How to use a Cable Avoidance Tool in POWER MODE

Cable Avoidance Tools, when used in Power Mode, can identify buried electricity cables by detecting the mains frequency signal travelling along the cable itself when current is being drawn.
Most standard Cable Avoidance Tools have four detection modes to select from. Each mode provides specific advantages.
In Power Mode the Locator detects power signals. These power signals are present on all current carrying electricity cables although not all are detectable. Power signals may also flow along other conductors such as metal gas and water pipes, telecom cables, metal fences, and railway tracks.
Limitations of Power Mode
Not all electricity cables can be found using the Power Mode. Here are the most important examples of electricity cables that may not be detectable in the Power Mode:
- Street lighting cables. When the lights are off, no current flows and so no power signal is created.
- Supplies to buildings or plant using very little or no electricity may not have a detectable power signal.
- Pot-ended or capped cables. These will never have any current flowing through them but are possibly still live.
- Disused or abandoned cables.
- A few high voltage electricity cables. These can be ‘well balanced’, electrically and therefore radiate little or no power signal.
- Direct Current cables (such as those found on some railway systems). These do not create their own power signals.
- Cables more than 3 metres deep.
It is also worth noting that:
- Locators can only detect services radiating a detectable electromagnetic signal. There may be some services that do not radiate these signals and cannot be located.
- Absence of a power signal does not mean the service is not live.
- Generally these services should be detectable using the Radio or Generator/ Transmitter Modes.