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SeekTech® SR-60 - Test Equipment Depot

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1. Checked Active Press the Menu Key to return to the operating display which will now be set to the frequency just activated The SR 60 will show the chosen frequency and its icon on the left of the screen Restore Factory Defaults Selected frequencies in the Checked Active set can be switched while the SR 60 is in use by pressing the Frequency Key The SR 60 will cycle down the list through the set of active frequencies from low to high group by group and repeat Unchecking a frequency in the Main Menu will deactivate it and it f gt will then not appear when pressing the Frequency Key Figure 62 Restore Defaults Option Note If a frequency appears missing look to Use the Up and Down Keys to highlight either the make sure it is currently available in the Main check symbol to restore factory defaults or the X Menu frequencies list If it is select it using the symbol to NOT restore them Select Key If not go to the Frequency Selection menu and the appropriate sub category and select it there checking the box to make it Currently Available and bring it into the Main Menu list Make sure it is checked at both menu levels for it to appear in the current working set of frequencies Information Screen and Restoring Defaults CL formation Screen The information screen appears at the bottom of the menus choices list Pressing the Select Key displays Pressing the Menu Key without changi
2. To begin operation unfold the antenna mast and lock the folding joint into place When locating is complete press the red release lever to fold the antenna mast for storage IMPORTANT Do not snap or whip the SR 60 mast to open or close it Open it and close it by hand only NOTE Avoid dragging the lower antenna node on the ground while locating with the SR 60 It may cause signal noise which will interfere with results and may eventually damage the antenna Release Button Figure 3 Folding Antenna Mast and Release Button SR 60 Modes The SR 60 operates in three distinct modes They are 1 Active Line Trace Mode used when a chosen frequency can be put onto a long conductor using a Line Transmitter for locating conductive pipes lines or cables 2 Passive Trace Mode used for tracing electrical lines that are already carrying 60 Hz current U S 50 Hz current Europe or radio frequencies 3 Sonde Mode used for locating Sondes in pipes conduits or tunnels that are non conductive or cannot otherwise be traced Note that the two Tracing modes Active and Passive are identical except for the frequencies used No transmitter is used in Passive Trace mode Display Elements Beginning operators or experienced operators can use the SR 60 with equal ease While the SR 60 offers advanced features that make the most complex locate easier many of its features can be turned off or hidden making th
3. in it Note Confidence in the accuracy of a locate can be increased by maximizing the Proximity Signal and or Signal Strength balancing the Guidance Arrows and centering the Tracing line on the screen Confirm a locate by testing whether the Measured Depth reading is stable and reasonable Agreement among all these indicators means the probability of an accurate locate is high Figure 23 High Probability Locate As always the only way to be certain of the location of a utility is through visual confirmation by exposing the utility The accuracy of position and depth measurement improves as the SR 60 lower antenna Maximized node is placed closer and closer to the target utility Rechecking the Measured Depth and position periodically during the excavation process can help avoid damage to a target utility and may identify additional utility signals that were not noticed prior to excavation When line tracing it is important to remember that tees curves other conductors in the vicinity and nearby masses of metal can add distortion to the field requiring closer scrutiny of the data to determine the true path of the target utility Clarifying the situation can be done by assessing whether the distortion is due to a poor signal that needs to be improved a local interference such as a near by car or a tee or turn in the line Circling the last location of a clear signal at a distance of about 20 feet 6 5 m can clari
4. Operating With the Distortion Line If the Tracing Line s distortion response blurring is disabled the detected field will be shown with two lines one solid the Tracing Line and one dashed the Distortion Line The dashed Distortion Line can be separately selected to be on or off in the Display Elements menu The dashed Distortion Line is the signal as seen by the upper antenna node and the solid Tracing Line is the signal as seen by the lower node Figure 65 Screen Display with Distortion Line Line Trace Mode The Tracing Line without the dynamic distortion response blurring still represents the location and the direction of the signal being traced It still reflects changes in direction of the target utility And it helps recognize signal distortion when compared to the dashed Distortion Line if something is interfering with the signal and distorting its shape the Distortion Line could be significantly offset or skewed The Tracing Line represents the signal received by the lower antenna node The Distortion Line represents the signal received by the upper antenna node If these two do not align or they do not reflect the same information as the Guidance Arrows about where the center of the field is then the operator knows he is looking at some kind of distortion The two lines may also move randomly if a weak signal is being received indicating that the locator circuit needs to be improve
5. e 33 kHz e 93 kHz e 262 kHz Power Passive Line Trace Mode e 60 Hz 9 e lt 4kHz p Radio Frequency e 4kHz 15 kHz L e 15 kHz 35kHz H GO OmniSeek multi range lt 4kHz 35kHz Checked Active Frequencies Keypad Up Key Menu Navigation Signal Focus Volume Control Key Item Select Push Button Depth Report Menu Key Power ON OFF Key Right Down Key Menu Navigation Signal Focus Figure 7 Keypad S Power Right Key Powers SR 60 on Powers the SR 60 down after a 3 second countdown The countdown can be interrupted before shutdown by pressing any key Used to move to the right in some screens A Up and Down Keys Used for locating choices during menu selection used for setting volume level when the Volume Control Key has been pressed If Signal Focus is activated the Up and Down Keys will change the Signal Focus setting up and down T Select Key Used to make a choice during Menu selection in normal operation to force a Measured Depth reading and re center audio tone Can be used to force a quick check trace line and Measured Depth display Menu Key Used to display a tree of choices including frequency selections display element choices brightness and contrast and restoring default settings In a menu will move up one level 4 Volume Control Key Used to raise or lower the volume setting will cycle the volume by steps increasing
6. 10m away to avoid direct coupling also know as air coupling This occurs when the SR 60 picks up the signal from the transmitter directly through the air and not from the line to be traced An unrealistic Measured Depth reading when over the line can also indicate air coupling is occurring 9 While tracing the mapping display operates best under the following conditions a The line is level b The SR 60 Locator is above the target utility elevation c The SR 60 antenna mast is held approximately vertical If these conditions are not met pay close attention to maximizing Signal Strength In general if the SR 60 is used in a zone over the target line within a sweep area of about two depths of the line the map will be useful and accurate Be aware of this when using the map if the target or line is very shallow The width of the useful search area for the map can be small if the line is extremely shallow See the section on Suppression on page 32 for information on noise suppression options Test Equipment Depot 800 517 8431 99 Washington Street Melrose MA 02176 FAX 781 665 0780 TestEquipmentDepot com a Current Strength Figure 28 Screen Display in Different Locations Line Tracing SUE Passive Line Tracing In passive mode the SR 60 is looking for electromagnetic noise that has found its way onto a buried utility line by any available means Electromagnetic signals can get on
7. instructions o If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way o When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance Remove batteries entirely before shipping SE Important Notice The SR 60 is a diagnostic tool that senses electromagnetic fields emitted by objects underground It is meant to aide the user in locating these objects by recognizing characteristics of the field lines and displaying them on the screen As electromagnetic field lines can be distorted and interfered with it is important to verify the location of underground objects before digging Several utilities may be underground in the same area Be sure to follow local guidelines and one call service procedures Exposing the utility is the only way to verify its existence location and depth Ridge Tool Co its affiliates and suppliers will not be liable for any injury or any direct indirect incidental or consequential damages sustained or incurred by reason of the use of the SR 60 In any correspondence please give all the information shown on the nameplate of your locator including model number and serial number Important Notice Always insert and connect the earth grounding rods before turning on the transmitter Never pull out an earth grounding rod as long as the generator is switched on Never pull the earth grounding rod or disconnect the ground lead if the other lead is connected to a utility SE
8. or modify Signal Focus Control settings page 32 This indicates that the SR 60 is not picking up the signal or there is interference Make sure that the transmitter is well connected and grounded Point the SR 60 at either lead to be sure that there is a complete circuit Try a higher frequency or connecting to a different point in the line or switching to inductive mode Try to determine the source of any noise and eliminate it Bonded grounding etc Check SR 60 batteries are fresh and fully charged Check the batteries in the Sonde to see that they are working Sonde may be too far away try starting with it closer in if possible or do an area search Verify signal by placing lower antenna close to Sonde Note Sondes have difficulty emitting signals through cast iron and ductile iron lines Sonde may be tilted or there may be a cast iron to plastic transition Batteries may be low Replace with fresh batteries and power on Power the unit off and then back on Adjust the LCD screen contrast Adjust the sound level in the sound menu Verify Proximity Signal is greater than zero Check orientation of batteries Check that the batteries are charged Check to see that the battery contacts are OK Unit may have blown a fuse Factory service is required Ridge Tool Company e Elyria Ohio e U S A 45 SUE Specifications Default Settings e Weight w batteries 5 4 Ibs 2 5 kg e Depth units
9. Measured Depth Distance Guidance Line f 16 LN CV N Rotation Arrows Tracing Line i 2031 5 Signal Strength Figure 5 Display Elements Line Trace Mode In Active Line Trace Mode the following features will also be displayed Proximity Signal Numerical indication showing how close the signal source is to the locator Displays from 1 to 999 Line Trace modes only Signal Strength Strength of signal as sensed by the lower Omnidirectional antenna Mr fein San VE E 7 Tracing Line The Tracing Line DEE the approximate axis of the detected field It represents detected distortion in the field by appearing less focused See page 33 for information on setting the sensitivity and how to enable or disable the distortion response in the Tracing Line Distortion Line If the normal distortion response of the Tracing Line is disabled a second line is shown which represents the signal from the upper antenna node By comparing the two lines the user can estimate the degree of distortion present in a signal See page 35 Guidance Arrows The Guidance Arrows serve to steer the operator toward the center of the detected field by showing when the signals reaching the left and right Guidance Antennas are out of balance or equal The two signals are equal when crossing the center of an undistorted field If the signals are unequal the Guidance Arrows show which way the field appears to be
10. and the Equator to appear offset because of the angle of the Sonde but maximizing the Signal Strength will still guide to the best location for the Sonde Floating Sondes Some Sondes are designed to be flushed or to drift down a pipe pushed by water flow Because these Sondes swing much more freely than a torpedo shaped Sonde in a pipe they can be oriented any which way This means the Equator may be distorted by tilting and the location of the Poles may vary The only guarantee of having located a floating Sonde is maximizing the Signal Strength and double checking iP Sle that the signal falls away on every side of the maximum signal location Note If following a moving Sonde it may be easiest to chase a pole and then to pinpoint the actual position of the Sonde only after the Sonde has stopped moving Measuring Depth Sonde Mode The SR 60 calculates Measured Depth by comparing the strength of the signal at the lower antenna to the upper antenna Measured Depth is approximate it will usually reflect the physical depth when the mast is held vertical and the bottom antenna is touching the ground directly above the signal source assuming no distortion is present 1 To measure depth place the locator on the ground directly above the Sonde or the line 2 Measured Depth will be shown in the lower left hand corner of the SR 60 s display screen 3 Measured Depth will be accurate only if the signal
