QUALITY TW-6

Fisher detectors are renowned for their quality.

Each instrument is hand crafted in the Fisher tradition with pride Pipe and Cable Locator

PERFORMANCE
Our detectors are durable, dependable, and search deeper.

REPUTATION
Fisher produced the first patented metal detector in 1931. For
over 70 years, the Fisher logo has been a mark of excellence.

2 - YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

Fisher believes in the products we produce and backs this belief
with a 2 year limited warranty, Warranty may vary outside the
United States. See your dealer for details

SERVICE
Fisher is committed to providing you, our valued customer, with
superior service. Each and every instrument is rigidly tested
and carefully inspected during assembly and before shipment.
Should you have any questions or problems, contact:

FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY

200 West Willmott Road.,
Los Banos, California 93635
Tel 209.826.3292 Fax 209.826.0416
www.fisherlab.com email:[email protected]

Operating Manual
FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY
FRL#870241-K

TW-6manual-.ind2 1 6/13/06 2:54:53 PM

 CONTENTS SPECIFICATIONS
Introduction................................................................................pg. 3
Transmitter           Receiver
Receiver......................................................................................pg. 4
Operating Frequency..........81.92 kHz +.005%...... 81.92 kHz +.005%
Transmitter...................................................................................pg. 5
Batteries.................................8 each, AA (NEDA 15) 8 each, AA
Component Descriptions..........................................................pg. 6
(NEDA 15)
Modes of Operation..................................................................pg. 7 Weight...................................2 1/2 lbs. (1.1 kg).......... 3 lbs. (1.36 kg)
The Inductive Mode...................................................................pg. 7 Sensitivity...............................N/ANormal: 400 uV typical High: 8 uV
How to Assemble.......................................................................pg. 7 typical
Signal-to-noise ratio.............N/A.............................................. 110dB
How to Tune................................................................................pg. 8
Headset Impedance...........N/A.......................... 600 ohms (mono)
Inductive Locating (with handle).............................................pg. 10
                  N/A............................... 8 ohms (stereo)
High Power (with handle)..........................................................pg. 11 Dimensions............................11 1/2” x 9” x 3............11 1/2” x 9” x 3”
Inductive Tracing (without handle).........................................pg. 12 (29 x 23 x,.7.6 cm).................(29 x 23 x 7.6 cm)
Inductive Locating When Only Approximate Position of a Operating Temperature......-1O0F to +1200F, (-230C to +480C)
Linear Conductor is Known.......................................................pg. 13 depending on batteries used.
Pinpointing Centering of the Pipeline......................................pg. 13 Total Weight..........................5 1/2 lbs. (2.5 kg)
Determining Conductor Depth by Triangulation...................pg. 14 -(without handle or accessories, ground plate assembly or operating manual).
Total Shipping Weight................................................6 3/4 lbs. (3 kg)
Locating Manhole Covers, Valves, Tees and Risers...............pg. 15
-(including only ground plateassembly and operating manual.)
Locating Pipe When Other Lines are Close by.......................pg. 15
Total Shipping Volume.....................................69 cu. ft. (119.5 liters)
Conductive Tracing (without handle).....................................pg. 16
Tracing Procedure.....................................................................pg. 18
The Tracer Probe........................................................................pg. 18
The Coupling Clamp.................................................................pg. 19
Locating Non-Metallic Pipes.....................................................pg. 20
Operating Hints..........................................................................pg. 21
Changing Batteries....................................................................pg. 22
Recharging Ni-Cad Batteries....................................................pg. 22
Specifications.............................................................................pg. 23

