for longer lifespan and reduced maintenance costs. Some wires and cables can span as far as 20 million feet and serve millions of people. This means that damage to any of these cables would cause major discomfort to many people.
However, construction and utility workers who regularly need to dig and excavate before installing or repairing infrastructure could easily damage these cables. Fortunately, with RTK-enabled underground wire and cable locators, you can accurately locate and avoid these buried utilities, preventing disruptions and ensuring safety.
This article explains underground cable locators and how to use them to locate underground cables and wires. We also explore some of the best underground wire and cable locators, considering their price features and accuracy.
What is an Underground Cable or Wire Detector?
An underground cable or wire detection device is a specialized tool to locate underground cables or wires for construction surveying, maintenance, or repair purposes. These detectors usually emit and detect electromagnetic signals, making them ideal for locating cables and wires. They also have built-in signal strength indicators.
These devices can detect underground utilities' depth, direction, and path, ensuring accurate and efficient identification of their locations. Some underground cables and wire detectors also have GPS functionality to record and map the location of these utilities simultaneously.
How to Find Underground Electric Wires and Cables
There are several ways to find underground electric wires and cables; each method requires different resources. Here are some of the most popular ways people find underground electric wires and cables on their field or site:
Underground Locator Devices
Underground locator devices help detect and map underground utilities. They usually have a transmitter and a receiver for emitting and detecting signals from underground cables. These devices use different technologies, from Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) to Electromagnetic Induction (EMI).
Underground Wire Locator Rental
Purchasing an underground wire locator device may not be a feasible investment if you’re only handling a small one-time project. In this case, your best bet will be to rent an underground wire locator device.
Renting gives you the opportunity to choose between high-end models that you otherwise would have been unable to afford. But the downside is that you may not have enough time to master how the locator device works fully.
Underground Wire Locator Company
Wire locator companies specialize in locating underground wires and cables. They have years of experience and utilize advanced technology and techniques, familiarizing them with the areas under their jurisdiction.
However, wire locator companies are usually very expensive. They may also introduce scheduling delays and logistical challenges impacting your project timelines.
You can choose any of these methods for finding underground cables depending on the nature of your work and available financial resources. But whichever method you choose, ensure that the devices used are RTK-enabled.
Why? RTK-enabled locators can provides centimeter-level accuracy and ensure precise mapping of underground utilities in real time, as well as correct errors in standard satellite data for precise positioning.
Plus, with RTK-enabled locators, you don’t have to send one person out to locate the utility and another person to map the utility. Rather, you can do both utility locating and utility mapping on a single device and in one trip.
Best Underground Wire and Cable Locators
Are you searching for the right underground wire and cable locator for your RTK survey or mapping project? Here are some of the best underground wire locators.
1. Amprobe AT-3500 Underground Cable Locator
The Amprobe AT-3500 Underground Cable Locator is a cable locator used to locate energized and de-energized cables underground. It has a receiver, transmitter, connection cables for signal transmission, and ground stake for establishing a reference point. It also works with batteries. It supports audible indicators of signal strength and has a backlit display.
Specifications:
- Depth range of up to 16 ft (4.9m)
- Has single and non-adjustable transmitter frequency
- Active frequencies at 32.768 kHz
- Passive frequencies between 15 to 23 kHz
Pricing: $4500 - $7000
2. Vevor 3’ Underground Cable Locator
The Vevor 3’ Underground Cable Locator is a cable detector that detects non-energized cables with a voltage below 24 volts. It has a 3 ft detection depth and a 1000 ft detection length. It comes with wired headphones for surveying in noisy environments. It’s also lightweight (less than 1kg), so users can carry it for extended periods.
Specifications:
- Single-core and dual-stranded cable connection
- Ambient temperature range of 32℉ to 104℉ or 0℃ to 40℃
- Detection type covers single-core cable, non-energized cable, 24v or below low voltage cable
- Receiver dimensions of 7.9 x 1.6 x 1.2 in or 200 x 40 x 30 mm
- Maximum detection length of 1000 ft
Pricing: US $35.99/ea
3. Noyafa NF-826 Underground Cable Locator Pipeline Detector & Wire Tracker
The Noyafa NF-826 Underground Cable Locator Pipeline Detector & Wire Tracker is an underground wire locator with a max detection range of 2m. The transmitter has an integrated AC / DC voltmeter for linear measurement of 12-400V DC/AC voltage. Noyafa NF-826 can detect breaks and short circuits in underground cables and can measure up to 400 volts AC/DC voltage.
