levenhuk SM150 Underground Wire Detector User Manual

levenhuk SM150 Underground Wire Detector

Product Descriptions

1. Negative interface
2. Display
3. Power button
4. Button ▲
5. Button ▼
6. Flashlight on/off button
7. CODE SET button (Code setting)
8. LEVEL SET button
9. Backlight/Sound button
10. Start/Pause button
11. Positive interface
12. Flashlight
13. Sensor
14. Flashlight
15. Power button
16. Button ▲
17. Button ▼
18. Flashlight on/off button
19. NCV button
20. MENU button
21. Sound button
22. Backlight button

Please carefully read the safety instructions and the user manual before using this product. Keep away from children. Use the device only as specified in the user manual.

The kit includes: transmitter, receiver, connecting wire (red and black), test probes (red and black), grounding rod, alligator clips (red and black), USB cable, carry bag, user manual, and warranty.

Charging the device

The transmitter and the receiver use rechargeable lithium batteries. Connect the micro USB cable to the device and the DC adapter via a USB plug and connect it to the AC power supply to charge the device.

Getting started

Press and hold the power button (3) for 3 seconds to turn the transmitter on/off. Press and hold the power button (15) for 3 seconds to turn the receiver on/off. The device will beep twice, and the main page will appear on the display. Prior to use, check the device and the cables for damage.

Join the red connecting wire with the red alligator clip (red test probe); join the black connecting wire with the black alligator clip (black test probe). Insert the red connecting wire to the positive interface (11) on the transmitter. Insert the black connecting wire to the negative interface (1) on the transmitter.

Display information

Transmitter

1. Transmission power
2. Live wire icon
3. Set signal code
4. DC voltage symbol
5. AC voltage symbol
6. Voltage value
7. Output signal code
8. Signal intensity
9. Output signal level
10. Acoustic alert
11. Battery indicator

Receiver

1. Sensitivity level
2. Transmitter battery indicator
3. Live wire icon
4. Search signal value
5. Received signal code
6. Received signal intensity
7. Received signal level
8. Manual mode
9. Automatic mode
10. Non-contact voltage detection function (NCV) indication
11. Acoustic alert
12. Battery indicator

Accessories information

1. Connecting wires
   

2. Alligator clips
   

3. Measuring probes
   

4. Grounding rod
   

Settings

Transmitter

Signal level setting

Press the LEVEL SET button (8) on the transmitter, the Signal level indication (9) will flash on the display. Select the signal level (I, II, or III). Press the LEVEL SET button (8) to confirm and exit.

Setting the output signal code

Press the CODE SET button (7) on the transmitter, the Set signal code indication (3) will flash on the display. Set the signal code (A/C/E/F/H/L).
Press the CODE SET button (7) to confirm and exit.

Start/pause the signal transmission
Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on/off the signal transmission.

Receiver

Sensitivity setting
The automatic mode is set by default. Press the MENU button (22) on the receiver to switch between the automatic mode and the manual mode.

The Automatic mode sets the sensitivity to the maximum by default. It is used for a quick search and finding the approximate location of a target. The Manual mode enables the manual adjustment of sensitivity. It is used for locating a target more accurately. Press the buttons ▲and ▼ to adjust the sensitivity to adjust the sensitivity levels from 1 to 8. First, use the high sensitivity to find the approximate wire location quickly. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

Voltage test setting

When the transmitter is connected to a live wire with a voltage greater than 12V, the current voltage value will be shown in the left lower part of the
transmitter display. At the same time, a Live wire icon will be displayed in the left upper part of the display.

Non-contact voltage detection setting

Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. Press the NCV button (21) on the receiver to enter the non-contact
voltage test function. The NCV indication will light up in the right upper part of the display. Place the receiver probe near the live wire. When the sensor is in the close proximity to the target cable, the receiver will emit a beeping sound. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

Wire tracing. Single pole method

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the loose end of the testing wire.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip to the grounding wire or to the grounding rod.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
4. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to locate the wire. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity.
   

Live wire tracing. Double pole method (No load). Line connection

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the loose end of the live wire of the testing cable.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip to the neutral wire of the testing cable.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
4. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
5. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be. This wiring method provides a detection distance of only 0–0.5m.
   

! Observe the safety precautions to avoid the risk of electric shock.

In order to eliminate the crosstalk between the negative loop signal and the testing wire signal and in order to increase the detection distance up to 2.5m, connect the neutral wire (negative return wire) to other neutral wires via a cable reel.

! Observe the safety precautions to avoid the risk of electric shock.

De-energized wire tracing. Double pole method. Short connection

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the loose end of the testing wire.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip to a parallel wire.
3.  Short the other two wires together. In this case, the high frequency signal returns directly to the transmitter via these wires.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal transmission. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
5. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

! For locating underground wires, make sure that the distance between the target wire and the grounding wire is not less than 2m.
! Underground wire detection efficiency depends on the properties of the ground where the wire is buried in.