11. as to whether a locate is good or bad questionable or reliable Instead of just laying paint in the wrong place the operator can see clearly when a difficult locate needs re evaluation The SR 60 provides more of the critical information the operator needs to understand the situation underground What It Does Not Do The SR 60 locates by sensing electromagnetic fields surrounding conductive objects it does not sense the underground objects directly It provides more information about the shape orientation and direction of fields than other locators but it does not magically interpret that information or provide an x ray image of underground objects A distorted complex field in a noisy environment requires intelligent human thought to analyze correctly The SR 60 cannot change the results of a difficult locate even though it shows all the information about those results Using what the SR 60 shows a good operator can improve locating results by making the circuit better changing frequency grounding or the transmitter s location on the target line Advantages of the Omnidirectional Antenna Unlike the coils used in many simple locator devices the Omnidirectional antenna detects fields on three separate axes and can combine these signals into a picture of the apparent strength orientation and direction of the complete field Omnidirectional antennas offer definite advantages The Mapping Display The
12. inducing the signal using inductive coils built into the transmitter Direct Connect Mode The transmitter is attached by direct metal to metal connection to the target conductor at some access point such as a valve a SUE 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 inductive 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 transmitter 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 mor
13. is it will rise and then re scale fall in pitch while approaching the Sonde Moving away from the Sonde it will drop to a lower pitch and remain there as long as one moves away from the Sonde Moving back toward the Sonde again it will resume rising in steps starting from the level it had reached previously This serves as an indication when the aiaee locator receiver is getting closer or further away from the Sonde If desired force the sound to re center at a medium level in any mode by pressing the Select Key during operation See also the Directional Sound section below Key Items in Using the SR 60 PROXIMITY SIGNAL reflects the proximity of the locator to the target utility the closer the locator moves to the center of the detected field the higher the Proximity Signal number gets The Proximity Signal is calculated from the ratio of the signals received at the lower and upper antennas adjusted for scalability SIGNAL STRENGTH represents the strength of the field being detected by the lower antenna node of the SR 60 converted mathematically for scalability In a clear and undistorted field you can locate based on Signal Strength alone DISTORTION is the degree to which the field detected is deformed In an undistorted environment current on a long conductor produces a field which is cylindrical down the conductor If multiple fields are present the detected field is pushed or pulled out of shape and
14. is undistorted Measured Depth Display is disabled under clipping conditions Note Holding the Select Key will display a short count down followed by a calculated depth report This Pushbutton Depth calculated on more signal samples will be more precise than the running Depth indication See Depth Warnings on page 16 Clipping Sonde Mode Occasionally the Signal Strength will be strong enough that the receiver will be unable to process the entire signal a condition known as clipping When this occurs a warning symbol A will appear on the screen It means that the signal is particularly strong lt 0 SimulTrace The SR 60 has a new capability for use in specialized locating situations which enables you to trace a pushcable and a Sonde simultaneously This capability is called SimulTrace When it is activated the SR 60 will display a tracing line tuned to 33 kHz at the same time as it seeks on the 512 Hz frequency for a Sonde By following the 33 kHz signal the locator can follow the pushcable along a pipe for example and can simultaneously detect the Sonde emitting a 512 Hz signal when it is within detection range Some modern pushcable and camera systems are equipped to inject the 33 kHz signal onto the pushcable automatically If you are using an earlier pushcable and camera system you can inject the 33 KHz signal onto the pushcable by using an Inductive Clamp with several turns of the pushcable loop
15. mapping display enabled by the Omnidirectional antennas provides a graphic view of a signal s characteristics and a bird s eye view of the signal from underground It is used as a guide for tracing underground cables and pipes and can be used to better pinpoint Sondes It can also be used to provide more information for complex locates Figure 69 Mapping Display The use of lines representing the signals sensed by upper and lower antennas and guidance arrows pointing toward the center of the detected field combine to give the locator a graphic picture of the receiver s location and where the target utility or Sonde is At the same time the operating screen provides all the information needed to understand what is happening with the field being located its Signal Strength continuous distance Signal Angle and proximity to the target The information available at one moment on the SR 60 would take multiple sample readings with some conventional locators A distorted or compound field will be easier to interpret when all the information is in a single display as it is with the SR 60 Test Equipment Depot 800 517 8431 99 Washington Street Melrose MA 02176 FAX 781 665 0780 TestEquipmentDepot com RIDGID Orientation to the Signal SeekTech SR 60 Because of the multiple signals being processed by each Omnidirectional antenna the target s signal always gets stronger as the receiver gets closer to the target H
16. relative to the receiver mA Current Strength Proportional to current on the line Switches to Signal Angle when Signal Angle is greater than 35 Guidance Arrows RIDGID e Guidance Line Shows the alignment of the target line and helps determine when the locator is directly over the target line It will be longest when directly aligned with the target line Rotation Arrows will appear to indicate which way the SR 60 should be turned to align it with the field SeekTech SR 60 Note The Tracing Line reflects the approximate axis of the conductor being traced but is modified by a degree of distortion in the form of varying cloudiness or loss of focus in the Tracing Line The Tracing Line will appear to grow unfocused in proportion to the distortion in the field being detected lt ranges from a clear line no distortion present through slightly distorted to moderately un focused growing to a wide cloud like band of particles depending on the degree of distortion in the detected field It represents the best possible calculation of the location and bearing of the line combined with the degree of distortion sensed by the receivers Omnidirectional Antennas When the distortion response of the tracing line is turned off a separate Distortion Line will be displayed The Distortion Line can be used to analyze distortion when it is out of alignment with the Tracing Line The dashed line can be disabled separately as
17. sure to keep the lower Omnidirectional antenna node at the same height and the locator mast vertical If there is little or no distortion the traced line should be in the middle and the distance to each 45 degree point should be approximately the same on either side If the signal is undistorted then the distance from the line center to the 45 point is approximately equal to the depth Note Another technique is to move the same distance to the right and left of the traced line say 24 inches 60 cm and check that the Signal Strength readings are similar While tracing the Proximity Signal and Signal Strength should maximize and the Measured Depth minimize at the same place where the guidance arrows center on the display If this is not the case the utility may be changing direction or other coupled signals may be present A same distance 45 0 45 e mm e P D Ground 1 4 7 U i 1 D i r nu v Energized Pipe D s Yann 4 Se e D e w w e P Figure 27 Checking for Distortion SeekTech SR 60 7 Higher frequencies bleed over to adjacent utilities more readily but may be needed to overcome breaks in tracer wires or go over insulating couplers If the line is ungrounded at the far end higher frequencies may be the only means to make the line traceable See Informational Locating on page 39 8 When using the transmitter inductively be sure to begin the locate about 30 feet
18. the different antennas will pick up different field strengths On the SR 60 distortion is reflected by the Tracing Line growing unfocused instead of sharp or by disagreement among the Guidance Arrows Tracing Line and Signal Strength TRACING LINE indicates the direction and degree of distortion in the detected field GUIDANCE ARROWS are driven by the signals received at the guidance antennas of the SR 60 When the fields detected by these side antennas are equal the arrows will center If one is receiving a stronger field signal than the other the arrows will point toward the probable center of the target conductor Moving in the direction indicated by the arrows will bring you closer to the center of the detected field A small guidance line at the end of a guidance arrow indicates the degree of alignment with the conductor s field It will be at its maximum length when correctly aligned with the conductor with the guidance antenna axis crossing the field at 90 Rotational guidance arrows on the perimeter of the screen will indicate the direction you need to turn to align with the detected conductor DIRECTIONAL SOUND from stereo speakers will let you follow a line by sound while staying visually alert for nearby traffic or obstacles The Sound Pointer speakers are designed to be clipped to a jacket or vest on either shoulder Stereo sound from the speakers will fade to the left or right The louder side indicates the dir
19. through induction through common bonding or other means Coupling A symbol in the center of the Active View Area representing the location of the SR 60 Crosshairs relative to the detected field The calculated level of current based on field strength detected by the Omnidirectional Current Strength antennas of the SR 60 expressed approximately in milliamps mA An accurate depth measure Is required for accuracy Frequencies which have been checked in the Master Frequency Menu are said to be Currently Available they appear on the Main Menu when the Menu Key is pressed and can be set to Checked Active status Default Default values are those settings which the SR 60 uses if the operator does not choose alternative settings they can be restored from the Information Menu Depth See Measured Depth Currently Available Frequencies 42 Ridge Tool Company e Elyria Ohio e U S A RIDGID PAPET Distortion Distortion Line Distortion Response Frequency Guidance Arrows In Use Frequency Informational Locating Level Pointer Master Frequency Menu Measured Depth Distance Omnidirectional antenna GO OmniSeek Glossary Definitions The impact of near by fields other conductors magnetic flux or other interference on a circular electro magnetic field Distortion is detected by comparing the information from the SR 60 s Tracing Line Proximity Sig
20. well which will leave a single Tracing Line displayed with no distortion response The default setting is to have the distortion response enabled in the Tracing Line This incorporates the information provided by these two lines into a single easy to read presentation making the SR 60 easier to use For more information about distortion see pages 33 and 39 Note The screen elements in Passive Trace Mode are the same as those seen in Active Line Trace mode Mode is determined by the type of target source Sonde or Line For example selecting the 512 Hz frequency from the Sonde mode section of the frequency menu puts the SR 60 into Sonde mode A frequency which appears in more than one category such as 33 kHz must be selected from the correct category Signal Strength 9993 d Display Elements Sonde Mode Pole Icon Equator Figure 6 Display Elements Sonde Mode In Sonde mode the screen elements include several features that are unique to Sonde locating e Signal Strength Strength of signal as sensed by the lower Omnidirectional antenna e Pipe Direction Represents the approximate direction of the pipe in which the Sonde is lying e Z Sonde Icon Appears when approaching the location of a Sonde e Equator Represents the mid line of the Sonde s field perpendicular to the axis of the Poles See page 26 e 4 Pole Icon Represents the location of either
21. 29 OPTIONAL FEATURES a E E EE E A E E EAE E 31 SNOM eis 35 OPERATING WITH THE DISTOpPTION UNE 35 INFORMATIONAL FOG A RE 36 NOTES ON ACCURACY EEN 36 A BETTER WAY OF LOCATING wu ccceccceccceecceeceecceecceesceaeeeaeeeaseeusenaseeaeeeeeeseeeseeuseeueeeseeuseeeesenseeeasenesenaees 38 ADVANTAGES OF THE OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA aasaannanonnnnnnnnnrrrrnnrnnrnnrnrnnrrrrnrnrrnrrnrrnnrnnrn rrn nrn rreren nnne 38 SR 60 MAINTENANCE CN 39 SERVICE AND REPAIR ee 40 ICONS AND SYMBOLS 20 0 0 cccceecceecceecceeceeecceecceeeeeeeeeeseuseeuseenseeuseeueeeuseeueeeusseueseuaseuaseueseuseeuseeuseceeseeusenesenees 41 GLOSSARY EN The 42 TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE iii veeceideccwevaneecvertnwecwiovtsecentevedivnswwsesnnteeuisnsownsnduncemwadumdebwnaviienwddeusenteesnnneeadees 45 DPE CIP IGA TION RE 46 DEFAULT ye RN 46 STANDARD EQUIPMENT ee Ee 46 OPTIONAL ef EIERE 46 FREQUENCIES KEE 46 MANUFACTURERS FREQUENCY TABLE EEN 47 RIDGID SR 60 Use and Care Service Use equipment only as directed Do not operate the SR 60 unless you have read the operator s manual Do not immerse the antennas in water Store in a dry place This will reduce the risk of electric shock and instrument damage Store idle equipment out of the reach of children and other untrained persons Equipment is dangerous in the hands of untrained users Maintain the instrument with care Properly maintained diagnostic instruments are less likely to cause injury Check for breakag