23

TW-6manual-.ind2 2 6/13/06 2:54:53 PM

 CHANGING BATTERIES INTRODUCTION
Turn the instrument over on its face (position is the same for both Since 1931, utility and construction craftsmen have looked to Fisher
transmitter and receiver) and remove access plate with coin or to set the standard of quality in the design and manufacture of
large blade screwdriver. locating equipment. The Model TW-6 with its many timesaving
accessories continues the Fisher M-Scope tradition of giving you
Lift the battery pack out carefully. Turn the battery pack slightly even greater speed and precision in locating underground pipes
and unsnap the battery connector. Change all eight batteries. and cables.
Then reattach the connector to the pack. Slip the battery pack
back into its compartment and do battery test. Refasten the
The surest way to effectively use the TW-6 and its new accessories
access plate.
is to practice on known “conductors”. Such items a valve box
Both the transmitter and receiver will work from 30 to 40 hours on covers, manhole covers, or valves clearly visible at the surface of
a set of 8 standard quality AA batteries. Alkaline batteries will give the ground are excellent items to start locating. This way you will
at least 30 to 40% greater life. In cold weather, alkaline batteries quickly get the “feel” of the instrument before taking it into the
are much livelier than standard carbon zinc batteries. field.

Recharging Ni-Cad Batteries

Be sure that all of the AA batteries in the battery pack for the
transmitter and receiver are Ni-Cad rechargeables.
WARNING: The optional recharge kit (NiCd) is not available for
Europe and cannot be used there.
WARNING: Batteries can contain hazardous materials and must
be disposed according to the laws in your country.
CAUTION: Do not try to recharge the batteries that come with the
TW-6, or any other batteries, except Ni-Cad rechargeables. WARNING: The optional recharge kit (NiCd) is not available for

The battery packs of 8 batteries remain in the transmitter and Europe and cannot be used there.
receiver. The wall outlet recharger has two wires with connectors
so that the TW-6 transmitter and receiver can be recharged WARNING: Batteries can contain hazardous materials and must
simultaneously. Plug one jack into the Ni-Cad recharge receptacle
be disposed according to the laws in your country.
of the transmitter and the other jack into the Ni-Cad recharge
receptacle of the receiver, and the charger itself into a wall outlet
that has 100-120 VAC 60 Hz. The red light on both transmitter and
receiver indicate only that the connections are correct, not rate
of charge, nor charge level of the battery packs.
Rechargeable batteries will last approximately 20 hours of
intermittent use before they need to be recharged. Recharging
time should be at least 16 hours
.

22 3

TW-6manual-.ind2 3 6/13/06 2:54:54 PM

 RECEIVER OPERATING HINTS
1. Carrying Strap: Keeps one hand free for marking To develop your operator technique, practice with known
ground or pavement while using Tracer Probe. pipes and cables to thoroughly familiarize you with your TW-6.
2. Meter: Indicates signal strength up to a point Of particular importance in this regard is the SENSITIVITY knob.
from metallic conductors while locating or tracing. Learning to vary the SENSITIVITY knob and studying the effects of
Meter also gives a visual indication of battery those variations remains the key to getting the most precision out
strength. of the instrument. These practice sessions will not only allow you to
3. Accessory Input: Use this jack to plug in all get used to how the TW-6 responds to different kinds of pipes and
accessories except the headphones. cables, but it will also teach you how to interpret each reading.
4. Sensitivity:
A. Toggle switch to select NORMAL or HIGH When using the TW-6 on the handle in the presence of CONDUCTIVE
range. SOIL (those with high mineral salt content and usually rather
B. Knob to control sensitivity level within the damp), it may be necessary to turn down the SENSITIVITY control
NORMAL or HIGH range. from the suggested position. With each repeated reduction, the
5. Ni-Cad Recharge: When using Ni-Cad operator should readjust the front knob as given in the “How To
rechargeable batteries, plug the charger jack Tune” instructions.
into this receptacle. If red light is on, connection is
made. (NOT available in Europe) When locating near-surface and/or very large pipes, you can
6. Depth Level: This bubble indicates the angle of sharply decrease the width of indication by tuning the SENSITIVITY
the receiver to the ground. Use it to keep Receiver control down or counter-clockwise. This narrowing of the indication
and Transmitter level during Inductive Locating will allow more accurate pinpointing.
and for making the 45-degree angle necessary in The TW-6 has a slightly slower response than earlier models. This is
depth determination. more noticeable at extended tracing ranges. Be sure that when
7. Headphones: Use this jack to plug in you “wag” either the receiver or the Tracer Probe, you do so
headphones only. It automatically silences slowly enough for the receiver to sense the signal emitted by the
speaker. Use in particularly noisy areas. underground pipe or cable.
8. Battery Test: Press this black button and observe
battery strength on meter. If meter reads below If the signal remains reasonably strong as you are tracing out a
pipe or cable and it mysteriously disappears, use the “null method
1
“of locating with the receiver instead of the “signal method”.
2 10 Sometimes at extended ranges in HIGH power, the “null-method”
3 will give you greater tracing distance, however, usually the signal
method will give a longer trace.
4