De-energized wire tracing. Double pole method. Negative loop connection

1. Clamp the alligator clips to both ends of the testing wire.
2. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
3. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

! To avoid the signal crosstalk, the target wire for this connection shall be at least 2m away from the negative loop. Otherwise, the detection distance will be too short.

To increase the detection distance up to 2m, use a separate wire or a cable reel as a return wire.

! For underground wires detection, it is important that the distance between the feeder wire and the return wire is greater than the depth the wire is buried at (not less than 2m).

De-energized wire tracing. Double pole application. Grounding connection

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the terminal of the testing circuit or to the loose end of the testing wire.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip to the grounding terminal of the testing wire or to the effective grounding wire.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to detect the wire location.
4. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.
   

! The effective ground wire shall be no less than 2m away from the target wire. Otherwise, crosstalk may occur and the detection distance will be too short.

Tracing of a de-energized cable with multiple parallel wires

For the tracing of a cable with multiple parallel wires, it is recommended to apply the single pole method.

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the loose end of the testing wire.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip and the parallel wires to the effective grounding wire or to the grounding rod.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to detect the wire location.
4. Place the receiver near the cable and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

! The negative interface of the transmitter must be connected to the effective grounding. Otherwise, the detection distance will be too short.

Detection of a cable short-circuit point

To detect of a cable short circuit point it is recommended to apply the double pole short-connection method for a de-energized circuit. In case of multiple parallel wires, the parallel wires must also be connected to the negative interface of the transmitter. The circuit must be deenergized.

1. Connect the short-circuited wires to the negative and positive interfaces of the transmitter correspondingly.
2. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to detect the cable location.
3. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. To locate the wire more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The point, where the signal of the receiver suddenly attenuates and disappears, is the short-circuited point of the known short-circuited wires.

! This method is only used if the resistance of a short-circuited cable is below 200 kΩ.
! Connect the known short-circuited wires to the positive interface of the transmitter to detect the short-circuited point.

Detection of a cable-break point

To detect a cable-break point, it is recommended to use the single pole connection method or the double pole connection method for a de energized circuit with the grounding of parallel wires.

Application of one transmitter

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the testing wire.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip and the parallel wires to the effective grounding wire.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
4. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire. The point, where the signal of the receiver suddenly attenuates and disappears, is the open-fault circuit point (break point of the testing cable).
   

Application of two transmitters

Use the single pole method.

1. Connect the positive interface of Transmitter 1 to one end of the testing wire and then connect the negative interface of this transmitter to the grounding.
2. Connect the positive interface of Transmitter 2 to the other end of the testing wire and then connect the negative interface of this transmitter to the grounding.
3. Other remaining parallel wires must be grounded as shown below.
4. Set the signal code of Transmitter 1 to F. Set the signal code of Transmitter 2 to C. The signal codes of Transmitter 1 and Transmitter 2 must be different.
5. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
6. Place the receiver near the cable and move the receiver sensor along the wire to trace it. Adjust the receiver sensitivity in the manual mode and then observe the signals.
7. When the signal code changes from F to C or C to F, it means that the open circuit fault (cable break) is detected. To detect the cable break point more accurately, lower the sensitivity of the receiver.

You can order the second transmitter separately.

! The grounding terminal must be effectively grounded.
! Line interruption contact resistance must be greater than 100k Ohm.

Detection of metal water supply pipes and metal heating system pipes

1. Clamp the red alligator clip to the testing pipe.
2. Clamp the black alligator clip to the effective grounding wire.
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to detect the pipe location.
4. Place the receiver near the pipe and move the receiver sensor along the pipe to trace it. To detect the pipe more accurately, lower the sensitivity of the receiver. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be.

! For safety reasons, turn off the electrical equipment in the room with the pipes under test

Detection of user allocations on the three-phase power supply lines on

the same floor

1. Disconnect the main switch of the distribution box of the floor.
2. Disconnect the neutral wire of this floor distribution box from the neutral wires of other floors.
3. Connect the positive interface of the transmitter to the testing three-phase wire; connect the negative interface of the transmitter to the grounding.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
5. Place the receiver near the air switch. If the signal is received, the circuit is connected to the three-phase wire under test. If there is no signal, the circuit is disconnected.

! For safety reasons, make sure to de-energize the entire building prior to conducting this test.
! The testing wire must be at a certain distance from the grounding wire (approximately 2 m).

Detection of circuit-breakers

This function is used to detect a circuit-breaker connected to a testing wire.

1. Disconnect all air switches and earth leakage circuit breakers in the distribution box.
2. Connect the positive interface of the transmitter to the live wire of the receptacle (using a red test probe); connect the negative interface of the transmitter to the neutral wire of the receptacle (using a black test probe).
3. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high-frequency signal to detect the wire location.
4. Place the receiver near the air switch or near the earth leakage circuit breaker. To detect the voltage more accurately, lower the sensitivity. The closer the device is to the object, the stronger the signal will be. An air switch or an earth leakage circuit breaker with the strongest signal is the target one.