22. C WARNING Read this operator s manual carefully before using this tool Failure to understand and follow the contents of this manual may result in electrical shock fire and or serious personal injury Test Stee 99 Washington Street IC Depot Melrose MA 02176 Phone 781 665 1400 1 800 517 8431 Toll Free 1 800 517 8431 bh Visit us at Www TestequipmentDepot com gp SeekTech SR 60 Pipe Cable and Sonde Locator Patents Pending ziee Table of Contents GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION c0cccescceecceecceesceeeceeeceesceeeeeuseeesceaeeeaseeaseeaseeaseeuseeeeeeusecueeeusecessenasens 2 SR 60 COMPONENTS EE 5 INTRODUCTION TO THE SR 60 cccccceecceeecceeceeeeeeceeeeeeeseeaseeaeeeaseeaseeaeeeaseeuseeseeuseeuseeaeeeasenaseeaeeeaeesenseeaees 6 EI UI Si E 6 DISPLAY ELEMENTS EE 6 RRE 11 LINE TRACING WITH THE SR 60 0 cccccceeccceeceeceeeeeeeeeeeceeeeeeeeceeeeesceasenaeeeaeeeaseeaeeeeseeueeeuseeuseeneecuaseneeens 13 ACTIVE LINE TRACING EE 13 DEPTH El EE 16 OPERATING TIPS FOR ACTIVE LINE TRACING nassannsnnnnnonnnnnornnnnnnrorronionronirnronrrtrrrrrn renra rrara ranna nn nrnna rron en rrene 17 PASSIVE LINE SET dE 20 OMNISEEK LOCATING EE 21 SONDE LOCATING EN 22 Beiekgiehdloy leie 23 HUET Es OND ES EE 24 MEASURING DEPTH SONDE Mon 25 IE Re 25 CUSTOM USER FREQUENCIES cccccceccceecceecceecceeceeeceueeeeeeeeceueeeueseuseeuseeuseeeseeneeeeaseuaeeuseneeeeeeseeeeeuseeness 28 MENUS AND SETT INGS EEN
23. Feet amp inches e Weight w o batteries 4 7 lbs 2 1 kg e Volume 2 two settings above mute Dimension e Backlight Auto e Length 14 35 56 cm e Frequency 33 kHz Line Trace Mode e Width ee 7 17 78 cm Standard Equipment e Height o e 31 78 74 cm Power Source Item Cat e 4 C size batteries IDN Alkaline e SR 60 Locator 22163 ANSI NEDA 14A IEC LR14 or 1 2V NiMH e Markers and Mast Holder 12543 or NiCad rechargeable batteries e Stereo Sound Pointer Speakers 30143 e Power Rating 6V 550mA e Operator s Manual e Signal Strength e 4C cell batteries Alkaline Non linear in function 2000 is 10x e Training Video DVD higher than 1000 3000 is 10x higher 5 then 2000 etc Optional Equipment Operating Environment e Additional Sonde Markers 12543 e Temperature 4 F to 122 F 20 C to 50 C e ST 33Q Transmitter 26168 e Humidity 5 to 95 RH e 21 210 Transmitter 21903 e Storage Temperature 4 F to 140 F 20 C to e Inductive Clamp 4 75 20973 60 C e Remote Sonde 16728 e Float Sonde 19783 The SeekTech SR 60 is protected under U S Patents 7009399 7136765 and other Patents Pending Frequencies Table The following table shows the frequencies available in the SR 60 The default frequencies shown are in Checked Active status as shipped Optional frequencies may be added as described on page 33 Default Frequencies Optional Frequencies Active Line Trace 128Hz 1 kHz 8kHz Sonde ee 16 Hz 512H
24. Manual ye of Hz Dyna 8k Dyna 33k Figure 43 Choosing a Frequency Value Alternatively you can define a user defined frequency by setting each digit in turn from right to left with the arrow keys Press the Select Key T to save the user defined frequency you have set Custom frequencies can be easily identified by a in their menu list name Figure 44 User Defined Frequency in Main Menu Changing a User Defined Frequency To edit a user defined frequency 1 Press the Menu Key to show the list of available frequencies Scroll down to the user defined frequency you wish to edit 2 Press the Frequency Key Ff The user defined frequency window with the frequency you selected will appear Test Equipment Depot 800 517 8431 99 Washington Street Melrose MA 02176 FAX 781 665 0780 TestEquipmentDepot com RIDGID Figure 45 Editing a User Defined Frequency Note Trash Icon for deleting Frequency appears when Frequency is set to 0 Use the arrow keys to move through the digits and increase or decrease them When the frequency is correct press the Select Key T to save the new value To delete a user defined frequency 1 Press the Menu Key t to show the list of active frequencies Scroll down to the user defined frequency you wish to edit Press the Frequency Key The user defined frequency window with the frequency you selected will appear For each digit that is not set to
25. SR 60 Components Battery Compartment Serial Number Label USB Connector Serial Port Connector Note USB Serial Ports are for loading new software Antenna Mast Upper Omnidirectional Display Screen ANAONA NORE Keypad Guidance Antennas Handle Speaker Lower Omnidirectional Antenna Node Headphone Jack Folding Mast Snap Figure 1 SR 60 Components SE Introduction to the SR 60 Getting Started Installing Changing Batteries To install batteries into the SR 60 turn the unit over to access the battery compartment Turn the knob on the battery cover counter clockwise Pull straight up on the knob to remove the cover Insert the batteries as shown on the inside decal and make sure they drop to full contact Fit the cover into the case and turn the knob clockwise while lightly pressing down to close The battery cover can be installed in either orientation E K e Ki 1 7 z K V 2 pe mis E 1 Pie ci Ch s gi wi B e A e vk we a nai T p wor Le IK AS AE a J See NA RE Fi KR pa Figure 2 Battery Case When the SR 60 is powered on it takes a few seconds to check the batteries Until then the battery level will show as empty Do not allow debris or moisture into battery compartment Debris or moisture may short the battery contacts leading to rapid discharge of the batteries which could result in electrolyte leakage or risk of fire Folding Mast
26. X Passive Line Trace Frequency Caas Battery Level Measured Distance Depth o Backlight settings B LHr Auto Power Off Setting e H C A amp Simultrace Low Battery Warning flashing EGJ EG Display Elements OmniSeek Level Pointer Gehl 2H Frequency Selection Control LA Signal Strength 7 Es Tracing Line Watermark D Information Screen Jot Line Direction Gradient Signal Strength ra H Pole Icon No Signal Rotational Guidance Arrows Ff gt i DEE Distortion Line A2Hz Signal Focus e e Equator e Signal Angle Indicator Pipe Direction mA Milliamp Current ES gt 30 gt 10m Depth Greater Than 30 Feet 10 Meter Threshold Figure 72 Icons and Symbols Factory Settings Reset Frequency Settings Reset Menu Timeout Counter Go Up One Level press menu key RIDGID RAPET Glossary Definitions Active Line Traci A mode of locating using a Line Transmitter to inject a chosen frequency onto a hidden g conductor the frequency is then detected by the SR 60 to trace the conductor Active View Area The area within the circle in the center of the operating screen where the Tracing Line or Sonde Pole and Equator symbols appear Coupling of the signal from the target line onto adjacent conductors by any means resistive capacitive or inductive Bleed over makes the signal appear to be coming from a different conductor than the one being traced by setting up a field of the same frequency in a nea
27. a is touching the ground directly above the signal source and the antenna mast is vertical 1 To measure depth place the locator on the ground directly above the Sonde or the line 2 Measured Depth will be shown in the lower left hand corner 3 Measured Depth will be accurate only if the signal is undistorted and the antenna mast is held vertical Testing for the consistency of the Measured Depth reading can be done by raising the SR 60 a known distance say 12 inches 33 cm and observing whether the Measured Depth indicator increases by the same amount Small variation is acceptable but if the Measured Depth does not change or changes drastically it is an indication of a distorted field or very low current on the line Push Button Depth Holding the Select Key will display a short count down followed by a calculated depth report This Pushbutton Depth calculated on more signal samples will be more precise than the running Depth indication Push button Depth will generate a brief count down screen followed by a calculation screen which changes to a depth report screen when the calculation is complete Figure 24 Push Button Depth Report Certain conditions make depth readings less precise or less reliable When using Pushbutton Depth a warning will appear when these conditions occur Motion of the SR 60 during sampling Depth is varying greatly Signal Strength is varying greatly Ex
28. afety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition Damage to the product that requires service Remove the batteries and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under any of the following conditions o If liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into product o If product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions o If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way o When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance Remove batteries entirely before shipping RIDGID General Safety Information Read and understand all instructions Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result in electric shock fire and or serious personal injury SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS Work Area Safety Keep your work area clean and well lit Cluttered benches and dark areas may cause accidents Do not operate electrical devices or power tools in explosive atmospheres such as in the presence of flammable liquids gases or heavy dust Electrical devices or power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes Keep bystanders children and visitors away while operating tool Distractions can cause you to lose control Electrical Safety Do not operate the system with electrical components removed Exposure to internal parts increases the risk of injury Avoid exposure to rain or wet conditions Keep battery out of direct conta
29. andles dry and clean and free from oil and grease Allows for better control of the instrument Protect against excessive heat The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves or other products that produce heat Diagnostic instrument service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel Service or maintenance performed by unqualified repair personnel could result in injury When servicing a diagnostic instrument use only identical replacement parts Follow instructions in the maintenance section of this manual Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow maintenance SeekTech SR 60 instructions may create a risk of electrical shock or injury Follow instructions for changing accessories Accidents are caused by poorly maintained equipment Provide proper cleaning Remove battery before cleaning Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners Use a damp cloth for cleaning Conduct a safety check Upon completion of any service or repair of this product ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition Damage to the product that requires service Remove the batteries and refer servicing to qualified service personnel under any of the following conditions o If liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into product o If product does not operate normally by following the operating
30. ating in that frequency and place it in Checked Active status To select additional frequencies highlight and select the Frequency Selection Control J sub menu Highlight the category of the desired frequency Figure 58 Press the Select Key T SR 60 amp SR 60 ZC SR 60 x Figure 58 Selecting a Frequency Category Then use the Up and Down Keys to scroll through the available frequencies Highlight the desired frequency to add it to the currently available list Figure 59 6m 33kuHz 60 262khz Figure 59 Highlighting a Frequency to Activate Checking a frequency using the Select Key will enable it to be included in the Currently Available list of frequencies on the Main Menu Figure 60 Once on the Main Menu it can be set to Checked Active status and then be put into use using the Frequency Key aiaee version serial number of the receiver and its calibration date Figure 61 S N 2221 02001 Cal Date 07715 2007 Figure 60 Setting a Frequency to Currently Available Status To switch to a Currently Available frequency that is Figure 61 Information Screen not yet Checked Active press the Menu Key and scroll down to the desired frequency if it is not checked press the Select Key to toggle the checkbox Pressing Select a second time will display the Restore to checked This sets the status of that frequency to Factory Defaults option See Figure 62
31. couting a target area or tracing a SE Maintenance and Cleaning 1 Keep the SR 60 clean with a damp cloth and some mild detergent Do not immerse in water 2 When cleaning do not use scraping tools or abrasives as they may permanently scratch the display NEVER USE SOLVENTS to clean any part of the system Harsh chemicals can cause cracking of the Case Locating Faulty Components For troubleshooting suggestions please refer to the trouble shooting guide on page 42 Service and Repair Important Instrument should be taken to a RIDGID Independent Authorized Service Center or returned to the factory Remove batteries before shipping All repairs made by Ridge service facilities are warranted against defects in material and workmanship Remove batteries entirely before Shipping RIDGID Icons and Symbols KEYPAD ICONS Menu Navigation Signal Focus Menu Selection SondeMode Force Depth Re center Audio Line Trace Mode Force Depth Force current Re center Audio Signal Strength Proximity Setting Force Map On A Q Vv Menu Navigation Signal Focus SeekTech SR 60 gt Power ON OFF Key B Menu Key lt f Frequency Key du Sound Key DISPLAY ICONS DISPLAY ICONS Con MENU ICONS SR Sonde Frequency K Proximity Signal Yr Tools Menu HE Active Trace Frequenc igi e aes a Signal Strength Feet Meter Measured Depth Distance Settings A Radio Frequency ga RA LEO Screen Contrast Adjust
32. ct to distortion than active locating especially in regards to depth measurements Power transformers buried and overhead power lines are a common source of strong distortion It may be impossible to get an accurate locate close to a large power transformer Notes on Accuracy Measured Depth Proximity and Signal Strength measurements rely on a strong signal being received by the SR 60 Remember that the SR 60 is used above ground to sense electromagnetic fields emitted from SUE underground lines electrical conductors like metal cables and pipes or Sondes actively transmitting beacons When the fields are simple and undistorted then the information from sensed fields is representative of the buried object If those fields are distorted and there are multiple interacting fields it will cause the SR 60 to locate inaccurately Locating is not an exact science It does require the operator to use judgment and look for all the information available beyond what the instrument readings may be The SR 60 will give the user more information but it is up to the operator to interpret that information correctly No locator manufacturer will claim that an operator should follow the information from their instrument exclusively A wise operator treats the information gained as a partial solution to the problem of locating and combines it with knowledge of the environment utilities practices visual observation and familiarity with the i