It can also be alternatively used to locate metal water and heating pipes.
Specifications:
- Max detection range of 2m (80in)
- Max cable length of 1,000m
- Integrated AC / DC voltmeter for linear measurement of 12-400V DC/AC voltage
- Built-in LED light
- 3.7V 1400mAh LI-battery powered
- Working voltage range of 0 - 400V
Pricing: $136.98
4. Tempo 501 Underground Cable and Wire Locator
The Tempo 501 Underground Cable and Wire Locator is a cable locator that offers three methods of connection: a direct connection that involves attaching leads to the target cable, an inductive coupling method using a “live” cable, and a third method for locating inaccessible cables via an internal inductive antenna.
It’s also a lightweight device that gives users audible and visual signs of signal strength. The Tempo 501 locator can also locate dead and active cable lines, metallic pipes, and conduits.
Specifications:
- 30-hour transmitter nominal battery life
- 10-hour receiver nominal battery life
- 447.5 kHz transmitter frequency
- 90 minutes automatic shut off for transmitter and receiver
- Weighs 6.7LBS
Pricing: US$767.44
5. Leica DD120 Underground Utility Locator
The Leica DD120 Underground Utility Locator is a battery-powered utility locator that identifies underground utilities up to 3 meters deep. It lacks sensitivity control and has an in-built self-test for users to check the health of their device.
The Leica DD120 also supports a numeric signal strength display and alerts users to services within 30 cm of the device.
Specifications:
- Monochrome display panel
- 15 hours of operating time
- 6 x LR6 (AA) alkaline batteries
- Up to 3 meters depth and 10% depth accuracy
Pricing (basic package): US$1440
Extra add-on (plumbers package): US $637.50Extra add-on (depth package): US $1232.50
6. Schonstedt u-LOCATE Pipe and Cable Locator
The Schonstedt u-LOCATE Pipe and Cable Locator is a shock-resistant underground utility locator with a lightweight, ergonomic design. It has a high-contrast screen for visibility in very bright sunlight and a headphone socket for connecting headphones to isolate sounds from the device.
Specifications:
- High contrast screen
- Shock and debris-resistant casing
- 20 hours of usage time
- Positional accuracy of 5%
- Maximum depth active mode is 5.8m
- Weatherproof to NEMA3S and IP65
Pricing: US$2094
More About Underground Cable and Wire Locators
We’ve already described underground cable and wire locators and outlined some of the best ones on the market, but there’s more to understand.
Can you use a metal detector to find underground wires?
Yes, it is possible to use a metal detector to find underground wires and cables so long as they are within the range of your device. Though metal detectors are not designed to locate wires and cables underground, they can still sense the magnetic field of these utilities and alert users.
How do you trace an underground cable?
Tracing an underground cable can be done in several ways, such as using a line tracer, a ground-penetrating radar, or an electromagnetic locator. However, the best way to trace the location of an underground cable and map it out simultaneously is by using RTK-enabled wire locator devices.
What device is used to detect underground electrical wires?
An underground wire and cable locator detects underground electrical wires and identifies the location and path of buried cables. Their performance is even better when they can connect to an RTK network for precise mapping and accuracy.
Improve Your Underground Wire and Cable Location
Traditionally, locating wires and cables involved manual surveying. A survey team would go to the site first to mark the location of underground cables, and then mappers would be sent out afterward to map the identified locations. This method works…but isn’t efficient. It wastes time, labor, and resources.
A better way is to use RTK-enabled locator tools. These tools pinpoint the location of underground wires and cables with centimeter accuracy.
Point One offers Polaris RTK, an RTK correction service with unparalleled GNSS accuracy. Get cm-accurate positioning on any dual-band GNSS device with lightning fast convergence times.
Access:
- Survey-grade accuracy
- Highest overall density of RTK network coverage across the US, EU, UK, CA & AU, with over 1,400 base stations
- Leverages L-Band in areas with limited cell coverage or an occluded sky environment
- 99.99% uptime of the RTK corrections network
- Compatible with any dual-band NTRIP receiver
- Automatic assignment to the nearest base station
- Automatic local datums: NAD83, ETRS89, NZGD2000, GDA2020, JGD2011, KGD2002
- Tracks four major constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
Point One Polaris RTK works for survey robots, drones, and other positioning systems that may be used for underground utility locating, providing precise location data that enhances mapping and surveying accuracy.
