DEEP-1 Underground Magnetic Utility Marker for Sewer & Drain Lines - A Better Alternative to Tracer Wire

Easier to Find: Magnetic locators are good at finding ferrous (iron-containing) material underground. And they are very good at finding magnets underground. Compared to, say, a piece of rebar or a steel survey monument, the signal generated by a magnet is stronger and more precise, and can be detected from farther away. This means that magnetic markers can be buried more deeply than ferrous markers, so they are less susceptible to vandalism and/or accidental disturbance. Also, the signal from a magnet is ‘tighter’ and more consistent—the edges are more tightly defined, and experienced operators are better able to estimate depth and horizontal location.

Better for Non-Ferrous Lines: For obvious reasons, magnetic markers are very useful when used in conjunction with non-ferrous lines like PVC water pipes: since the line itself is not detectable by magnetic (or electromagnetic) locators, ferrous or magnetic markers have to be deployed to make magnetic detection possible. But magnetic markers are also useful for a non-obvious reason: they are generally more reliable than the tracer wires often used to make electromagnetic location of non-conducting lines possible. That is, non-conducting lines are often equipped with wires that are attached externally as the line is laid, and location operators use these wires to transmit current along otherwise non-conductive lines so that electromagnetic locators can be used. But tracer wire is unreliable for several reasons. Since they are external to the line, and relatively fragile, they can break and be useless. And because they require special treatment at line joints, installation can be tedious and breaks are common at joints.

A = 1.06" (27 mm)
B = 2.625" (67 mm)
C = 1" (25 mm)

Video - DEEP-1 Underground Magnets for Marking Buried Utilities