33. ct with water Water entering electrical devices increases the risk of electric shock Do not probe high voltage lines Battery Precautions Use only the size and type of battery specified Do not mix cell types e g do not use alkaline with rechargeable Do not use partly discharged and fully charged cells together e g do not mix old and new Recharge batteries with charging units specified by the battery manufacturer Using an improper SeekTech SR 60 charger can overheat and rupture the battery Properly dispose of the batteries Exposure to high temperatures can cause the battery to explode so do not dispose of in a fire Some countries have regulations concerning battery disposal Please follow all applicable regulations Personal Safety Stay alert watch what you are doing and use common sense Do not use diagnostic tools while tired or under the influence of drugs alcohol or medications A moment of inattention while operating diagnostic instruments may result in serious personal injury Gloves should always be worn for health and safety reasons Sewer lines are unsanitary and may contain harmful bacteria and viruses Do not overreach Keep proper footing and balance at all times Proper footing and balance enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations Use safety equipment Always wear eye protection Dust mask non skid safety shoes hardhat or hearing protection must be used fo
34. d The balance of the Tracing Line and the Distortion line combine to give the operator much the same information as the Tracing Line with its distortion response enabled but in a different graphical form Advanced operators may find this more useful in discriminating the primary signal from the impact of distortion SUE Informational Locating The normal shape of a field around a long conductor such as a pipe or cable is circular cylindrical in three dimensions When over the center of a circular field the operator can observe the following indicators e Maximum Signal Strength e Maximum Proximity Signal Line Trace Mode e Centered Tracing line with minimized distortion e Guidance arrows centered agreeing with Tracing line e Minimum Measured Depth e Sound pitch and volume will increase until they maximize over the target utility Figure 66 Over a Circular Field The experienced operator learns to see the ground situation by knowing how the different pieces of information provided by the SR 60 relate to each other While a simple straightforward locate of a circular field is fast and easy tracing a line which is near other large conductors such as power lines phone lines gas mains rebar or even buried scrap metal can lead to questions which can only be correctly answered by taking all the available information into account By comparing the Guidance Arrows the Tracing Line Signal Strength Sig
35. duce battery life The SR 60 display can also show random symbols when the battery power is too low to drive the internal logic circuits correctly This is remedied by simply putting fresh batteries into the unit To preserve battery life the SR 60 will automatically shut down after 1 hour of no key presses Simply power the unit on to resume use Low Battery Warning When the battery gets low a battery icon will periodically appear in the map area on the screen This indicates that the batteries need to be changed and that the unit will soon shut down A tone will sound at ten minute intervals Figure 9 Low Battery Warning Just before complete shut down there will be a non Interruptible power down sequence An extended buzz will sound when the SR 60 is about to go into shutdown sequence Note Voltage on rechargeable batteries may sometimes drop so quickly that the unit will just shut down The unit will power down and restart Just replace the batteries and power the unit back on Starting Up After pressing the Power Key Oon the keypad the RIDGID logo displays and the software version number will appear in the lower right corner of the screen h D gu e ae Figure 10 Start up Screen Make a note of the software version in the box on page 1 If technical support from Ridge is needed it will be helpful to have it available SUE Set up Once the SR 60 is up and running the next step is t
36. e SR 60 simple to use in basic locating in uncomplicated situations The basic features of the SR 60 are on by default They can be customized easily to suit the users requirements The use of the various elements displayed is covered in later sections of this manual RIDGID Common Display Elements 30 4mA 33kHz Frequency Mode HE Measured Depth Distance Current Strength Signal Angle Crosshairs Map Center Active View Area Battery Level Figure 4 Common Display Elements The display screen in Active Line Trace Passive Line Trace or Sonde mode will show the following features e Signal Angle Field tilt from the horizontal angle toward the field s center numeric value displayed in degrees ssal Battery Level Indicates level of remaining battery capacity Measured Depth Distance Displays the measured depth when receiver is touching the ground directly over signal source Displays computed distance when the antenna mast is pointed at a signal source in some other manner Displays feet inches U S A default or meters European default Mode Icon for Sonde Z Line Tracettt Power Passive Line Trace or Radio Frequency ZS mode Frequency Shows current frequency setting in hertz or kilohertz Crosshairs Map Center shows operators position relative to the target center SeekTech SR 60 Display Elements Line Trace Mode Proximity Signal
37. e When the locator gets close to a Pole a zoom ring will appear centered on the Pole allowing precision centering e The second Pole will be a similar distance from the Sonde location in the opposite direction Locate it in the same manner and mark it with a red triangular marker e lf the Sonde is level the three markers should be aligned and the red Pole markers should be similar distances from the yellow Sonde marker If they are not a tilted Sonde may be indicated See Tilted Sondes below It is generally true that the Sonde will be on the line between the two Poles unless there is extreme distortion present Step 3 Verify the locate e tis important to verify the Sonde s location by crosschecking the receiver s information and maximizing Signal Strength Move the SR 60 away from the maximum Signal Strength to make sure that the signal drops off on all sides Make sure to move the unit far enough to see a significant signal drop in each direction Figure 36 Sonde Locate Equator e Double check the two Pole locations e Notice that the Measured Depth reading at the maximum Signal Strength location is reasonable and consistent If it seems far too deep or too shallow recheck that there is an actual maximum Signal Strength at that location e Notice that the poles and the point of highest Signal Strength lie on a straight line Important Being on the Equator does not mean one is over the Sonde Se
38. e of parts and any other conditions that may affect the SR 60 s operation If damaged have the instrument serviced before using Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for the SR 60 Accessories that may be suitable for one instrument may become hazardous when used on another Keep handles dry and clean and free from oil and grease Allows for better control of the instrument Protect against excessive heat The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators heat registers stoves or other products that produce heat Diagnostic instrument service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel Service or maintenance performed by unqualified repair personnel could result in injury When servicing a diagnostic instrument use only identical replacement parts Follow instructions in the maintenance section of this manual Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow maintenance SeekTech SR 60 instructions may create a risk of electrical shock or injury Follow instructions for changing accessories Accidents are caused by poorly maintained equipment Provide proper cleaning Remove battery before cleaning Do not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners Use a damp cloth for cleaning Conduct a safety check Upon completion of any service or repair of this product ask the service technician to perform s
39. e on the signal from the transmitter s field than on the target conductor See page 16 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 Connect ground and power leads of the transmitter before powering the transmitter on to avoid electric shock See warning on page 4 1 Energize the target conductor according to the transmitter manufacturer s instructions using one of the methods 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 f Be sure the frequency has a line trace icons Push the Menu Key to return to the operating screen To activate frequencies not yet made active see Frequency Selection Control on page 33 Figure 20 Line Trace Frequency Chosen with the Frequency Key This screen will flash briefly when a new frequency is chosen 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
40. e or not 20 OmniSeek Mode Depth Measurement Units Setting Backlight Control Auto Shutdown Control 10 LCD Contrast Control O PNA SUE 11 E amp A EE Display Elements Control Sub menus will display when selected for Sonde or line tracing modes 12 EZ E Frequency Selection Control Sub menus will display for categories of frequencies that can be selected 13 D Information Menu including software version and unit serial number sub menu for restoring factory defaults will display on Information screen See the Menu Tree on page 35 for a complete list 80 SimulTrace Mode The SimulTrace mode is off by default and can be activated by selecting it in the Frequency Selection Control sub menu It provides simultaneous tracing of a 512 Hz Sonde and a 33 kHz line for easier tracking of underground pipes using a Sonde Currently Available Sonde Frequencies Frequencies that have been set to Checked Active status appear with a check box next to them If the checkbox is checked the frequency can be accessed using the Frequency Key Frequencies are checked or unchecked by highlighting them and pressing the Select Key To return to the operating screen press the Menu Key See the Frequency List on page 9 Currently Available Active Line Trace Frequencies Frequencies that have been set to Checked Active status appear with a check box next to them If the checkbox is checked the fr
41. ection toward the center of the detected field Sound will balance when over the center of the line The operator can stay centered on the line using sound signals instead of the visual cues on the screen The SR 60 comes with clip on speakers designed to be attached to the left and right shoulders of a safety vest for this purpose Shutting Down Pressing the Power Key at any time during operation will start a count down of 3 seconds during which the shut down tone will sound At the end of the count down the SR 60 will shut down Figure 19 Count Down Screen Shutting Down Line Tracing with the SR 60 There are two major ways to look for lines underground with the SR 60 They are called Active and Passive The difference is that in Active Line Tracing a current is placed on a conductor using a transmitter and that specific signal is then sought for using the locator Passive tracing does not use a transmitter and seeks for any signal that may be picked up at particular frequencies Active Line Tracing In active line tracing underground lines are energized with a Line Transmitter This active signal is then traced using the SR 60 A Line Transmitter is different from a Sonde in that it is used to energize a conducting target line rather than acting as a target for a locate itself the way a Sonde does Line transmitters energize lines by direct connection with clips or by directly inducing the signal using a clamp or by
42. ed around the jaws Plug the Inductive Clamp into a transmitter set to 33 KHz and turn it on To activate the SimulTrace mode select it from the Main Menu frequency list and toggle it into Active Status it is off by default Then select SimulTrace b from the menu of frequencies Figure 37 Selecting SimulTrace Mode Once you have activated the SimulTrace mode follow the general rules of active line tracing to find and follow the pushcable When you are within detection distance of the Sonde the screen will automatically shift to Sonde mode and will display the equator and the poles as described above When SimulTrace is active the screen will continue to display a faint tracing line representing the pushcable on 33 kHz even when it is in Sonde mode This is especially useful if you are following a pipeline whose location and bearing is questionable Note If no signal from either a line at 33 kHz or a 512 Hz Sonde can be detected the magnifying glass will appear to indicate the unit is seeking for a signal Figure 38 8 SimulTrace Mode No Signal Icon SUE On the Pole Approaching the 2nd Pole Figure 39 Screen Display in Different Locations Sonde SUE Normal Maximum Signal Strength Tilted Figure 40 Tilted Sonde Poles and Equator Note the right hand Pole is closer to the Equator due to tilt SE Custom User Frequencies SR 60 users can set and use custom frequencie
43. eing two Poles aligned on the display is not a substitute for centering over each Pole separately and marking their locations as described above For best accuracy the SR 60 should be held with the mast oriented vertically The antenna mast must be vertical when marking the Poles and Equator or their locations will be less accurate lt doesn t matter whether you locate the Poles first or the Equator first and then the Poles or one Pole then the Equator and then the other Pole You can even locate the Sonde using just the Signal Strength and then verify your result with the Poles and Equator What is important is that you verify all the data points and mark the Sonde s position where the signal is highest Tilted Sondes If the Sonde is tilted one Pole will move closer to the Sonde and the other farther away so that the Sonde location no longer lies midway between the two Poles The Signal Strength of the nearer Pole becomes much higher than that of the more distant Pole if the Sonde is vertical as it could be if it fell into a break in the line however it can still be located If the Sonde is vertical wnat is seen on the screen is a single Pole at the point of maximum Signal Strength The Ridgid Floating Sonde is designed to have a single Pole visible and is weighted to maintain the Sonde on a vertical axis See Note below It is important to realize that a severely tilted Sonde can cause the Pole locations