5
6
8
7 9

4 21

TW-6manual-.ind2 4 6/13/06 2:54:54 PM

 LOCATING NON-METALLIC PIPES RECEIVER

80, replace receiver batteries. Usually transmitter

One method is to run an electrician’s “fish-tape” or plumber’s and receiver batteries are replaced at the same
“snake” down the pipe and connect the transmitter to it using time.
the ground plate assembly. Attach the ground plate assembly 9. Power: Pull out for ON, push in for OFF.
clamp to the tape or “snake” and trace the pipe with receiver 10. Speaker: Produces the audible signal, which
or receiver and tracer probe. B lockages in pipes can be increases in volume and pitch as signal strength
located this way too in that the tracing signal will stop where increases. The volume and pitch increase even
the tape or “snake” ends at the stoppage. Tracer tape which after the meter has peaked at 100.
is aluminum foil tape sandwiched in printed mylar is available
from 3 or 4 U.S. manufacturers in two-inch widths and wider. It
can be laid into the trench above a non-metallic pipe. When
laid according to the tape manufacturer’s instructions, the tape TRANSMITTER
and hence pipe can be located Inductively or Conductively.
When laid only 8” or 10” below the surface, it can also be 1. Battery Test Meter: Gives a visual indication of
traced with a valve and box locator such as a Fisher M-66 or battery strength.
M-97. 2. Battery Test/Warble Tone Switch:
A. When toggle switch is held toward the meter,
battery strength is indicated on meter. Replace
batteries if indication is below 5, (5 is the line with
the arrow attached).
Usually transmitter and receiver -batteries are
replaced at the same time.
B. When Toggle Switch is pressed to the right it
clicks into that position. This results in a pulsating
sound from the receiver speaker and an oscillation
of the needle between zero and 100 instead of the
normal continuous sound and needle level.

