[TowerTalk] DIY conduit locator?

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

On 2020-10-28 11:11 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
 > Trying to find a design for a empty conduit tracer.

Plastic or metal conduit?  Empty or in use?

I've used my old "tone and trace" device to find buried wires
(irrigation controls and valves) where I had some general idea
where they were.  Something along the order of this:
<https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwiPhN62_tfsAhXFnLMKHUqjCDMYABANGgJxbg&sig=AOD64_0Pp00PBuNdaGEXNM7c-CFrDS0vOQ&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwj1qta2_tfsAhWmpFkKHSq1BxEQ9aACegQIDhB6&adurl=> 


Google "Wire tracer"

The alternative, if you have plastic/empty conduit is to push
a single wire through it, ground it at the far end and feed
the wire with an Elecraft XG3 at 0 dBm on 160 meters (tune it
down to your AM radio range if you can).  I suggest 160 tuned
down to AM so you can use the "null" of the AM loopstick to
better locate the signal.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2020-10-28 11:11 AM, Grant Saviers wrote:
> Trying to find a design for a empty conduit tracer.  We've dug at a 
> couple of places at the 501c3 where it was "supposed to go", NG.  Seems 
> to me this is a simple widget for energizing a test wire in the conduit 
> or some sort of mouse - LF or magnetic placed on the end of a snake.
> 
> Some googling hasn't found a design so hoping a towertalkian has a 
> design or link to one that works.  This 2" conduit was installed some 
> time ago at 24" depth but where it routes is now lost.
> 
> The commercial tracers are $3000.  My budget is more like $20.  The 
> usual AM radio and dongle SDR's are available.
> 
> Also interested for when I need it to exactly locate my coax conduits 
> before digging.
> 
> Grant KZ1W