Thread

1. quickthrowman · 1790016870 · focus · HN ↗

   It has been conjectured that the easiest way to locate a buried fiber optic cable is to start digging.

   (The actual easiest method is to install the conduit or direct burial cable with tracer wire)

   1. bluGill · 1790019342 · focus · HN ↗

      Fiber was all installed long after we knew locating it was important. I suspect it all had a tracer wire installed with it. Of course sometimes the tracer wire can break.

      Before fiber a lot of things were put into the ground with no thought how you would find it again.

      1. quickthrowman · 1790020359 · focus · HN ↗

         Indeed, tracer wire is usually bonded to a (sacrificial) magnesium anode, but it’s a crapshoot whether the tracer wire is still intact.

         I sometimes hire directional boring and excavation contractors and if there’s any doubt as to where an electrical conduit or natural gas pipe is, I opt for the hydrovac truck to minimize risk.

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