High Voltage Bridge Cable Fault Locator
Murray bridge fault locator with a built-in 15 kV constant-current source, for cable sheath faults, high-resistance breakdowns and low-insulation defects.
MODEL HUAC-2190
Underground Cable and Pipe Locator with Cable Identification
Transmitter and receiver for tracing buried cables and metal pipes: route, depth, current, cable identification, ground fault location, 12 active frequencies.
- Route tracing, depth and current measurement of buried cables and metal pipes
- Three receiver modes: classic positioning, 360° wire cruise and signal curve
- 12 active and 4 passive detection frequencies; built-in frequency sweep
- Current direction indication to tell the target from adjacent cables
- Transmitter output by direct connection, clamp coupling or induction; automatic impedance matching
- Cable identification, live or de-energised, with up to 10 calibrated cables and ✓/✗ result
- Optional A-frame for ground fault location by the step voltage method
- Bluetooth to mobile app; optional GPS mapping and cloud service
- Narrow-band digital sampling against power-frequency and harmonic interference
- Depth 0 – 20 m, ±5 % to 3 m; transmitter output 10 W max. in 10 steps
- Built-in light for night work; toolbox transmitter case withstands about 200 kg
- English user interface; English operating system available
Overview
The HUAC-2190 finds buried power cables and metal pipelines without digging. It traces the route, measures depth and signal current, identifies one cable among many, and, with the optional A-frame, locates insulation faults on buried cables. Utilities, municipal planners and pipeline operators use it for route surveys, pipeline census, maintenance and before excavation.
Transmitter
The transmitter applies a locating signal to the cable or pipe in three ways: direct connection, clamp coupling, or induction when there is no access to the line. Digital power amplification with automatic impedance matching keeps the signal strong on different loads, and over-current and short-circuit protection keep the transmitter safe. It is built into a pressure-resistant toolbox case with a live LCD of its working status.
Receiver
The receiver offers three display modes. Classic positioning shows a compass, direction and signal strength. The 360° wire cruise mode shows depth, current and the position of the line relative to the receiver in real time, so that non-specialists can follow a route. Signal curve mode plots the signal strength history to make the peak easy to find. Wide peak, narrow peak and null (sound valley) methods are all available.
Twelve active and four passive frequencies, including 50 Hz power frequency and radio bands, suit different soils and line types. A built-in frequency sweep picks the frequency with the least interference, narrow-band digital sampling rejects power-frequency and harmonic noise, and current direction indication, at specific frequencies, tells the target cable apart from neighbouring lines.
Cable identification and fault finding
To pick one cable out of a bundle, live or de-energised, the receiver compares the signal with up to 10 calibrated cables and shows a clear ✓ or ✗ result, measured without contact through the flexible current clamp or the optional stethoscope. For sheath and insulation faults on buried cables, the optional A-frame uses the step voltage method with arrow indication to walk the operator to the fault.
Bluetooth links the receiver to a mobile app. Optional GPS mapping records the coordinates and direction of the line, and an optional cloud service handles tasks, reports and data import and export (Android and HarmonyOS). A built-in light helps at night.
Depth can be measured from 0 to 20 m, with an accuracy of ±5 % down to 3 m and ±10 % from 3 to 20 m. By direct connection a cable can typically be traced over about 20 km, by clamp coupling about 10 km; the actual range depends on the earth resistance, the cable resistance and the burial depth. Induction suits lines buried less than 2 m deep.
Note: identification of live cables applies to three-core armoured cables only. Never connect the transmitter to a live cable for de-energised cable identification.
To measure the distance to a fault along the cable, see the HUAC-803 cable fault locator and the HUAC-2163 multi-pulse system.
