Copperhead Industries, LLC
Standard Copper / Copperhead Wire
Signal Carrying Tests
Testing done 3.26.04 by Copperhead Industries
Testing done 7.15.04 by Kansas Gas Service
Test Objectives and Overview
• Test Objective: To determine if there is any significant differences in locating signal
carrying capabilities between Solid Copper Wire and Copperhead Reinforced Tracer
Wire.
• Test Overview: Connect parallel runs of both Solid Copper Wire and Copperhead
Reinforced Tracer Wire to various transmitters of a typical pipe and cable locators.
Using the Locator receiver (when capable) take signal strength readings on both
wires at specified distances away from the transmitter. Compare the results of
readings from both wires.
• The testing was performed by the two companies independently.
Test Set Ups
• Using samples of both Solid Copper and Copperhead Reinforced tracer wire, string
wire samples out parallel to each other, keeping a minimum of 6’ distance between
the two samples.
The Test preformed by Copperhead used 500’ of #12AWG wire with 30mils of PE
coating on both wires.
The testing performed by Kansas Gas Service used 2000’ of #14AWG wire with
30mils of PE coating on both wires. The Kansas Gas test also used various splices
and connectors every 250’ to simulate service line connections.
• Apply the locating signal frequencies to both wires equally. When using the
conductive mode, bare and twist together one end of each sample and connect to the
transmitter so that both samples will have initially the same signal strength on the
input. When sending a signal inductively place the transmitter over each wire
individually when performing the test.
• Take the opposite end of each sample wire and strip 6” bare and insert the bare ends
into the soil to make an adequate ground.
• The Copperhead Industries test used a Rycom Model 8868 Locator in the conductive
signal mode. The Rycom transmitter sends an 8kHz signal locating signal and has a
maximum of 1 watt signal power output.
• The Kansas Gas Testing used both a Rycom Model 8868 Locator at the 8kHz and
the 32khz frequencies in the conductive mode. Also tested was the Metrotech Model
xxxx transmitting using a 32kHz signal in the conductive mode. And lastly a xxxx
split box locator was tested in the inductive mode using an 800Hz signal.
Rycom 8868 Pipe & Cable Locator
Direct connection (conductive mode)
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Rycom 8868 – 8kHz signal, 1 Watt Transmitter
Test Procedure Copperhead Test
• Walk out the specified distance from the transmitter and position the Locating
Receiver over the solid copper wire sample. Adjust the gain on the Receiver to be
between the 50% - 100% signal strength range on the locator as instructed by the
manufacturer.
• Record a signal strength reading at that point on the Solid Copper Wire. Note the
approximate distance above the wire the tip of the receiver is located.
• Without adjusting the gain setting on the receiver, move to the same distance away
from the transmitter and over the Copperhead Sample wire.
• Maintaining approximately the same distance above the sample wire record the
signal strength reading displayed on the Receiver.
• Repeat for all required distances and data points.
Kris-Tech/ Copperhead 500’ each
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Copperhead = 635
Solid Copper = 642
10’-100’-250’-500’ reading recorded
Test Data / Results
Signal Strength vs. Distance
700
600
500
Relative
400
Signal
300
Strength (%)
200
100
Solid Copper
Copperhead
0
10
100
250
500
Distance from Transmitter (ft.)
Copperhead Industries Test Summary
• In summary, there showed no significant signal loss when comparing solid copper
wire to the Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire.
• This is a because of the “skin effect” when transmitting frequencies along locating
wires. The Skin Effect is the property that frequency signals (such as locating
signals) actually travel along the outer surface of the wire. The outer surface of the
Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire is copper and is thus equivalent in signal
carrying characteristics of Solid Copper Wire for this application.
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Test Procedures - Kansas Gas Service Tests
• Test #1 – Uses the Rycom 8878 locator transmitting in the conductive mode. The
same procedures were followed as in the previous test using the 82kHz frequency
setting.
• Test #2 – Uses the Metrotech 9890XT locator (another typical tool used by Kansas
Gas Service) again transmitting the signal conductively. A higher 312 Khz frequency
was used. Again the same procedures were followed as in previous tests.
• Test #3 – Uses a typical split box locator and sending the signal inductively. In this
test the transmitter was laid directly on top of the wire. These older style split boxes
use a 800Hz frequency signal for detection. The operator with the receiver then
walked out along the wire to see how far a tone could be picked up by the receiver.
Each wire was tested independently.
Test Data / Results
• Test #1 – (See data table below) No significant signal differences were seen between
the Copperhead Wire and the solid copper wire. No signal loss was recorded across
any of the connectors types that were used to simulate service lines for either wire
types.
• Test #2 – The Metrotech 9890XT locator brought out for the test experienced battery
problems and the testing was not completed along the full 2000’. Of the first few
readings that could be deemed reliable no difference in signal carrying capabilities
was found.
• Test #3 – The split box using the lowest frequency was able to pick up a tone along
the entire 2000’ test. After completing the Copperhead test the operators radioed
back to the operators located at the receiver and had them move the transmitter to
the solid copper wire. Again the operators were able to pick up a tone at the very end
of the wire and all the way back to the receiver. Again no significant signal loss was
noted across any of the connectors used as splices.
Kansas Gas Service Test Summary
• In summary, there showed no significant signal loss when comparing solid copper
wire to the Copperhead Reinforced Tracer Wire. Again, this is because of the “skin
effect” when sending frequency signals down the locating wire.
• Using different brand locators, older and newer types of locators, different
frequencies, and different signal inducing methods (conductive and inductive)
showed no significant differences in signal carrying capabilities of the Copperhead
Reinforced Tracer Wire when compared to the Solid Copper Wire.
• No significant signal loss occurred in either of the wire types when the signal crossed
the different connector types.
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Kansas Gas Service Tracer Wire Conductivity Testing
Test #1 - Rycom 8878 Locator, 82Khz
#14 Copperhead Wire
Distance Signal Strength Connector
0'
803
100'
804
200'
808
210'
805
King
300'
806
400'
807
500'
803
Split Bolt
600'
805
700'
805
707'
805
King
800'
805
900'
805
1000'
808
1003'
807
Split Bolt
1100'
801
1200'
801
1203'
803
King
1300'
803
1400'
804
1493'
803
Split Bolt
1500'
808
1600'
805
1700'
804
1710'
End
#14 Solid Copper Tracer Wire
Distance Signal Strength Connector
0'
802
100'
803
200'
805
208'
802
King
300'
800
400'
800
498'
800
Split Bolt
500'
800
600'
800
700'
797
704'
805
King
800'
803
900'
800
1000'
802
Split Bolt
1100'
805
1198'
806
King
1200'
806
1300'
803
1400'
802
1490'
805
Split Bolt
1500'
805
1600'
807
1700'
806
1710'
End
July 15, 2004 Kansas Gas Service (Oneok), Topeka, KS / Testing conducted by Mr. Steve
Zurbuchen: KGas Corrosion Engineer 785/271-3987 [email protected]. Kgas performed
their own testing comparing 2000' of Copperhead #14 to standard #14 Copper Tracer Wire.
They utilized a split box, a Metrotech 9890XT, and a Rycom 8878. All locators transmitted
different frequencies and power output.
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