Tracing an under ground wire

[Texas Proud]

OK, for the people in the know...

I have low voltage lights in the front of the house and in the back yard in the trees that light up the yard at night...

My power supply is not working properly... it is the old kind with a clock but the switch seems to get stuck now... so doing some research on what I should do.. probably replace it..

However, while back there I noticed a wire that matches the wires to the lights but do not know where it goes and what it is for... I tried touching the power supply but did not see anything come on... I would like to energize it and see where it goes but do not know how...

Any thoughts?

 

[skipro33]

You can start by doing a search on Amazon for low voltage wire tracer. The kits come with a tone generator and a wireless probe. Another means is with a metal detector. You do not need a fancy one, anything will sniff out a buried wire that is not more than a foot deep.

 

[Telly]

I had great luck locating underground sprinkler valve wires. Zero cost.

At the sprinkler timer box, I disconnected the wires.
For a signal source - I wrapped about 15 turns of an insulated wire (I used about 18 or 20 gauge, it's not critical) around a spark plug wire on a mower. Not electrically connected to plug, just as a pickup.
Other end of wire I electrically connected to the sprinkler wire I wanted to locate. Started up mower, moved engine speed down to idle to minimize audible sound from it.

For a receiver, I used an old portable battery-operated AM/FM/Cassette player with headphones (remember those?)
Set to AM band, tuned down low on the dial and avoided any local station there. Walking slowly along, bending over, slowly sweep the ground side to side. The radio has a loop antenna inside, can quickly figure out the best way to hold it by turning it 90 degrees left/right, looking for maximum signal. What you hear is the ignition spark of the plug firing. It is a broad-band pulse generator. Pop pop pop.

I carried some recycled utility flags with me, and marked my path as I went along. Worked great! Close to the mower, it will be hard to hear, but as I went around corner of house, no problem. I could locate wires out to hundreds of feet away from the mower.
As I learned how to sweep, I went back over my flagged route, and using that knowledge, re-adjusted my flags for maximum signal strength. Later, digging down a foot, the wire was almost always within 4 inches of the flags.

 

[old medic]

I have 2 10 gage copper wires 2 ft long, bent 90 degree's used as dowsing rods. I have used them over 30 years to locate underground wires, pipes and even the spot to drill our 360 foot deep well. I can't explain how it works but it does.
A metal detector would work and could lead to a new hobby

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

A few months ago a comcast technician traced an underground cable for us with his electronic tracer, but then he said with a wink, "watch this". He made some witching wands from two short bare wires. He held them parallel, and they crossed when he passed over the cable. Being an EE, of course I poopoo'ed it. He handed the wands to me, and, I swear, cross my heart, IT WORKED. When I passed over the cable, the wands moved by themselves. I could repeat it. Count me a believer.

 

[folivier]

I've seen dowsing rods used to locate underground pipelines. Amazing that it does work.

 

[Texas Proud]

Yea.... not going the dowsing rod direction..... it might work... but I think the operator has to have some knowledge on how to do it properly...

Also, I have a LOT of wires in the ground from what I can tell.. not sure I could follow the one I want too...

 

[calmloki]

Amazon.com

Haven't used this, but read the reviews with the pictures - the zip-tied golf alignment stick seems smart.

 

[Texas Proud]

Amazon.com

Haven't used this, but read the reviews with the pictures - the zip-tied golf alignment stick seems smart.

Yea... I have been looking at some like this... this one does not work with multi strand wires so I will pass...

Now I am looking at either 3 ft deep or 6 ft... I think 3 ft for me since if the wire is 6 ft I will call someone else to do the job...

 

[old medic]

it might work... but I think the operator has to have some knowledge on how to do it properly...

I've seen dowsing rods used to locate underground pipelines. Amazing that it does work.

Like I said..... I can do it, and have surprised several folks with it, even taught a few to do it, But have no idea on how it works.

 

[CRLLS]

How do you know if your dowsing is detecting the wires or water? I knew a guy who dowsed for water on a remote piece of property and dug his own well. I did dowse there and found other prospective sources of water, although not as strong a reaction.

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

In my case, the dowsing wires would cross when I walked over the cable. However, it wasn't very reliable, meaning you had to try it multiple times- sometimes it didn't work, sometimes it did. I tried it over other cables that I knew were there, and nothing happened. The technician said it seems the earth must be undisturbed except for the trench where the cable was buried, else it won't work. So I certainly would not bet my life on it. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. While I was intrigued by the phenomenon, you can find inexpensive cable tracers online. I've used this one, but if you can afford it, I would spend a bit more money.