Finding underground electric wire for driveway lights.

Wildie

I have used #14 copper, but my favorite is a pair of #8 rods that I hang onto.
The lighter the guage, the more they are effected by the breeze.

In a previous post, it was stated that wire coat hangers were used. Iron may have residual magnetism that could possibly effect the behavior of the rods. For instance, if the rods are magnetised, they may be drawn to an survey stake. Which could be good or bad.
The earths magnetic lines will travel via the easiest route, be it water, communications cables, electrical cables and its when the lines bend to travel through an easy route that the rods can be moved.
An analogy that I like to think of, is water poured into a funnel, concentrates the water flow and I think that the earth magnetic lines become concentrated in buried media in the same way. And its this concentration that affects the rods.

Stubbie

I never say never but an interesting story ... my neighbor always likes to show off, so he purchased a couple wires bent in an L (they look like coat hangers to me). His purpose was to wait for an opportunity to impress me. This opportuntiy presented itself when he asked for my assistance in running a extension wiring run for a couple added irrigation valves he had installed. He had just buried the poly pipe and didnt realize he could just go to the closest valve that worked and use some wires that were unused at that valve. Those wires ran all the way back to the controller so an easy deal. Except he made comment that he didn't know where the pipes were buried for us to cut the sod to bury the new wire. Ahh Haaa perfect time to show me his poly pipe locator. It was amazing how those coat hangers magically found the poly pipe.....

Personally I like this one. I think it doubles as a radio when your not using it.

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" One nice thing about the NEC articles ... you have lots of choices"

Stubbie

Leah Frances

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If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

Wildie

Thats quite interesting. I've been considering mounting my copper rods in handles, much in the same way as this device.

The first time I ever seen rods used, my friend a plumber demonstrated the technique to me!
He had me stand in the middle of his kitchen. A copper drain pipe for the kitchen sink ran below the floor, under my feet.
The rods remained parallel until he turned on a tap and water ran down the drain. As the water ran the rods pulled together and when it was turned off they swung away again. Then, when the water turned back on, the rods pulled together again.

COLDIRON

Can't wait till Easter because the bunny will be bringing lots of eggs and candy.

Leah Frances

This isn't a battle a skeptic can win. You called them out, pointed them towards a good reference, I'd save your breath if I was you.

I'm-a-'friend'-of-Randi-too

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If I could only remember to THINK about what I was doing before I did it.

COLDIRON

Wildie

Using the copper rods can be entertaining!

The rods are made from a length of copper, about 24" each. They are bent into an L shape the foot being about 8" long.
The idea is to hold them in your hand, in a similar fashion to holding a pistol.
Try to hold these as loosely as possible, to avoid having friction interfere with their movement.
Holding rods about 6" apart, the long ends pointing forward. To learn how to use these, its best to practice on a known target, such as a buried cable that you know where its located.
Go to a point that is about 10 feet from the target, start walking towards it, holding the rods as I previously directed.
As you cross over the target, the rods swing in, towards each other, then once past they open up again.

There are some people out there who believe in witchcraft, so try to avoid using this procedure, in their presence, as they may wish to burn you at the stake.

k_buz

Start at an existing light, dig carefully, and follow the wire. That is about the only thing you can do. If these are line voltage post lights, you will need to install accessible junction boxes where the lights have been removed.

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techpappy

A little off topic but wen I built my house 20 yrs ago I asked three well drillers to witch the area where I was interested in placing the well. All 3 of them used different apparatus/ - apperati? to find water..2 were of the hand held wire type while the third one was a very large iron construction bar that you balance across your index finger and the second one over from it ..hold it by your side and when over the water the front of the bar dips toward the ground ..I tried it and it worked! Don't know if it would work for metal detection too....BTW all three found the same location ...there was water at 50 feet but too much sand then hit the gravel and acquifer at 120 feet...great water 10 gpm.

bobelectric

My well driller said where I live, he hits water 99% of the time. Hit at 50 'drilled 150' Best water until mining came through. Mingo Creek is still flowing.