44. ending on the mode and choice of options in use A mode of tracing a line which does not use a transmitter to place current on the line It is used when tracing lines which are energized from external sources such as 50 60 Hz electrical cables or conductors reflecting transient RF energy etc Passive Line Tracing Where the field lines from the Sonde exit the ground vertically One of the two ends of a dipole field such as the magnetic field of the Earth or the field around a Sonde The SR 60 displays a Pole icon when it detects the Poles of a Sonde Pole A computed signal which reflects how close the operator is getting to the target utility in Line Trace modes It is calculated based on the signal received by the two Omnidirectional antenna nodes of the SR 60 An optional circular track around the outside of the Active View Area in which the Level Race Track Marker moves to show current Signal Strength graphically It also contains the Watermark which shows the highest level of Signal Strength reached Signal Angle The field angle measured relative to the horizontal plane Sianal Strenath The relative strength of the total field signal detected by the lower Omnidirectional g g antenna in three dimensions An advanced locating mode which makes it possible to simultaneously trace a SS SimulTrace pushcable emitting a 33kHz signal and also detect a 512k Sonde when it comes in range of the locator Proximity Signal A
45. equency will be activated and can then be accessed using the Frequency Key Frequencies are checked or unchecked by highlighting them and pressing the Select Key To return to the operating screen press the Menu Key See the Frequency List on page 9 Currently Available Passive Line Trace Frequencies As with other frequency categories these items will appear in the Checked Active set when checked See the Frequency List on page 9 S Currently Available Radio Frequencies As with other frequency categories these items will appear in the Checked Active set when checked See the Frequency List on page 9 OO OmniSeek Mode The OmniSeek mode allows simultaneous tracing in multiple high frequency bands lt 4 kHz 4 15 kHz and 15 35 KHz Change of Depth Units The SR 60 can display Measured Depth in either Feet or Meters Figure 48 Feet are shown in feet and inches format meters are in decimal format To change these settings highlight the Depth Units selection in the menu and press the Select Key to toggle between feet or meters Use the Menu Key to save the section and exit Feet gt Meter TAuto 3 Figure 48 Selecting Units Feet Meters Back Light Control A light detector built into the upper left corner of the keypad senses low light levels The backlight can be forced on by blocking the light to this sensor The automatic LCD backlight is factory set to only switch on under fairly da
46. fy if the distortion is coming from a local turn or tee in the line and enable the operator to again pick up the line nearby Always cross check the locate by ensuring that e The Tracing Line shows little or no distortion response blurriness e The Proximity Signal and the Signal strength maximize when the Tracing Line crosses the map center e The Measured Depth increases appropriately as the unit is raised vertically and the Tracing Line remains aligned Measured Depth readings should be taken as estimates and actual depths should be independently verified by potholing or other means prior to excavating Care should be taken to watch for signal interference that may give inaccurate readings The Tracing Line is only representative of the position of the buried utility if the field is UNDISTORTED Do NOT base a locate solely on the Tracing Line If the signal is clear the SR 60 will often show a Straight signal line with very little distortion right up to a 90 degree tee show a small amount of distortion as it follows around the curve and then show a clear signal again as it resumes its travel after the tee It shows very clearly when the line is turning aiaee Measuring Depth Line Tracing Modes The SR 60 calculates Measured Depth by comparing the strength of the signal at the lower antenna to that at the upper antenna Measured Depth is measured correctly in an undistorted field when the bottom antenn
47. gnal Strength to be displayed in the center of the display area anytime when a Proximity Signal is not available Figure 56 This may occur when signal is weak When a Proximity Signal again becomes available the Signal Strength number returns to the lower right corner of the screen as usual Line Trace Mode only Figure 56 Display of Signal Strength at Screen Center A 2Hz Signal Focus Control The Signal Focus Control feature essentially acts something like a magnifying glass on the signal It reduces the sample bandwidth of the signal that the receiver examines and gives a display based on a more sensitive read of the incoming signals The tradeoff in using the Signal Focus Control setting is that the display while more precise will update more slowly The Signal Focus Control can be set at 4Hz wide 2Hz 1Hz 5 Hz and 25 Hz narrow The narrower the selected bandwidth used the greater detection distance and precision the receiver will show but with a lower update rate of data on the display SUE Signal Focus Control Figure 57 Signal Focus Control Note this means that when using a more narrow Signal Focus Control setting it is necessary to move the receiver along the line more slowly This is a trade off for the improved focus and will avoid missing data updates at the slower rate When it is selected on the Signal Focus Control is changed to narrower or wider settings using the Up narrower and Do
48. in an integrated display Depends on Omnidirectional antenna arrays for real time information On the SR 60 a solid pointer which moves around a circular track indicating the current Signal Strength being detected See Watermark The set of all frequencies that can be used on the SR 60 It is accessed through the Frequency Selection sub menu The calculated depth or distance to the Sonde or to the apparent center of the conductor being traced This is a virtual measurement and may be inaccurate if distortion is present Physical depth must be verified by potholing before excavating A distinct operating state or method in which a system can be used The SR 60 has three modes Active Line tracing Passive Line Tracing and Sonde Locating A proprietary antenna technology which combines detection of electro magnetic fields on three axes simultaneously The SR 60 uses two Omnidirectional antennas An advanced mode enabling the simultaneous search for signals on several frequency bands simultaneously lt 4kHz 4 15 kHz and 15 35kHz Ridge Tool Company e Elyria Ohio e U S A 43 RIDGID PAPET Glossary Definitions The display screen of the instrument as seen when locating It includes an Active View area where the Tracing Line appears in Line Trace modes and where Pole and Operating Screen Equator icons appear in Sonde mode It also includes Measured Depth Signal Strength Signal Angle current and Proximity Signal values dep
49. ing un focused or cloudy in proportion to the distortion This distortion response is useful in recognizing when the field being traced is being distorted by other fields of metallic objects in the vicinity Figure 29 60 Hz Passive Trace Frequency There are also two higher radio frequency bands to help locate lines passively They are e 4 kHz to 15 kHz LF e 15 kHz to 35 kHz HF The Radio Frequency and lt 4 kHz bands can be useful in discriminating when tracing in a noisy environment They are also very helpful in finding lines on blind searches When searching over a wide area where the location of targets is unknown one useful approach is to have multiple frequencies selected for use and to check the area at a number of frequencies in sequence looking for meaningful signals Even more convenient is to use the OmniSeek setting described below iP Sle In general directly connected Active Line Tracing is more reliable than Passive Line Tracing In Passive Line tracing or when signals are extremely weak the Measured Depth will generally read too deep and the actual buried depth may be much shallower OmniSeek Locating The SR 60 has an advanced capability for passive locating called OmniSeek The OmniSeek mode amp is a universal passive search mode that can simultaneously detect frequencies in three passive search bands lt 4 kHz 4 15 kHz and gt 15 kHz Whichever signal has the highest Proxi
50. inspection In general Passive Trace locating is less reliable than Active Line Tracing because Active Line Tracing offers the positive identification of the signal from the transmitter Especially in Passive Line Tracing knowing that you have found something is not the same as knowing what you have found It is essential to use all the indicators available such as Measured Depth Signal Strength etc to confirm a locate If it is possible to access part of a passively located cable it can then be energized using a transmitter and positively traced While Passive Line Trace is most often used on 50 60Hz power lines other cables such as phone lines CATV lines etc can be energized in operation or by transient radio frequencies in the region and may appear on Passive Line Trace searches Verify a passive locate by finding a known termination point and hooking up a transmitter to it to do an active locate on the line if this is possible SeekTech SR 60 Sonde Locating The SR 60 can be used to locate the signal of a Sonde transmitter in a pipe so that its location can be identified above ground Sondes can be placed at a problem point in the pipe using a camera push rod or cable They can also be flushed down the pipe A Sonde is often used for locating non conducting pipe and conduit Important Signal strength is the key factor in determining the Sonde s location Take care to maximize the Signal Strength
51. ion 33kHz Gg Zeie dee 512 8 65 above Eye above 82kHz 200kHz GE 200 KHz not present Ridge Tool Company e Elyria Ohio e U S A 47 32768 in European model GE of the ST 510 81865 200000 RIDGID BSE Displayed Available Option Frequencies 200k changed to 93khz in European RIDGID Old Ridge Tool Co model of the ST 510 128 Hz 1 kHz 262k changed to 8 kHz 93khz in European RIDGID New Ridge Tool Co 33 KHz model of the ST 93 kHz 510 262 KHz 815Hz SE 82kHz 1kHz 8kHz 33kKHz SeekTech B 93kHz Older 93 kHz value 262kHz 262144 Schonstedt Instrument 575Hz TraceMaster 575 Company 8kHz Made by FUJI an SubSurface SCH DI 2000 TECOM SUBSITE ELECTRONICS Ditch Witch 48 Test Equipment Depot 800 517 8431 99 Washington Street Melrose MA 02176 FAX 781 665 0780 TestEquipmentDepot com
52. mity will be displayed This enables you to sweep an area without having to switch between frequency bands To use OmniSeek select it from the Main Menu tot or Figure 30 Selecting 90 OmniSeek The SR 60 will then search all three passive frequency bands simultaneously The trace with the closest proximity value will be displayed more prominently on the screen and its corresponding frequency will appear on the left of the main screen The OmniSeek symbol 2 on the screen indicates the other filters are also running If a closer proximity is detected from another frequency band the displayed frequency value will shift to that band Figure 31 OmniSeek with Secondary Tracing Line The display will show the main tracing line and identify the band in which it is found In Figure 31 the lt 4 kHz band is being displayed as the closest signal being seen by the locator Notice there is also a dashed secondary tracing line being shown If signals are also being detected from other frequency bands dashed lines called Secondary Trace Lines will indicate their apparent location A SO dE S Tracing Line Figure 32 00 OmniSeek 15 35kHz Band In Figure 32 the Tracing Line in the lt 4 kHz band is showing some distortion Two other signals are being detected in the bands 15 35 kHz and 4 15 kHz If the operator wants to follow these secondary signals up more closely he can switch to the particular bands to see which o
53. moves up accordingly to show the new highest level graphically The Watermark like the high water ring in a bathtub shows the highest level reached This provides an additional visual way to track the maximum signal If you are trying to trace a line by noticing its highest Signal Strength level Watermark serves as a visual aid The Watermark and Race Track are a single option that is off by default but can be set on in the Display Elements selection menu 30 4mA Pointer Watermark Racetrack Figure 54 Race track with Watermark and Level Pointer No Signal Icon Suppression IF this feature is selected on when the SR 60 is not receiving any meaningful signal on the selected frequency it will display a moving magnifying glass icon indicating no signal is being detected Figure 55 The sound will also mute when no signal is found This reduces the confusion of trying to interpret the random noise that some locators display in the absence of a signal e Depth suppression If the Measured Depth is greater than the threshold depth by default 99 30m in Sonde mode and 307 10m in Line Trace mode the map is suppressed and the magnifying glass appears e Noise suppression If the signal is seen to be too noisy the map may also be suppressed Figure 55 No Signal Icon Center Signal Strength Option Selecting this option in the Menu Selection screen will force the number representing Si
