Evaluation of a Buried Cable Roadside Animal-Detection System

About the project:

Animal-vehicle crashes are a significant safety hazard on U.S. roads. Such collisions exceed 1 million every year, even as the rate of overall vehicle crashes has declined in comparison. Up to 10 percent of animal-vehicle crashes result in human injury, and related property damages cost more than $4 billion per year.

This project will evaluate an innovative roadside animal-detection system in natural and controlled conditions. The buried cable system can detect large animals crossing the road and provide data on their location along the length of the cable.

The system will be installed and tested at Virginia’s Smart Road at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg, where deer and bear often are observed. Researchers will employ continuous, all-weather and nighttime video surveillance systems to monitor animal movement. They also will analyze the data to determine how the system performs and whether it is suitable for use in problem areas along Virginia’s roads.

Raycom contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.

Can anyone kindly recommend a good device for detecting/tracing U.K. domestic mains cables that are buried in plaster ?

For the procurement specialists amongst us … my outline requirement is:

MUST be suitable for hand-held operation

MUST be capable of detecting a dead, or a live, cable buried 30mm deep within plastered block-work

MUST be capable of locating the cable location to +/- 30mm

NICE TO HAVE the ability to discern between dead and live cables

NICE TO HAVE a reasonable price point [not necessarily low, but capable of being reasoned]

OPTIONAL either a commercial item or a DIY design

Thanks

MichaelG.

I have yet to find one of these gadgets that works reliably.

I presume the very expensive (£300+) ones work – these all seem to use a separate transmitter and receiver, and some work by injecting a signal into the cable so that it functions as an antenna (the ones you see being used to find buried cables in roads work this way).

Here's an example of a posh one – I have no idea whether it's actually any good:

Chauvin Arnoux CA Cable Detector

I have an oldish Bosch – PDO Multi and it works well, even does a good job of detecting wood 20mm inside a wall…! I have found sensor orientation has some influence on the center of detection – hold the unit vertical battery down gives a sense centre that is approx 15mm lower than if the unit is vertical battery up – the average of the two seems always to work..Left / right position is good, irrespective of unit held up or down.

Live cable sense very good, dead cable sensed in metal detect mode and depends on cable thickness – 2X14 gauge copper wires detect easily at 30mm below plastered wall. 50mm panel-pin head detects @ 25mm.

The PDO is no longer available and Bosch intimates the GMS120 is its successor – I would go for that.

Bosh PDO Multi Manual

Bosch GMS-120

I have an oldish Bosch – PDO Multi and it works well, […]

The PDO is no longer available and Bosch intimates the GMS120 is its successor – I would go for that.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Buried Cable Detection Systems. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

.

Thanks, Joe … I welcome your opinion

There are only two things stopping me from rushing out to buy one

1. It is, as I mentioned, rather large at 200mm tall, and I can see that presenting some difficulty in confined spaces.
2. Although the ‘Truvo’ is unlikely to be as rugged, I do wonder if it might be a more modern implementation of the Bosch circuit design [i.e. more integrated] because it runs on three AAA cells instead of the 9v brick. That would maybe explain the smaller size and cheaper price

I can’t justify buying both, just to find-out, though

I will probably just waste a few more days on “Research” before buying

MichaelG.

Definitely use an instrument to find buried cables in your walls, about 30 years ago I was refitting our kitchen and believed that I knew where all the buried cables and pipes were, Sods Law I found a cable buried where there was no reason to suspect one, I was drilling with a mains powered drill and suddenly there was an almighty bang and flash of light, I had hit a ring main cable. With luck the drill had penetrated dead centre on the twin and earth cable thereby sending most of the current straight to earth, the blow was powerful enough to destroy the main input fuse, requiring the electricity company to attend for the renewal. My masonary bit that I was using had vaporised, I considered myself extremely lucky to have not suffered any injury, the wife was out when it happened, you can imagine what transpired when she came home!!! Dave W

Michael,

That tool does everything mine does, and a lot more! If I were still mucking around building my house I would ditch mine and get one of those. I think the Drywall reference is for our American friend's peace of mind – I have found on numerous older reviews the American have regularly asked if it works with drywall – since that is the primary construction method there I guess.

Here are some reviews that show it's ability against brick and concrete as well. ( Forgive the patronising video – not my doing..)

**LINK**

**LINK**

The dielectric constant of the materials do play a role in the detection capability, and drywall tends to be air or foam etc in the cavity and the detection signal is less masked compared to when in concrete/brickwork, so the unit is perceived to be more sensitive – meaning that a 'conventional' detector would probably battle to localise the detection area due to the heightened sensitivity. The self calibration of the unit held against the drywall would correct for that I guess.. A the risk of placing myself in the line of fire, I would recommend that unit – if you can live with the size in your application.

Buying a replacement 9V brick (or block) battery for this kind of device seems to be something of a minefield, particularly if you are considering a rechargeable one.

Why is that? Are they scarce because of environmental issues in your country? There appear to be many sources for 9v NiMH rechargeable blocks..

Certainly not scarce so far as, eg, Amazon UK is concerned but the entries there are littered with adverse comments, particularly about LiOn rechargeables. It's no doubt less of a minefield to those more knowledgeable about battery technology than I and I was hoping someone would weigh in with some advice. I was looking for a replacement for an alkaline non-rechargeable.

Incidentally, the battery rejected by my cable detector at about 8.5V was happily accepted by my moisture detector.

I have always found the standard 9V connector with male and female press studs rather awkward to use.

I believe it will be difficult to buy a device that will reliably detect live or otherwise cables in a stud wall where they will be 60mm deep if in 2"x4" stud, even is a 3" stud the depth will be over what can be detected by any low cost meter.
Lots of partition walls these days are formed from pressed steel U and Z section so are more easily detected than a wood structure, any cables though may be difficlt to locate.

As said by others the cables are likely to be almost vertical above/below electrical equipment but may also be horizontal in such areas where there are multiple outlets at the same height and on the same circuit.

Also I think it may have been said another cable zone to avoid is at ceiling level and 400mm below.

Emgee

For more information, please visit RF970 fiber optic fence sensor system.