What is tracer wire for water pipes?

What is tracer wire for water pipes?

Tracer wire, which is also called locating wire or locator wire, is used to assist in locating pipes and other lines after they’ve been buried in the ground. Once a pipe is laid down, tracer wire is placed along it’s length and buried next to the pipe.

What wire can be used for tracer wire?

Solid copper or copper clad steel (CCS) work well and there’s no need for stranded. High Strength Copper Clad Steel (CCS ) was introduced to the market in 2004 for tracer wire and it has a 2X strength advantage over solid copper.

What can I use for underground tracer wire?

The red wire is for electric; yellow is for gas, Orange is for communication, blue tracer wire is for potable water and green is for sewer. If you are planning on burying the wire, 12-gauge insulated copper wire (open to the ground at the far end) is a great choice.

What size is tracer wire?

Underground tracer wire is available in sizes 14 through 6 AWG in an array of colors, depending on the intended use. The insulation is high molecular weight and high-density polyethylene, which is resistant to abrasions, crushing, chemicals, oils, and moisture.

Does tracer wire need to be grounded?

Tracer wire must be properly grounded at all dead-ends / stubs. Grounding shall be achieved by use of 1.5 lb., drive-in magnesium ground rod with a minimum of 20 feet of lead wire.

Is tracer wire solid or stranded?

Available in solid and stranded uncoated copper conductors, tracer wire is primarily used in the detection of underground piping and other underground utility installations. Constructed of High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE) insulation which has excellent moisture, chemical, oil, crush, and abrasion resistance.

Is tracer wire energized?

When a tracer wire system is properly grounded, it can be fully energized, and accurate detection is possible.

Can you splice tracer wire?

Continuous wire installations that have multiple wire laid side-by-side or in close proximity to one another shall not be allowed. Install tracer wire as a single continuous wire. Splicing of wire, if necessary, shall be done in such a way to produce an electrically and mechanically sound connection.

What size is gas line tracer wire?

The contractor shall install a #12 (or larger) insulated tracer wire, in the trench above the polyethylene pipe. The tracer wire shall be approximately 6 inches above the pipe where practical. The tracer wire shall be installed so that electrical continuity is maintained throughout the pipe system.