54. n the vicinity In short frequencies can show up on buried conductors in numerous ways and these can be picked up passively if the fields are strong enough 1 Select a Passive Line Trace Frequency Ce or icon 2 Choose an orderly pattern of search that will cover the area you are interested in 3 Use the Tracing Line Depth and Signal Strength to steer you to the lines which have that frequency energizing them 4 lf possible once you have found a target of interest find an accessible point and do an Active Trace on it to confirm your results The SR 60 has multiple Passive Line Trace frequency settings Power frequencies identified with the power icon El are used to locate signals generated as the result of power transmissions usually 50 or 60 Hz To reduce the effects of inherent noise from line load or neighboring devices the SR 60 can be set to locate various multiples or harmonics of the base 50 60 Hz frequency up to 4 000 Hz lt 4kHz setting The 50 60 Hz 9x multiple is the setting most commonly used to locate 50 60 Hz signal In well balanced high voltage electric distribution systems the 5x multiple may work better The 100 Hz in 50 Hz countries and 120 Hz in 60 Hz countries frequency settings are particularly useful for pipelines that have been equipped with cathodic protection using rectifiers As in Active Line Tracing the Tracing Line will reflect distortion in the detected field by appear
55. n the SR 60 listed as 93k B If you find that your transmitter signal at 93 kHz cannot be detected by the SR 60 set the locator s frequency to 93 B kHz which is set to the older value Both 93 and 93 B frequencies can be found under the Line Trace category of the Frequency Selection sub menu Sounds of the SR 60 The sound level is driven by the proximity to the target The closer to the target the higher the sound pitch will be A rising tone indicates increasing signal In Active Line Trace or Passive Line Trace mode sound is on one continuous curve and does not re scale In Line Tracing modes the default distortion response also activates an audio signal proportionate to the distortion in the detected field When there is no distortion present the sound of the SR 60 is a clear warbling sound when on the left side of the detected field with a slight click added when on the right side of the detected field If distortion is detected a sound similar to AM radio static sound can be heard which gets stronger as the degree of distortion increases similar to the unfocusing that signals distortion visually around the Tracing Line If the distortion response feature is disabled the static sound does not occur In Sonde Mode if the sound level reaches its highest point it will re scale to a medium level and continue signaling from the new starting point In Sonde Mode the pitch will ratchet upward That
56. n use the Select Key to check or uncheck the box Checked display elements are selected to be on for that mode Personal preferences and the type of locating being done will dictate which optional elements the operator wants displayed Countdown Timer Distortion Line Race Track On Off with Watermark Current Strength and Pointer Signal Angle i ea Tracing Line Distortion Guidance Arrows Ties Audio to No Signal Icon Signal Strength Suppression Center Signal Set Strength Option Signal Strength On Off Figure 52 Display Elements Line Trace Modes Race Track with Watermark Geen and Pointer g g Signal Focus No Signal Icon Control Suppression Auto Menu Exit Sound Muting gt 99 Countdown Timer Figure 53 Display Elements Sonde Mode Optional Features Optional Features in the Display Elements Menu include QD Race Track and Watermark The Race Track is a circular track around the center of the Active View Area on the screen The Watermark is a marker which appears in the outer ring of the display SUE traveling along the Race Track Figure 54 The Watermark is a graphic representation of the highest Signal Strength reached in Sonde mode or the highest Proximity Signal level reached in Line Tracing modes It is chased by a solid Level Pointer Ba which shows the current Signal Strength If the Signal Strength Level Pointer goes higher than the Watermark the Watermark
57. na mast for convenience This is the suspected Sonde location Figure 35 Poles and Equator of a Sonde If while getting closer the Equator appears on the screen follow it in the direction of an increasing Signal Strength to localize the Sonde If a Pole appears before the Equator appears localize the Sonde by centering the Pole in the cross hairs Step 2 Pinpoint the Sonde The Poles should appear on either side of the maximum signal point an equal distance on either side if the Sonde is level If they are not visible on the screen at the point of maximum Signal Strength move from the maximum point perpendicular to the dotted line Equator until one appears Center the locator over the Pole Where the Poles occur depends on the Sonde s depth The deeper the Sonde the further away from it the Poles will be The dotted line represents the Equator of the Sonde If the Sonde is not tilted the Equator will intersect the Sonde at maximum Signal Strength and minimum Measured Depth Note being on the Equator does not mean that the locator is over the Sonde Always verify the locate by maximizing Signal Strength and marking both Poles SUE e Mark the first Pole location found with a red triangular Pole marker After centering on the Pole a double line indicator will appear This line represents how the Sonde is lying underground and in most cases also represents the pipe s approximate direction
58. nal Signal Strength Measured Depth Display and Signal Angle readings The Tracing Line will grow less focused in response to more distortion in the detected field A dashed line which is displayed when the Tracing Line s distortion response property is disabled It can be used to analyze distortion in the detected field A property of the Tracing Line which shows the degree of distortion detected by displaying a varying cloud of particles around the Tracing Line the blurriness of the line is proportional to the detected distortion This property is enabled by default and can be disabled in the display The number of times per second that an electro magnetic field forms and collapses or shifts from positive to negative in the case of alternating current Expressed in hertz Hz cycles per second or in kilohertz kHz thousands of cycles per second The two arrowheads which represent detection from the gradient coil antennas in the side wheels of the SR 60 antenna system The Guidance Arrows provide an indication of where the center of the field currently being traced lies The frequency the SR 60 is currently set to detect The default in use frequency is 33 KHz The in use frequency is selected using the Frequency Key from the set of frequencies that are Checked Active An advance in the science and art of locating underground utilities and Sondes through the combination of multiple pieces of information
59. nal Angle Measured Depth and Proximity Signal an operator can see which way the field is being distorted Comparing the field information with an educated view of the ground noticing where transformers meters junction boxes manholes and other indicators are located can help in understanding what is causing field distortion It is important to remember especially in complex situations that the only guarantee of the location of a particular line or pipe is visual inspection such as by potholing Compound or complex fields will produce different indications on the SR 60 that will show what is happening Some examples might be e Disagreement between guidance arrows Tracing Line and Distortion Indicator e Inconsistent or signal unrealistic Measured Depth e Fluctuating random indications also caused by very weak signal e Inconsistent Proximity Signal compared to guidance arrows Active or Passive Line Trace modes e Signal strength maximizing off to one side of the conductor Figure 67 Over a Distorted Field Generally distortion is likely to be worse at higher frequencies compared to lower frequencies This is due to the tendency of higher frequency signals to jump to adjacent conductors Large iron and steel objects such as vault and manhole covers trench plates structural Supports rebar and vehicles can significantly distort even the lowest frequencies In general passive locating is more subje
60. ndicators show what the antennas are sensing as they move through the field They signal when a field is being distorted out of shape by interference from other cables pipes or conductive objects nearby When significant distortion is present the indicators will not agree Knowing distortion is present allows the operator the option of taking action to reduce it or at least account for it For example both location and Measured Depth reading become suspect in distorted fields The other side of having more information is verification that a locate is reliable f all of the indicators are in agreement and reasonable then the degree of confidence in a locate can be much higher SR 60 Maintenance Transportation and Storage Before transporting make sure that the unit is off to preserve battery power When transporting make sure that the unit is secure and does not bounce around or get bumped by loose equipment The SR 60 should be stored in a cool dry place Note If storing the SR 60 for an extended period remove the batteries completely If shipping the SR 60 remove the batteries entirely from the unit Installing Using Accessories The SR 60 also comes with Sonde and Pole Markers that can be used to mark Pole or Sonde locations above ground There are two 2 red markers to mark the Poles and one 1 yellow marker to mark the Sonde The markers can also be used to temporarily mark points to come back to while s
61. ne is being picked up in each band This enables you to do a Passive Locate more effectively if there is for example a lot of 60 Hz noise in the environment It is important to keep in mind that what you are seeing are traces of signals from the various broadband frequencies The operator has to use the data to develop an understanding of what he is seeing If one or two secondary tracing lines are showing out of alignment with the main tracing line this can be an indication of another utility especially if it is at a deeper depth But it can also be due to simple signal energy on the same utility in different frequency bands Often greater distortion will be present on other frequencies bands and this may cause the secondary tracing lines to appear out of alignment with the main tracing line Secondary Tracing Line 1 Secondary Tracing Line 2 RIDGID Operating Tips for Passive Line Tracing 1 In Passive Locating if you are looking for a known line be sure you are using the best frequency for the line in question This may be for example 60 Hz 1 for a power line or it may turn out that 60 Hz 9 produces a more reliable response on a particular line If seeking a cathode protected pipe in Passive Mode use higher frequency greater than 4 kHz to pick up harmonics Remember that pipes can carry currents that will show up on a Passive Trace as well as cables will the only guarantee of a locate is exposure and visual
62. ng either information about your locator including software checkbox will exit the option and leave things as they were Figure 63 Defaults Restored Line Trace Mode SUE Menu Tree The following figure shows options and controls built into the SR 60 menus Activated Frequencies Sonde 512 Line Trace Kom M e 8 kHz 33 kHz 93 Power 6049 450 Hz lt 4 kHz Radio L 4 15 kHz H 15 35 kHz GO OmniSeek lt 4 kHz 4 15 kHz 15 35 kHz Depth Units Feet Meters Backlight On Off Auto Auto Shutdown 1 HR Off LCD Contrast Increase Decrease Display Sonde Mode Trace Mode Elements Watermark Signal Focus Setting No Signal Indicator Sound Signals Center Signal Strength Signal Strength Signal Angle Indicator Distortion Line Response Hi Med Low Tracing Line Distortion Sound Mute gt 99 Guidance Arrows Line Trace Display Only simulTrace 512 Hz 33 kHz Sonde Custom Frequencies 16 512 640 850 8k 16k 33k Line Trace Custom Frequencies 128 Hz 1 kHz 8 kHz 33 kHz 51 kHz 93 kHz 93 KHz B 200 kHz 262 kHz gt Power Custom Frequencies 50 Hz 60 Hz 100 Hz 120 Hz 50 5 250 Hz 60 5 300 Hz 50 9 450 Hz 609 540 Hz lt 4kHz gt BE L 4 15 kHz H 15 35 kHz gt OmniSeek lt 4kHz 4 15 kHz 15 35 kHz Information Restore Defaults Clear Custom Menu Frequencies Cancel Frequency Selection Y Y VI VW VVVVVVVV Figure 64 SR 60 Menu Tree
63. nstrument to arrive at an informed conclusion Locating accuracy should not be assumed under the following conditions 1 When other cables or utilities are present Bleed over may produce distorted fields and illuminate cables or pipes unintentionally Use lower frequencies when possible and if possible eliminate connections between the two cables such as common bonding to ground Figure 68 Bleed over 2 When tees turns or splits are present in the line When following a clear signal that suddenly becomes ambiguous try seeking in a circle of about 20 around the last known point to see whether the signal picks up again This may reveal a branch joint or some other change in the line Be alert to split opportunities or sudden changes of direction in the utility being traced Turns or tees can cause a sudden increase in the Distortion Indicator response 3 When Signal Strength is low A strong signal is necessary for accurate locating A weak signal can be improved by changing the grounding of the circuit frequency or transmitter connection Worn or damaged insulation bare concentric cables and iron pipes exposed to ground will compromise Signal Strength through leakage to ground 4 Far end grounding will change Signal Strength significantly Where far end grounding cannot be established a higher frequency will provide a stronger signal Improving ground conditions for the locating circuit is a prima
64. nto the pipe go to the suspected Sonde location If the direction of the pipe is unknown push the Sonde a shorter distance into the line 15 feet 5m from the access is a good Starting point Location Methods There are three major parts to locating a Sonde The first step is to localize the sonde The second part is pinpointing The third is verifying its location Step 1 Localize the sonde e Hold the SR 60 so the mast is pointing outward Sweep the antenna mast in the suspected direction of the Sonde while observing the Signal Strength and listening to the sound The signal will be highest when the mast is pointing toward the Sonde e Lower the SR 60 to its normal operating position antenna mast vertical and walk in the direction of the Sonde Approaching the Sonde the Signal Strength will increase and the audio tone will rise in pitch Use the Signal Strength and the sound to maximize the signal e Maximize the Signal Strength When it appears to be at its highest point place the SR 60 close to the ground over the high signal point Be careful to hold the receiver at a constant height above the ground as distance affects Signal Strength e Note the Signal Strength and move away from the high point in all directions Move the SR 60 far enough in all directions to verify that the Signal Strength drops significantly on all sides Mark the point of highest Signal Strength with a yellow Sonde Marker clipped to anten