1
2

3
4

20 5

TW-6manual-.ind2 5 6/13/06 2:54:54 PM

 TRANSMITER TRACING PROCEDURE

3. Ni-Cad Recharge: When equipped with Ni-Cad circle. You need to be close enough to the transmitter for a strong
rechargeable batteries, the recharger jack is plugged signal so that the sound will quit or “null” as you back away and
into this socket. If the red light is lit, proper contact then resume again as you move backwards. You measure from
has been made. (NOT available in Europe) the middle of the null area back to the centerline of the pipe or
4. Accessory Output: The Ground Plate Assemblies cable and that is its depth.
Coupling
Clamp or Ground Rod Assembly connects into this COUPLING CLAMP
jack for a Conductive Trace or Direct Induced Trace. Use the Coupling Clamp to Inductively energize and trace without
a metal-to-metal contact. Tracing distance will be less than when
COMPONENT DESCRIPTIONS using the ground rod assembly, so there is no advantage to using
the coupling clamp on pipes, unless a non-conductive wrapping
1. Ground Rod/Harness Assembly: Provides a prevents bare metal contact.
“ground” for greatest efficiency in CONDUCTIVE
TRACING. For hard ground, the accessory Ground- Begin by plugging the Clamp into ACCESSORY OUTPUT on the
Rod /Harness Assembly is recommended. transmitter. Place Clamp around cable or other conductor (make
2. 3-Piece handle: For use in INDUCTIVE LOCATING. sure jaws are completely closed). Turn receiver and transmitter ON
3. Handle Carrying Strap: Allows you to lower handle and precede using tracing techniques as described earlier. The
closer to the ground for greater depth penetration conductor must make a closed loop, or circuit, or be grounded
and sensitivity in locating. The same strap is used for for best tracing results.
carrying the receiver. It is useful to carry a “jumper” with two clips and a rod to be
4. Handle Carrying Case: Protects 3 piece handle driven into the ground to be sure of the ground. Two Coupling
and makes a neater bundle. Clamps can be used together to perform manhole-to-manhole
5. Carrying Case: Sturdy protection for your TW- and drop-to-junction types of work. Plug the second Clamp into
6 and storage for accessories, such as coupling receiver ACCESSORY INPUT jack. Then, test different strands with
clamp, headphones, mini probe, and ground plate the receiver Clamp to find your signal.
assembly.
6. Headphones: Stereotype headphones are
available for the TW-6. They are switch selectable
from monaural to stereo and may not work with the
TW-6 when switched to mono. You may prefer to use
the stereo phones because volume is adjustable
separately to each ear. The VCO sound is shrill and
without a volume control on the mono headphones,
the sound may be uncomfortable.
7. Ni-Cad Battery Recharge Kit: Replaces the standard
eight (8) packs of carbon zinc batteries that come
with the unit and includes the charger for charging
both transmitter and receiver simultaneously. (NOT
available in Europe).

6 19

TW-6manual-.ind2 6 6/13/06 2:54:54 PM

 TRACING PROCEDURE MODES OF OPERATION
Turn the transmitter ON and turn receiver SENSITIVITY knob all the Your Fisher Model TW-6 allows two modes of operation: INDUCTIVE
way up in NORMAL. Then, when the conductor is located, turn and CONDUCTIVE. In the INDUCTIVE mode, the Transmitter
SENSITIVITY down to get a precise indication of the location. Use induces the electromagnetic field around the object sought.
NORMAL for ordinary tracing, HIGH for extended tracing. In the The Transmitter radiates this field through both soil and water.
Conductive Mode, you can have Transmitter and INDUCTIVE is subdivided into two modes: (1) On the handle for
LOCATING and (2) Transmitter placed on the ground directly
Receiver as near to each other as 20 feet apart and closer yet above and in line with the conductor for TRACING and the path
if you use the Tracer Probe, without air coupling occurring. With of the conductor.
HIGH power, the distance increases.
With settings and connections completed, the operator need only The CONDUCTIVE mode operates when you connect the
walk out his trace while paying attention to signal strength over Transmitter directly to an exposed portion of the pipe or cable in
the conductor. As in the Inductive Mode, the receiver should be question with the Ground Plate Assembly, or with the Coupling
carried vertically and parallel to the pipe or cable being traced. Clamp, or the Ground Rod Assembly.
However, once the position is discovered, you may turn the
receiver to a horizontal position to get a pinpoint reading.
THE INDUCTIVE MODE
If you’re dealing with a maze of pipes, trace each line and mark
its surface location on pavement with colored chalk or spray paint
as you locate it. Extra long yellow or white golf tees are very handy
markers when locating over turf or open ground.

Another tip...start tracing operations away from the congested

location. The pipe is then carefully traced into the desired area
with little chance of false indications. The Tracer Probe also helps
reduce spurious signals from nearby pipes and cables.

The Tracer Probe

As you trace out the pipe or cable, signal strength gradually
diminishes. When you reach the limit of NORMAL, switch to HIGH
sensitivity and adjust the sensitivity knob for a sharp null over the
conductor you are following.

