Megger 656601 Operating Manual

AVTM656600-01J

Rev A

August 2004

Instruction Manual

for

Cable Route Tracer

Catalog No. 656601

Read the entire manual before operating.

Antes de operar este producto lea este manual enteramente.

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Valley Forge Corporate Center
2621 Van Buren Avenue
Norristown, PA 19403 U.S.A.

www.megger.com

Cable Route Tracer Manual

Catalog No. 656601

Copyright © 1993 - 2003 by Megger. All rights reserved.

The information presented in this manual is believed to be adequate for the intended use of the product.
If the product or its individual instruments are used for purposes other than those specified herein,
confirmation of their validity and suitability must be obtained from Megger.

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................ 1

Receiving Instructions........................................................................................................................ 1

General Information .......................................................................................................................... 1

2 SAFETY PRECAUTIONS................................................................................................................ 3

3 SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 5

4 DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................................ 7

General.............................................................................................................................................. 7

Function of the Controls:................................................................................................................... 9

Principles of Operation:................................................................................................................... 10

5 PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES................................................................................................... 13

6 OPERATION................................................................................................................................. 15

Peaking or Maximizing Technique.................................................................................................... 15

Nulling or Minimizing Technique:.................................................................................................... 18

Depth Measurement:........................................................................................................................ 20

Locating Transformers, Splices, and Faults....................................................................................... 23

Underground Transformers ......................................................................................................... 23

T-Splices and Y-Splices. ............................................................................................................... 23

Grounded Faults.......................................................................................................................... 23

Operating Suggestions and Cautions................................................................................................ 24

7 MAINTENANCE ........................................................................................................................... 27

8 TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................................................................................. 29

9 WARRANTY AND REPAIRS:....................................................................................................... 31

WARRANTY .................................................................................................................................. 31

REPAIRS......................................................................................................................................... 31

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Line Drawing of the Cable Route Tracer Cat. No. 656600..................................................... 7

Figure 2: Line Drawing of the Control Panel........................................................................................ 8

Figure 3: The Peaking or Maximizing Position................................................................................... 15

Figure 4: Peaking or Maximizing Technique viewed from above........................................................ 16

Figure 5: Peaking or Maximizing Technique viewed from the side...................................................... 17

Figure 6: Nulling or Minimizing Position............................................................................................ 18

Figure 7: Nulling or Minimizing Technique viewed from above......................................................... 19

Figure 8: Nulling or Minimizing Technique viewed from the side....................................................... 19

Figure 9: Depth Measurement Positions of the Cable Route Tracer. .................................................. 21

Figure 10: Nulling or Minimizing Technique for Depth Measurement, one side.................................. 21

Figure 11: Nulling or Minimizing Technique for Depth Measurement, opposite side.......................... 22

Figure 12: Depth Measurement by Surface Distance........................................................................... 22

Figure 13: Battery Replacement in the Pistol-Grip Handle................................................................... 27

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INTRODUCTION

Receiving Instructions

Check the equipment received against the packing list to ensure that all materials
are present. Notify Megger of any shortage. Telephone [phone].

Examine the instrument for damage received in transit. If any damage is
discovered, file a claim with the carrier at once and notify Megger giving a
detailed description of the damage.

This instrument has been thoroughly tested and inspected to meet rigid
specifications before being shipped. It is ready for use after it is unpacked and
the headphones are assembled.

The complete instrument consists of the following items:

§ Cable Route Tracer with battery.

§ The headphones consisting of two earpieces with connection cord and

headholder.

General Information

The Cable Route Tracer is an electronic instrument designed for locating tracing,
and measuring the depth to ac energized underground power cables from the
surface. The instrument can also be used to locate underground transformers, T­splices, Y-splices, and ground faults on unshielded cable. It is supplied as:

Catalog No. 656601 Cable Route Tracer with switchable 60 Hz filter.

The unit senses the magnitude and direction of the effective electromagnetic
field generated by conductors carrying dc impulses or ac loads up to 1000 Hz.
Therefore, these instruments operate on loaded 50 Hz and 60 Hz single-phase
power cables. Three-phase ac power cables, dc power cables, cables surrounded
by other 50 Hz or 60 Hz energized cables, and faulted cables can be traced by
applying a distinctive audio frequency tone of 1000 Hz or less from a tone
generator.

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

SAFETY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER

LA SEGURIDAD ES EL CARGO DEL OPERATOR

Since the Cable Route Tracer is used to trace cables which are energized with
voltages that are hazardous and potentially lethal, all persons making or assisting
in tests must use all practical safety precautions to prevent contact with energized
conductors, terminals, or other equipment.

The Cable Route Tracer and recommended operating procedures have been
designed with careful attention to safety. Megger has made formal safety reviews
of the initial design and any subsequent changes. This procedure is followed for
all new Megger products and covers areas in addition to those included in
applicable ANSI standards. Regardless of these efforts, it is not possible to
eliminate all hazards from electrical test equipment or to foresee every possible
hazard which may occur. It is therefore essential that the user, in addition to
following the safety rules in this manual, also carefully consider all safety aspects
of the test before proceeding. Safety is the responsibility of the user.

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SPECIFICATIONS

FUNCTION: This instrument is used to trace the route of

TYPE: Electromagnetic detector of ac voltage or dc

Catalog No. 656601, Cable Route Tracer

underground cable or pipe when energized from
an appropriate source, and to measure the depth
below the tracing surface. It is also useful for
locating underground transformers, T-splices,
Y-splices, and grounded faults on unshielded
cable.

impulses, with either peaking or null indications
according to the orientation of a tracing coil.

INPUT SIGNALS:

OUTPUT: Audible and/or visual indication of relative input

SENSITIVITY: Readily detects 1 ampere ac at a depth of 6 feet

GAIN: Four overlapping switched sensitivity positions

ACCURACY OF
LOCATIONS

a. Load-carrying 50 Hz or 60 Hz power line

current at any voltage.

b. Other impressed ac voltage up to 1000 Hz.
c. Impulses generated from a capacitance

discharge cable fault locator.

signal level.

under the surface in the absence of adjacent
metallic conductors.

and a continuous 10-turn control provide an
overall adjustment range of about 1000:1 at the
meter output.

±3 inches at depth of 6ft. in absence of adjacent
metallic conductors. (Vertical and horizontal.)

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INPUT SELECTOR: Switchable filter to reject interfering 50 Hz/60 Hz

power line frequencies from adjacent load-carrying
circuits when tracing from impressed ac voltage or
capacitance impulses.

STYLE: Portable, battery operated, with pistol grip and

battery test means.

CONSTRUCTION: All transistorized electronic circuitry, enclosed in

cast aluminum housing with swivel mounted
tracing coil for peaking, nulling and depth
measurement positions.

BATTERY: 9-volt transistor radio NEDA 1604, Eveready 216,

Burgess 2U6, RCA VS323. Battery life 150 hours
or more in normal use.

SIZE: 26" (66 cm.) overall, excluding headphones.;

NET WEIGHT: 2 ½ lbs. (1.1 kg.)

SHIPPING WEIGHT: 8 1/3 lbs. (3.8 kg.)

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