When it comes to utility locating, short side services, inserted lines, and unenergized power lines present some of the toughest challenges in the field. These utilities can be difficult to detect using conventional equipment, which often leads to unnecessary risks and delays on the job site. It’s more important than ever to equip your team with the right tools to tackle these hidden challenges safely and efficiently. That’s where Pipehorn comes in.
Our innovative utility locators come into play, offering a solution that is precise, efficient, and designed to handle the complexities of modern underground systems.
Main lines that carry water or gas around town typically run along the side of roads. Service lines branch off from these mains to reach residential or commercial buildings. Sometimes, future service lines, called stub outs, are established when the main is installed but aren’t yet connected to a meter or building.
Standard locating practices often require starting with a lower frequency, which is ideal for long, continuous lines but not for shorter side services or stub outs. The higher the frequency used, the more success you’ll have applying a signal to these shorter lines. Many modern locating tools use automatic gain on their receivers, which may inadvertently focus on stronger signals from the main line, making it difficult to detect the weaker signals from shorter service lines.
Pipehorn offers the highest frequency available on the market, optimized for use at 480kHz. This allows you to detect even the shortest of conductors and get closer to the endpoints of dead-end lines. The sensitivity control on the receiver is fully in the user’s hands, enabling precise tuning to the desired signal level.
When updating old steel or cast iron lines, a new plastic service line may be inserted into the existing old steel pipe. This method reduces the number of abandoned services in the ground, and bypasses having to create a new trench, making the process safer and more efficient.
The old steel service pipe may no longer be electrically connected to the main, and often lacks a direct connection point for a transmitter. This forces the need for induction.
With 60 years of experience in high-frequency induction, Pipehorn offers the best chance to locate these challenging services. Our 480kHz frequency can be used to sweep across the site, lighting up shorter sections of iron or steel pipe where unlocatable plastic services have been inserted.
Private power lines that feed areas such as parking lot lights, irrigation valves, pool pumps, and landscape lighting may not follow logical buried paths, can be short, and aren’t always energized.
These lines can be inconvenient to locate without a known starting point and/or place to make a direct connection. When they’re unenergized they may not be locatable with a locator that has a passive (50/60Hz) mode.
480kHz induction with Pipehorn provides the best chance of energizing and locating shorter ungrounded lines. It allows you to quickly sweep the area to determine where these lines are running without needing a known starting point or direct connection.
Complex locates require more than just standard equipment. Pipehorn’s utility locating tools are designed to handle even the most difficult scenarios, making them an essential part of your operation. With Pipehorn’s 480kHz frequency, you get the ability to locate utilities that other equipment can’t. This frequency is especially effective for short, ungrounded, or encased non-metallic lines that can easily be missed by standard locators.
Our equipment also gives you full manual control over sensitivity, letting you fine-tune your settings for more accurate results. This flexibility is crucial when working in areas where multiple utilities are present, or when you’re dealing with short or hard-to-reach lines. You get the precision you need without compromising on speed.
Locating short side services, inserted lines, and unenergized power lines can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge you don’t have to face alone. With Pipehorn’s ultra-high-frequency locators, you gain the precision and power needed to handle even the most complex underground environments.
Don’t let these hard-to-detect utilities slow you down or increase the risk on your job site. Pipehorn’s technology allows you to locate some of the trickiest utilities, keeping your projects on time, on budget, and—most importantly—safe.
Pipehorn is the solution that makes the difference. Equip your team with the tools they need to work with confidence.