65. o set up the frequencies needed to match the transmitter frequency being used or the frequency of the line to be located Each frequency is selected for use by choosing it from a list in the Main Menu If the box on the Main Menu for that frequency is checked the frequency is Checked Active Checked Active frequencies are already selected for use and appear in sequence when pressing the Frequency Key J For example the line trace frequency of 33 kHz is available by pressing the Frequency Key and advancing through the list until 33 KHz is reached NOTE When a frequency is highlighted in the Main Menu pressing the Frequency Key will display its exact frequency value For example 8 kHz 8192 Hz A long press on the Frequency Key F will bring up a scrollable list of all Checked Active frequencies Figure 12 Line Trace Frequency Selected with Frequency Key Activating Frequencies Frequencies can be chosen for the set of Checked Active frequencies so they will become available using the Frequency Key KN Frequencies can also be deactivated to keep the frequency set smaller Each frequency is activated by choosing it from a list in the Main Menu See Figure 14 Frequencies are grouped by category SimulTrace 512 Hz 33 kHz if active Sonde ZS Active Line Trace 4h Power Passive Line Trace Radio OmniSeek multi RF bands 20 1 Push the Menu Key Figure 13 Menu Key The Main Men
66. of the two Poles of the Sonde s dipole field See page 26 d Zoom Ring Appears when the locator moves close to a Pole The use of these features is described in the Active Line Tracing Passive Line Tracing and Sonde Locating sections Default Frequencies The Master Frequency Menu contains a large set of frequencies but only some of these are made currently available They are made Currently Available by checking them in the Master Frequency Menu The frequencies which are currently available will appear on the Main Menu when the Menu Key ECH pressed Currently available frequencies can be checked in the Main Menu in which case they will appear when using the Frequency Key Ft they are unchecked in Test Equipment Depot 800 517 8431 99 Washington Street Melrose MA 02176 FAX 781 665 0780 TestEquipmentDepot com Pipe Direction Zoom Ring Sonde Icon SE the Main Menu they will not appear when using the Frequency Key to cycle through frequencies Frequencies which appear in the Main Menu and are checked for activation are called Checked Active Frequencies that are Checked Active can be cycled through simply by pressing the Frequency Key Ff see Figure 7 A frequency chosen by pressing the Frequency Key becomes the In Use frequency Frequencies currently available by default include ZS Sonde Mode e 512 Hz 4 Active Line Trace Mode e 128 Hz e 1kHz e 8kHz
67. oint move the transmitter or change the frequency to get better reception with less distortion For extra certainty take steps to inspect the situation such as by requesting potholing In the final analysis there is one most important component in the locating task the operator The SR 60 provides an unprecedented amount of information to SE be able to make the correct decision rapidly and accurately A Better Way of Locating The SR 60 gives the operator a picture of the situation as the receiver moves along the target area and makes it easier to understand where a target line s electromagnetic field is With more complete information an operator can understand how things stand underground and resolve complex situations avoid inaccurate mark ups and find the right line or cable more rapidly What the SR 60 Does The SR 60 is used above ground to sense and trace electromagnetic fields emitted from underground or hidden lines electrical conductors like metal cables and pipes or Sondes actively transmitting beacons When the fields are undistorted the information from the sensed fields gives an accurate picture of the buried object When the situation is made complex by interference from more than one line or other factors the SR 60 provides a display of information that shows multiple measurements of the detected field This data can make it easier to understand where the problem is by providing clues
68. ow the unit is held does not affect Signal Strength The user can approach from any direction and does not need to know the orientation or direction of the pipe or wire Locating Sondes Used with a Sonde the SR 60 eliminates Nulls and Ghost Peaks A conventional locator signal often sees a signal increase followed by a null better described as no signal registering on the antenna and then a peak This can confuse the operator who may interpret a smaller peak as the target False Peaks Nulls Figure 70 The signal from a Sonde as seen by a conventional locator The main peak is in the center and two false peaks are outside the two nulls The SR 60 uses measurements of the complete field to direct the user to the target Finding a Sonde using Signal Strength is a very direct process Peak Figure 71 Sonde signal as seen by the SR 60 The only way to go is up toward the maximum signal More on Informational Locating Because of the SR 60 s advanced processing and display the information provided by the SR 60 makes it clear when a locate is reliable and when one Is suspect A good locator can understand the underground picture with much less effort by using the combined information provided by e Proximity Signal Signal Strength e Tracing Line e Distortion Indicator e Guidance Arrows and Directional Sound e Continuous Measured Depth indications These i
69. prior to marking an area for excavation The following assumes that the Sonde is in a horizontal pipe the ground is approximately level and the SR 60 is held with the antenna mast vertical The field of a Sonde is different in form from the circular field around a long conductor such as a pipe or cable It is a dipole field like the field around the Earth with a north Pole and a south Pole Figure 33 Earth s Dipole Field In the Sonde s field the SR 60 will detect the points at either end where the field lines curve down toward the vertical and it will mark these points on the map display with a Pole icon The SR 60 will also show a line at 90 degrees to the Sonde centered between the Poles known as the Equator much like the Equator on a map of the Earth if the planet were viewed sideways See Figure 33 Note that because of the SR 60 s Omnidirectional antennas the signal stays stable regardless of orientation This means the signal will increase smoothly when approaching the Sonde and decrease smoothly moving away Note A Pole is found where field lines turn vertical The Equator occurs when the field lines are horizontal RIDGID Retr Figure 34 Dipole Field When locating a Sonde first set up the locate e Activate the Sonde before putting it in the line Select the same Sonde frequency on the SR 60 and make sure it is receiving the signal After the Sonde has been sent i
70. r appropriate conditions Use proper accessories Do not place this product on any unstable cart or surface The product may fall causing serious injury to a child or adult or serious damage to the product Prevent object and liquid entry Never spill liquid of any kind on the product Liquid increases the risk of electrical shock and damage to the product Avoid Traffic Pay close attention to moving vehicles when using on or near roadways Wear visible clothing or reflector vests Such precautions may prevent serious injury RIDGID SR 60 Use and Care Service Use equipment only as directed Do not operate the SR 60 unless you have read the operator s manual Do not immerse the antennas in water Store in a dry place This will reduce the risk of electric shock and instrument damage Store idle equipment out of the reach of children and other untrained persons Equipment is dangerous in the hands of untrained users Maintain the instrument with care Properly maintained diagnostic instruments are less likely to cause injury Check for breakage of parts and any other conditions that may affect the SR 60 s operation If damaged have the instrument serviced before using Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for the SR 60 Accessories that may be suitable for one instrument may become hazardous when used on another Keep h
71. rby conductor Bleed over A frequency is said to be Checked Active when it has been checked on the main menu this enables it to be accessed by the use of the Frequency Key during operation of the SR 60 The In Use frequency is always one of the Checked Active set Checked Active Frequencies A clear signal is a field caused by current through a conductor which is strong enough to be detected unambiguously by a receiver such as the SR 60 Clear signals depend on good conductivity good grounding and adequate current through the target conductor Clear Signal The condition of receiving a signal too strong to be processed all at once by the signal processor in the SR 60 this condition will cause a warning signal to flash The signal peaks are too high and are clipped off Clipping The use of a connector to ground more than one line through the same ground Common Bonding connection Phone lines for example are often bonded to ground via the electrical service ground line Common bonding can be a cause of ambiguous signals in locating An electromagnetic field caused by the combination or two or more fields in proximity to each other A compound field has multiple lobes and a complex energy pattern which can require analysis to interpret correctly when locating Compound Field The transfer of energy without direct electrical contact between two or more cables or components of a circuit This can occur
72. rk conditions This is to conserve battery power As the batteries near depletion the backlight will appear dim To set the backlight to be always off highlight the light bulb icon in the tools section of the menu Press the Select Key to toggle it between Auto always ON and always OFF aiaee aga Figure 49 Setting Backlight Mode On Off Auto LCD Contrast When this is selected by pressing the Select Key the contrast can be adjusted Figure 50 Use the Up and Down Keys to make the screen lighter or darker Figure 51 Extreme temperature changes may make the LCD appear dark hot or light cold Setting the contrast to extreme dark or light may make the LCD difficult to read Dire Figure 51 Increasing Decreasing Contrast Use the Menu Key to save the setting and exit In this menu one can also exit by pressing the Select Key to save the setting and exit ECH Display Elements Menu Advanced features of the SR 60 can be enabled by using the Menu Key to show the menu tree Select the Display Elements selection menu Then select the mode Line Trace or Sonde you want to change Selecting the icon representing two small display screens will bring up the Display Elements Menu for either Trace or Sonde mode The SR 60 is shipped with some of the elements switched off for simplicity To toggle an element on or off press the Up or Down Key to highlight the screen element icon for that feature The
73. ry remedy to a poor signal 5 When soil conditions vary Extremes in moisture either very dry or water saturated may affect measurements For example ground that is saturated with salty water will shield the signal severely and be very difficult to locate in especially at high frequencies In contrast adding water to very dry soil around a ground stake can make a major improvement in signal 6 In the presence of large metal objects Simply walking past a parked car during a trace for example can cause an unexpected increase or decrease in Signal Strength which will revert to normal when past the distorting object This effect is stronger at high frequencies which couple more readily onto other objects The SR 60 cannot change the underlying conditions of a difficult locate but changing frequency grounding conditions transmitter location or isolating the target line from a common ground can change the results by making a better ground connection avoiding signal splits or reducing distortion Other locating receivers will give an indication that they may be over the line but they have less ability to determine the quality of the locate The SR 60 provides more information f all of the indicators are aligned and in agreement mark outs can be made with more confidence If the field is distorted it shows immediately This allows the operator to do something to isolate the target line change the grounding connection p
74. s By setting the SR 60 to a user defined frequency you can use it with transmitters from any manufacturer even if the transmitter has unusual frequencies or has drifted from its nominal frequencies Up to 30 user defined frequencies can be created changed stored and deleted as needed To create a new frequency scroll down the Main Menu to Frequency Selection Control Feld Then select the Sonde Line Trace or Power category for your user defined frequency The first option on the category list will be User Defined Frequency option To manage User Defined Frequencies highlight it and press Select f gt 128z oP LkHz 7 BkHz Figure 41 User Defined Frequency Line Trace Mode A screen with spaces for a six digit frequency will appear It can accept frequencies from 00000 to 490 000 Hz For each digit the Up Arrow amp increases the number and the Down Arrow MM decreases it The Left and Right D Arrow Keys move you from column to column Figure 42 Custom Frequency Setting By moving all the way to the left using the Left Arrow Keyl you can highlight the icon of the magnifying glass This will reveal a drop down list of frequencies Figure 43 which are used by manufacturers of other transmitters Pressing Select T will automatically fill in the user defined frequency values with the highlighted number A list of frequencies used by various manufacturers transmitters and locators is included in the User
