Trace cable with metal detector..?

[Geir Holmavatn]

Hi,

Say I have a disconnected electrical cable dug into the ground. I need
to trace the cable to find out its route and where it ends.

I wonder if it is possible to inject a signal from a signal generator
between one of this cable's conductors and earth and walk away with a
metal detector to trace the cable.

Has anyone any experience or knowledge on this to share, and if yes, how
deep in the earth will the detector be able to trace the cable?

Thanks for comments on this issue ;-)

regards

Geir

 

[Wim Lewis]

Say I have a disconnected electrical cable dug into the ground. I need
to trace the cable to find out its route and where it ends.

I wonder if it is possible to inject a signal from a signal generator
between one of this cable's conductors and earth and walk away with a
metal detector to trace the cable.

I guess it depends on how the metal detector is implemented. There seem
to be a handful of different techniques in common use.

There's a tool used to trace wiring in (e.g.) telephone panels, consisting
of a little signal generator you clip to the pair of wires of interest,
and a handheld inductive pickup you wave around to trace the wiring.
Of course, it doesn't have to sense through several feet of earth...