Technical specifications
| Tracing range | |
|---|---|
| Direct connection | Cable length up to approx. 20 km |
| Clamp coupling | Cable length up to approx. 10 km |
| Induction | Lines buried less than 2 m deep |
| Note | Range depends on earth resistance, cable resistance and burial depth |
| Depth | |
| Measuring range | 0 – 20 m |
| Accuracy | ±5 % (0 – 3 m); ±10 % (3 – 20 m) |
| Readings | Depth and current read automatically |
| Receiver | |
| Active frequencies | 577 Hz, 640 Hz, 1280 Hz, 2.56 kHz, 3.20 kHz, 4.09 kHz, 8.19 kHz, 10 kHz, 33 kHz, 66 kHz, 82 kHz, 201 kHz |
| Passive frequencies | 50 Hz, 250 Hz power frequency; radio bands centred on 33 kHz and 82 kHz |
| Detection methods | Wide peak, narrow peak, null (sound valley) |
| Display modes | Classic positioning, wire cruise, signal curve |
| Audio | Tone varies with signal strength |
| Display | 3.5-inch colour LCD |
| Battery | 7.4 V DC, 3400 mAh lithium; charger DC 8.4 V, 1 A |
| Light | LED, 1 W max. |
| Interfaces | Mini-B USB (firmware), DC charging, flexible clamp socket; Bluetooth |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | approx. 290 × 128 × 700 mm |
| Weight | approx. 1.90 kg |
| Safety | IEC 61010-1 CAT III 600 V, IEC 61010-031, IEC 61326, pollution degree 2 |
| Cable identification | |
| Methods | Flexible current clamp, stethoscope (optional) |
| Calibrated cables | 1 – 10 |
| Loop resistance, direct connection | 0 Ω – 8 kΩ (cable length up to approx. 20 km) |
| Loop resistance, clamp coupling | 0 Ω – 1 kΩ (cable length up to approx. 6 km) |
| Flexible current clamp | Rogowski coil, inner diameter φ200 mm, length approx. 620 mm |
| Transmitter | |
| Output modes | Direct connection, clamp coupling, induction |
| Output frequencies | 12 frequencies, 577 Hz – 201 kHz (as receiver) |
| Output power | 10 W max., 10 steps |
| Direct output voltage | 150 Vpp max. |
| Impedance matching | Fully automatic, real time |
| Protection | Overload and short-circuit protection |
| Display | 5.6-inch colour LCD |
| Battery | 11.1 V DC, 12800 mAh lithium; charger DC 12.6 V, 2 A |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | approx. 320 × 275 × 145 mm |
| Weight | approx. 3.85 kg; transmitter clamp approx. 1.18 kg |
| Transmitter clamp | Inner diameter φ150 mm, 297 × 194 × 39 mm, 3 m lead |
| Case | Toolbox design, withstands approx. 200 kg |
| Safety | IEC 61010-1 CAT III 300 V, CAT IV 150 V; IEC 61326 (EMC) |
| General | |
| Dielectric strength | AC 3700 V rms (enclosure) |
| Operating conditions | -10 – 40 °C, < 80 % RH |
| Storage conditions | -10 – 50 °C, ≤ 95 % RH, non-condensing |
| Interface language | English |
Specifications may change without notice. Contact us for the latest datasheet.
Applications
Route survey of buried power cablesMetal pipelines and municipal utilitiesCable identification before cuttingSheath and insulation fault locationBefore excavation
Scope of supply
| Transmitter | × 1 |
| Receiver | × 1 |
| Transmitter clamp, φ150 mm | × 1 |
| Flexible current clamp, φ200 mm | × 1 |
| Test leads, red and black, 3 m | × 1 set |
| Chargers for transmitter and receiver | × 2 |
| Stethoscope (optional) | × — |
| A-frame for ground fault location (optional) | × — |
Downloads
The datasheet and user manual for this instrument are sent on request, usually within one business day.
Frequently asked questions
What can the HUAC-2190 locate?
Buried power cables and other metal pipelines: their route, depth and signal current. It also identifies a single cable in a bundle and, with the optional A-frame, finds insulation faults on buried cables.
How do I get the signal onto the line?
Connect the transmitter directly to the cable or pipe, couple it with a clamp around the cable, or use induction when the line cannot be reached. Direct connection gives the strongest and most selective signal.
Can it identify a live cable?
Yes. Cable identification works on live and de-energised cables. Up to 10 cables can be calibrated, and the receiver shows a ✓ or ✗ result for each cable you test, measured without contact through the flexible current clamp or the optional stethoscope.
How is a ground fault found?
With the optional A-frame. The transmitter sends a signal into the faulted cable, and the A-frame measures the step voltage in the ground; arrows point the operator towards the fault until the signal reverses directly above it.
How deep can it measure?
From 0 to 20 m. Accuracy is ±5 % for depths up to 3 m and ±10 % from 3 to 20 m.
Which cables can be identified while live?
Live cable identification applies to three-core armoured cables. De-energised cables can be identified by direct connection or clamp coupling; never connect the transmitter directly to a live cable.
Does it record locations?
With the optional GPS mapping function, the coordinates and direction of the line are recorded and can be viewed in the mobile app; the optional cloud service manages tasks and reports.
Have another question? Ask our application engineers.
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HUAC-803
Portable Cable Fault Locator (TDR and Pulse Current)
Portable cable fault distance tester: low-voltage pulse (TDR) up to 8 km and pulse current method up to 128 km, 200 MHz sampling, sunlight-readable screen.