75. self contained transmitter often battery powered which is used to signal a point within an underground pipe tunnel or conduit The complete flow of energy from a transmitter through a conductor to ground and Tracing Circuit from ground to the transmitter When the tracing circuit is compromised for some reason a weak signal and poor detection will result An optional display icon which shows the highest level of Signal Strength detected It Watermark travels in the Race Track and moves up when the Level Pointer reaches a new high point providing a graphic indication of the highest signal detected See Level Pointer 44 RIDGID SeekTech SR 60 Trouble Shooting Guide PROBLEM SR 60 locks up during use SR 60 will not pick up the signal While tracing lines are jumping all over the screen in the mapping display While locating a Sonde lines are jumping all over the screen Distance between Sonde and either Pole is not equal Unit acts erratic won t power down Display appears completely dark or completely light when it is switched on There is no sound SR 60 will not power on PROBABLE FAULT LOCATION Power the unit off and then back on Remove the batteries if the unit will not switch off If batteries are low replace them Check that the correct mode and frequency is set Examine circuit for possible improvements Relocate transmitter change grounding frequency etc
76. 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 influenced by other fields and requires careful evaluation The Tracing Line has three important functions It represents 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 recognize signal distortion It does this by becoming cloudier as distortion increases Disagreement between different indicators can also indicate distortion Figure 21 Tracing Line Showing Low Distortion Maximized SE Figure 22 Tracing Line Showing High Distortion 3 Use the Guidance Arrows Proximity Number Signal Strength and Tracing Line to guide the line trace These pieces of information are generated from discrete signal characteristics to help the operator understand the quality of the locate An undistorted signal emitted from a line is strongest directly over that line Note Unlike the Signal Trace lines the guidance arrows require that the user orient the locator so that the guidance arrows point 90 degrees to the Signal Trace line See Figure 23 Note an undistorted line will also be clear rather than blurred on the screen and the sound accompanying the image will have no static
77. to buried utility lines in a variety of ways The most common way is by means of direct connection to some signal source All operating electronic devices that are connected to AC power will radiate a certain amount of electronic noise back onto the power lines they are connected to Examples of such devices include computers copy machines refrigerators anything with an electric motor TV sets air conditioning units etc Another common way electromagnetic noise can get onto the line is by way of induction that can operate without any direct physical connection to the buried line In some areas for example buried utilities act as antennas for high powered low frequency radio transmissions Submarine navigational and communication signals in the UK for example and will reradiate these signals These reradiated signals can be very useful for locating Similarly buried lines that run side by side near each other particularly for longer distances will tend to bleed signals onto each other This effect is more pronounced for higher frequencies Due to coupling all metallic lines in an area may be energized Because of this it is possible to locate lines passively but it is difficult to identify which line the locator is tracing Pipes can also have 60 Hz signal randomly induced into them by nearby power line fields and other frequencies can be picked up on phone lines for example from the energy of radio broadcast towers i
78. to maximum and then mute Pressing the Volume Key opens the volume control panel if it is closed When open the control panel will close after ten seconds if no keys are pressed Volume can also be raised and lowered using the Up and Down Keys when the Volume screen is open SUE f Frequency Left Key Used to set the In Use Frequency of the SR 60 from the set of Checked Active frequencies Each short press cycles to the next Checked Active frequency The list of frequencies that have been set to Checked Active status can be modified via the Menu Key A long press on the Frequency Key F will display a scrollable list of all currently active frequencies to choose from by highlighting and pressing Select again Dan Skuz 93kuz 262khz xq Figure 8 Scrollable List of Frequencies e Light Sensor In Automatic mode the light sensor controls when the backlight goes on or off depending on ambient light Placing a thumb over the light sensor will force the backlight on Operation Time Using alkaline cells typical operation time is from about 12 to 24 hours depending on sound volume and how often the backlight is on Other factors that affect the operation time will include chemistry of the battery many of the new high performance batteries such as the Duracelle ULTRA last 10 20 longer than conventional alkaline cells under high demand applications Operation at lower temperatures will also re
79. treme offset between guidance line and tracing line right or left Clipping Signal too high Averaged depth will be inaccurate Distortion level too high to read depth accurately aiaee Current and Signal Angle Reading The Current Strength mA and Signal Angle indicator CA in the upper right corner of the screen will display the current detected on the traced line in milliamps when the computed angle to the center of the detected field is less than 35 and the SR 60 crosses the center of the field When moving across the center of the field the current display will retain the displayed current value until the guidance arrows reverse again at which point the display will be updated The update occurs whenever the guidance arrows reverse When the angle to the center exceeds 35 the Signal Angle indicator will again replace the Current indicator and the display will show the computed angle to the center of the detected field Clipping Tracing Modes Occasionally the Signal Strength will be strong enough that the receiver will be unable to process the whole signal a condition known as clipping When this occurs a warning symbol K will appear on the screen It means that the signal is particularly strong If clipping persists remedy it by increasing the distance between the antennas and the target line OR by reducing the strength of the current from the transmitter Note Measured Depth Displa
80. u screen is then activated 0 262z x amp lt AkHz Meter rey bet EN ey SS Lae EN beet Figure 14 Main Menu 2 Using the Up and Down Keys highlight the frequency desired Figure 15 In this example the operator is activating the 8 kHz frequency ziee Figure 15 Highlighting a Desired Frequency 8 kHz 3 Press the Select Key shown below to check the box for each frequency to be used Figure 16 Select Key T i om 33kuz 60 262khz Figure 17 Desired Frequency Checked Frequencies that have been selected for use will show a check in the box next to them d Press the Menu Key el again to accept the choice and exit Letting the unit countdown and exit automatically will have the same effect Figure 18 Menu Key The Main Menu lists all frequencies available for activation For information on adding additional frequencies to the Main Menu so they can be chosen for activation see Frequency Selection Control on page 33 A long press on the Frequency Key F will bring up a list of all Checked Active Frequencies To use one simply scroll down to it and press the Select Key T l Note on 93 kHz Frequency Use The SR 60 offers two 93 kHz frequencies for Line Tracing The default 93 kHz frequency has an actual cycle count of 93 623 cycles per second But some older transmitters use a different value for the nominal 93 kHz frequency 93 696 cycles per second This is found i
81. urn or tee in the line and enable the operator to again pick up the line nearby If the Tracing Line will not center or if it moves across the screen erratically then the SR 60 may not be receiving a clear signal The Measured Depth and the Proximity Signal may also be unstable under these circumstances a Check the transmitter to be sure that it is operating and well grounded Good connection and good grounding can remedy low current problems b Test the circuit by pointing the lower antenna at either transmitter lead If a strong signal is not shown improve the circuit c Check that the SR 60 and transmitter are operating on the same frequency d Try a higher frequency until the line can be picked up dependably Using lower frequencies can overcome bleed over problems Higher frequencies can RIDGID overcome resistance and inject more current onto the line e Re locate the ground connection for a better circuit Ensure there is enough contact ground stake is sufficiently deep especially in dryer soils f In extremely dry soil wetting the area around the ground stake will improve the circuit Be aware the moisture will dissipate and evaporate reducing the quality of the circuit over time 5 Using the numeric Signal Angle Indicator is another way to check for distorted signals Move the SR 60 perpendicularly to both sides of the traced line until the numeric Signal Angle indicator reads 45 degrees Be
82. wn wider Keys Signal Focus Control is useful when you need to focus in on a particular signal with detail La Sound Muting gt 99 This option automatically mutes sound when Measured Depth is greater than 99 feet 30m If it is unchecked the sound will not mute automatically D enirn VE H Tracing Line Response The Tracing Line distortion response checkbox sets the sensitivity of the Target Line s distortion display to low medium or high or disables it altogether The higher the setting the more sensitive the distortion cloud around the Tracing Line becomes lf the distortion response is disabled the Tracing Line will become a single solid line and the screen will show a second dashed line called the Distortion Line See page 35 for a description of using this alternative display Ell Frequency Selection Control Additional available frequencies on the Master Frequency Menu can be added to the Main Menu list of available frequencies by going to the Sg n i mm n i Wm Selection Control sub menu C and selecting the desired mode All frequencies available in the SR 60 for that mode will be displayed Checked frequencies are already Currently Available that is selected to appear in the Main Menu From there they can be set to Checked Active status to make them available by use of the Frequency Key f Checking a frequency to add it to the Main Menu will set the unit to oper
83. y is disabled under clipping conditions When clipping occurs the SR 60 will automatically attenuate the signal to dampen it When the signal strength received falls below the clipping threshold the attenuation stops automatically The SR 60 screen will indicate the starting of attenuation and the stopping of attenuation by showing these images Figure 25 Attenuation On Figure 26 Attenuation Off Operating Tips for Active Line Tracing 1 The SR 60 quickly identifies distorted fields If the guidance arrows are centered on the screen and the Trace Line is not centered or if the Proximity Signal number and Signal Strength are not maximized then distortion is creating a complex non circular field This is also reflected by the Tracing line dissolving or growing unfocused in a cloudy pattern proportional to the distortion detected To improve the tracing circuit a Move the ground stake position away from the line to be traced b Use a larger ground contact surface such as a shovel blade c Make sure that the line is not commonly bonded to another utility Undo common bonds only if safe to do so d Try changing the frequency used e Move the transmitter to a different point on the line if possible Try locating from the other direction along the line for example Circling the last location of a clear signal at a distance of about 20 feet 6 5 m can clarify if the distortion is coming from a local t
84. z 640 Hz 33kHz 200 kHz 262 850 Hz 8 kHz 16 kHz 33 kHz kHz 93kHz EU only SimulTrace 912 Hz 33 kHz Passive Line Trace 50 Hz 50 Hz 5th 50 Power Line Trace 60Hz 9th lt 4kHz Hz 9th 60 Hz 60Hz 5th 60Hz On 100 Hz 120 Hz Radio Frequencies Low 4 15kHz High gt 15kHz OmniSeek lt 4 kHz 4 15 kHz 15 35 kHz Exact Frequency Values SR 60 128 Hz 128 Active Line 1 kHz 1024 Trace 8 kHz 8192 Passive Line 33 kHz 32768 Trace European 93 kHz 93 696 0 93 kHz B 93 622 9 46 Ridge Tool Company e Elyria Ohio e U S A RIDGID RAPET Manufacturers Frequency Table Exact frequency Hz 200 KHz not present 2273 in European model of the ST 510 820Hz 821 FISHER 8 2kHz TW 8800 8217 82kHz 82488 512 LCTX 512 8 65 8192 65536 Not recommended for use with the ST 510 transmitter GOLDAK 117 5kHz 3300 11750 Not present in European model of the ST 510 Heath 8 1kHz 8128 480 KHz not present Consultants 81kHz ALLPRO 81326 in European model Incorporated 480kHz 480323 of the ST 510 9499 9 5kKHz Made by Takachiho McLau McLAUGHLIN 38kH7z VERIFIER 37997 Sanyo Co Ltd 9890 REES 810 for 83kHz Available Frequencies Displayed Company Option Gen Eye MicroE Microengineering 76 8kHz Xmtr 101 76802 76 8kHz PT20 76802 Not present in PipeHorn 480kHz 479956 European model of the ST 510 512Hz 8kHz 512 Radio Detect
85. zero select the digit and use the Down arrow key to reduce it to zero When all digits in the frequency are set to zero the trash can icon will appear Press the Select Key T The user defined frequency will be deleted Figure 46 User Defined Frequency Screen SeekTech SR 60 Menus and Settings Pressing the Menu Key brings up a series of choices which let the operator configure the SR 60 as preferred see Figure 47 The menu is a context sensitive list of options The entry point into the menu list is set to the currently active frequency Auto Menu Exit Count down Timer While traversing the menu tree a counter appears at the bottom of the screen counting down When it reaches zero it will automatically move back up one level of the menu tree until it reaches the operating screen again It resets to nine with each key press or each time it goes up one menu level until it reaches the operating screen Autoe 2 SH LCD a EE Figure 47 Main Menu In sequence from the top of the menu down the Main Menu presents the following items 1 Sp SimulTrace 512 Hz 33 kHz lf activated 2 Currently Available Sonde frequencies Checked Active or not 3 0 Currently Available Active Line Trace frequencies Checked Active or not 4 Currently Available Power Passive Line Trace frequencies Checked Active or not 5 P Currently Available Radio Frequencies Low and High Checked Activ

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