The tracer probe designed especially for the TW-6 is slightly shorter
than the earlier model and does not need a separate SENSITIVITY HOW TO ASSEMBLE
knob. It can be used effectively with the earlier TW-5 model. The 1. If you have the 3-piece handle, insert the two
Tracer Probe for the TW-5 can be used with the TW-6 but reduces end sections into the central section and turn the
tracing distance. knobs until they are “finger-tight”.
Once you have located the pipe or cable with a sharp “null”, 2. Place the Transmitter on its back and insert
back away at right angles, dragging the tip of the Tracer Probe handle end with one screw into V-shaped slot.
on the ground and maintaining the level bubble centered in its 3. Turn the knob until it is “finger-tight”.

18 7

TW-6manual-.ind2 7 6/13/06 2:54:54 PM

 MODES OF OPERATION MODES OF OPERATION

4. With the Transmitter still on its back, align the two to cross back past the path of this conductor and will induce a
holes in the panel of the Receiver with the knobs. certain amount of signal into it. This signal can mislead you when
5. Turn the lower knob of the two knobs until it is tracing it out.
“finger-tight”. Turn the knob with the arrow until the
spring is compressed and the panel is pulled within If you’re working on pavement, simply lay the Ground Rod/
3/8” of the handle at the end. Harness Assembly on its side, parallel to the conductor in
the direction of the tracing. Weighting it down with a rock or
someone standing on it makes it a better ground contact. If the
HOW TO TUNE plate is weighted down in a puddle or at least if the pavement
1. Check batteries on both Transmitter and is wet, tracing distance is improved. You may pour some water
Receiver. on the pavement to improve ground contact.
2. Place the Receiver Sensitivity Switch in the
NORMAL position.
3. Turn SENSITIVITY knob to 7.
4. To turn ON, pull POWER switches on Receiver and
Transmitter.
5. Pick the unit up by the handle and balance it so
that it is level with the ground and at normal carrying
height (arms length). For a deeper search, hold with
the carrying strap which has been fully lengthened.
You will need to hold the instrument at this lower level
while tuning if you plan to use it lowered. On some
highly mineralized ground and some asphalt, you
may not be able to use it with strap fully lengthened.
You will know this if you cannot reach a “null”. Not
reaching a null can also indicate the presence of
nearby metal.

CAUTION: Never attempt to tune the TW-6 in the presence of metal

objects like cars, metal walls, roofs or heavy metal reinforcements
in any structure. Their presence will make proper balancing
impossible.

6. Turn front knob on handle counter-clockwise, until

lowest meter and speaker indications are reached.
You have reached the lowest point if a 1/8- l/4th turn
in either direction results in an increase in sound and
meter reading. If at the lowest point there is still sound
8 17

TW-6manual-.ind2 8 6/13/06 2:54:55 PM

 MODES OF OPERATION MODES OF OPERATION

CONDUCTIVE TRACING (without handle) and meter reading, turn down sensitivity slowly until
The most satisfactory method of tracing when you need to trace meter goes to zero.
an individual pipe when another pipe is nearby is CONDUCTIVE If you can turn the front knob more than l/4th turn
tracing. In the CONDUCTIVE mode, the transmitter energizes the without an increase in sound and meter reading,
pipe through direct connection. Before attaching the ground rod turn the sensitivity knob up from 7 to 8 and try again,
clamp to the conductor, clean the conductor with a wire brush going through the null area making sure it does not
(this creates a good metal-to-metal contact). exceed l/4th turn. You may need to readjust the
sensitivity knob to give you a zero reading at the
After cleaning, plug the jack into the transmitter and secure the balance.
clamp to the pipe or non-energized cable. Place the transmitter CAUTION: Keep away from cars, fences and metal
in an upright position and as far away from the pipe as possible to objects during this procedure.
the side opposite any other lines. As far away as possible means You are now ready to locate. Crossing over buried
it will be at 90”. metal causes an increase in sound and meter
reading.
If you are working in an area with several other conductors near
the pipe or cable you want to trace, place the ground plate as
close as possible to the point at which you fasten the clip to the
pipe or cable. This will reduce the signal strength and reduce the
amount of signal induced into another nearby conductor, giving
a more concentrated signal in the pipe or cable you are tracing.
Never stretch the ground plate across a conductor running parallel
to the pipe or cable you are tracing, because even if you are
not hooked up to the conductor you crossed over, the signal has

16 9

TW-6manual-.ind2 9 6/13/06 2:54:55 PM

 MODES OF OPERATION MODES OF OPERATION

INDUCTIVE LOCATING (with handle) LOCATING MANHOLE COVERS, VALVES, TEES AND RISERS
Use Inductive Locating when you want to find metal objects or
locate lost or unknown metal pipes and cables. Walk at a right These jobs are best performed in the Inductive Mode using the
angle toward what you assume to be the conductor’s position. As handle. To find a valve, tee or riser, locate the main pipe using any
you near the conductor, the speaker sound and meter indication of the previously discussed methods, then, holding the center of
will increase. They will reach maximum readings when you are the handle with the receiver leading (face up), walk alongside the
directly over the conductor. Remember, on the TW-6, unlike main pipe. Be sure you’re far enough away from the centerline of
earlier models, the sound volume and pitch increases far higher the pipe to have a low or no reading. When you cross the sought
than when the meter peaks. This will allow you to do most of your after valve, tee or riser, the meter and speaker will signal a larger
locating without several readjustments of the Sensitivity knob. mass of metal indicating the valve. At that point, you can cross
and return over the suspected valve location from 3 or 4 directions
As you cross over, the indications will begin to decrease because to pinpoint its location.
you are moving away. To get a precise fix on the location, make
a mark at your feet when readings reach their maximum. Cross In the case of the paved-over manhole cover, search systematically
over the pipe, turn around and come back. Make a second mark by walking out a grid pattern, each “line” of which should be 4
when readings return to maximum. Measure between the two feet apart. Practice this grid technique with a visible cover so that
marks and bisect the distance. That is where the conductor is. you can get the “feel” of it.

To establish the path of a pipe or cable (conductor) move “up”

and “down” the line 15 or 20 feet and locate again. From these
three locations you should be able to draw a straight line (unless LOCATING PIPE WHEN OTHER LINES ARE CLOSE BY
pipe has turned). Careful additional locations may be necessary
if no prints of the area are available. Two methods of Inductive Tracing may be employed. In the first
It may be necessary to reduce sensitivity with the knob when the method, set the transmitter vertically and parallel to the line to
pipe or cable is large and/or shallow. If the meter needle has be traced, approximately three to five feet from the pipe you’re
peaked and sound is at a high level, you will want to bring the tracing and away from the pipe not wanted.
sensitivity down to see the peak of the needle at a point less than Now, follow normal Inductive Tracing instructions. To locate the
100 as you move in half or quarter steps back and forth to get other pipe, move the transmitter to the opposite side, three to five
your peak reading. feet away from the second pipe. In the second method, set up
the transmitter so that its plane points toward the pipe desired.
This positioning induces a maximum field in the pipe desired and
a minimum field in the secondary pipe.

10 15

TW-6manual-.ind2 10 6/13/06 2:54:55 PM

 MODES OF OPERATION MODES OF OPERATION

DETERMININING CONDUCTOR DEPTH BY TRIANGULATION HIGH POWER (with handle)

This procedure is only accomplished when the transmitter is close An interesting phenomenon on the TW-6 compared to the TW-5
enough for the receiver to receive a strong and clear signal. and an earlier model is that you may prefer to use it in HIGH power,
on-the-handle. The Sensitivity knob will need to be lowered to
Once you have determined the exact centerline of the conductor about 3 or slightly less to get the meter reading down to zero and
(either Inductively or Conductively), place the receiver above and no sound when balancing. As you approach a pipe or cable lying
parallel to it. Hold the receiver as close to the ground as possible. beneath the ground, the signal may be slight, approximately 20
Now, tip the receiver back until the bubble inside the depth level to 30 and it can be difficult to identify the peak.
indicator rests between the outer edge of the center ring and the
black border of the level. Now turn the Sensitivity knob up so the meter reading becomes
70-75. As you move forward and backward, you will easily see
When it does, the receiver will be at a 45-degree angle to the level a peak on the meter. Mark the spot on the ground where you
ground. Care should be taken at this point, as a few degrees of have stopped, with both feet together. Then go on beyond the
deviation will affect the final depth analysis. The operator should conductor, turn around and approach the conductor in the same
be holding the receiver at 45 degrees and facing toward the way, stopping with feet together at the highest meter reading and
conductor centerline. Now, back away slowly, at a right angle mark the spot on the ground. Measure between the two points,
to the conductor, keeping the bubble as steady as possible. The bisect it and you have the centerline of the conductor.
meter indication should manually be adjusted by means of the
sensitivity control to stay on scale in order to observe the point Be aware that when you use HIGH power on the handle, you will
where the needle will fall to a minimum signal. After this point, the need to be further away from vehicles, metal buildings and metal
signal begins to increase again. fences to avoid sensing them as well.

Position the receiver at the minimum or null point. Measure the

horizontal distance from the centerline of the conductor to center
of the fastener, which holds transmitter and receiver together. This
distance, minus the distance of the center of the locator loop
above the ground distance (5”) is the depth of the conductor.

If the conductor is buried in sloping ground, make a depth

determination on each side of the conductor and average the
two distances to find the cable depth.

A tracer probe with its smaller receiver coil in the tip, is quicker
and easier to use, hence it yields greater accuracy in depth
finding and tracing. The same principle of triangulation is used
when using the receiver or receiver with tracer probe.

14 11

TW-6manual-.ind2 11 6/13/06 2:54:55 PM

 MODES OF OPERATION MODES OF OPERATION

INDUCTIVE TRACING (without handle) INDUCTIVE LOCATING WHEN ONLY APPROXIMATE POSITION
Use Inductive Tracing as a one-man operation when you know a OF A LINEAR CONDUCTOR IS KNOWN
starting point of the object pipe or conductor. You will maximize Two people most efficiently perform this operation. Each holds the
signal strength by having the bottom edge of the Transmitter unit with its face towards him and parallel to the other’s instrument.
directly over and in line with the conductor you’re tracing. Placing Standing at least 30 feet apart, they walk parallel to each other
the receiver on its back will give no signal or a “null” directly over from the curb toward the opposite side of the street. When the
the conductor and a signal on either side. two operators are directly over the pipe, the receiver meter and
speaker will indicate the location. The pipe is directly below the
If you place the transmitter and receiver too close together “direct point at which the maximum signal occurs.
air coupling” will result, meaning the transmitter is sending to the
receiver through the air, the electromagnetic field is simply ignoring If only one operator is available, he should begin by placing the
your pipe. If this happens, you can either (1) turn the SENSITIVITY transmitter over and in line with an assumed position of the buried
control down until you lose the air signal, or (2) simply move the conductor. While maintaining a distance of at least 30 feet from
receiver further away until the air signal fades. the transmitter, hold the receiver parallel to the other instrument
NOTE: With the SENSITIVITY knob on full and the Sensitivity Selection and begin to walk forward until the signal reads its maximum
Switch set to NORMAL, the two units should be at least 30 feet indication. In a one-person search, you may find it necessary to
apart to avoid air coupling. With HIGH SENSITIVITY, they must be move the transmitter several times in order to be precisely over
even further apart. the buried conductor.

PINPOINTING CENTER OF THE PIPELINE

After determining the position of the pipe, set the transmitter down
on its bottom edge and in line with the indicated position. Then, at
a distance of at least 30 feet, hold the receiver with its backside
down and begin moving the receiver from side to side over the
general location line of the conductor. This back and forth motion
will give a null directly over the position of the buried conductor.

12 13

TW-6manual-.ind2 12 6/13/06 2:54:56 PM