! For safety reasons, observe the safety instructions when operating the electrical equipment.

Wire identification test

This function is used to identify wires within a cable.

1. De-energize the circuit.
2. Twist the ends of the wire strands so that they could conduct the electricity to each other. Remove the insulation from the ends of the wires, if needed.
3. Connect the positive (11) and negative (1) interfaces of the transmitter to the wires accordingly in order to check all the wires consequently.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
5. Change the transmission code of the transmitter to differentiate the wires during measurement. Press the CODE SET button (7) on the transmitter, the Set signal code indication (3) will flash on the display. Select the set signal code (A/C/E/F/H/L). Press the CODE SET button (7) to confirm and exit.
6. Place the receiver sensor near the wire with short-circuited conductors. The receiver will emit a corresponding sound.

! If you use only one transmitter, it is required to perform multiple measurements, thereby changing the connection between the transmitter and the core wires of the cable consequently. You can purchase and use transmitters with different output signals.

! For safety reasons, observe the safety instructions when operating the electrical equipment.

Detection of open circuit faults in electric floor heating systems

Application of one transmitter

1. De-energize the circuit.
2. Clamp the red alligator clip to the floor heating wire. If the heating wire is shielded, disconnect the grounding wire from the shielding.
3. Clamp the black alligator clip to the grounding wire as per the single pole method.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
5. Place the receiver near the cable and move the receiver sensor along the wire. A point where the signal of the receiver suddenly attenuates, is the location of the open circuit fault point.
   

*Application of two transmitters with different codes**

1. De-energize the circuit.
2. Clamp the red alligator clip of one transmitter to the one end of the floor heating wire and then clamp the red alligator clip of the second transmitter to the other end of the floor heating wire.
3. Clamp the black alligator clip of one transmitter and clamp the black alligator clip of the second transmitter to the same grounding wire as given in the single pole method description.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal. The receiver will automatically start tracing the high frequency signal to detect the wire location.
5. Place the receiver near the wire and move the receiver sensor along the wire. A point, where the signal code of the receiver changes to a certain code value set for the other transmitter, is the location of the open circuit fault point (a breakpoint of a heating wire).

You can order the second transmitter separately.

Detection of blockages in buried non-metal pipes

1. De-energize the circuit of the pipeline.
2. Clamp the red alligator clip to a metal hose inside the plastic pipe.
3. Clamp the black alligator clip to an auxiliary grounding wire.
4. Press the Start/Pause button (10) on the transmitter to turn on the output signal.
5. Place the receiver near the pipe and move the receiver sensor along the pipe. A point where the signal suddenly attenuates and stops, is a pipe blockage point.

! If the hose (spiral tube) is made of non-conductive material (e.g. glass fiber), it is recommended to insert a metal wire with a crosssection of 1.5 mm into the non-conductive spiral tube until it stops. Then proceed as described above.

! The grounding wire shall be at a certain distance from the pipeline under test. If the distance is too short, accurate detection is impossible.

Specifications

0–0.5m
single loop line: 0–2.5m / circuit voltage detection: 0–0.4m
Transmitter fuse| transmitter: 80–300mA receiver: 100–300mA
Wire tracing| 0.5A, 500V
Non-contact voltage detection (NCV)| +
Pipe blockage detection| +
Backlight| +
Sensitivity adjustment| +
Operating temperature range| +
Power source| 0…+40°C (operating), –20…+60°C (storage) / +32…+104°F (operating), –4…+140°F (storage)
transmitter: rechargeable lithium battery, 3.7V, 1400mA·h
receiver: rechargeable lithium battery, 3.7V, 1400mA·h

The manufacturer reserves the right to make changes to the product range and specifications without prior notice.

Care and maintenance

Use the device only as specified in the user manual. Do not connect the device to a high-voltage wire as it is life-threatening and it will damage the device. In order to avoid lightning strikes, do not use the device during thunderstorms. The rated voltage of the tested circuit must not be greater than 400V. Do not leave the device in the heat or in the direct sunlight. Do not exclusively rely on the detector to locate items behind scanned surfaces. Do not try to disassemble the device on your own for any reason. For repairs and cleaning of any kind, please contact your local specialized service center. Protect the device from sudden impact, excessive mechanical force, and strong electromagnetic fields. Store the device in a dry cool place. Only use accessories and spare parts for this device that comply with the technical specifications. Never attempt to operate a damaged device or a device with damaged electrical parts! If a part of the device or battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately.

Battery safety instructions

Always purchase the correct size and grade of battery most suitable for the intended use. Always replace the whole set of batteries at one time; taking care not to mix old and new ones, or batteries of different types. Clean the battery contacts and also those of the device prior to battery installation. Make sure the batteries are installed correctly with regard to polarity (+ and –). Remove batteries from equipment that is not to be used for an extended period of time. Remove used batteries promptly. Never short-circuit batteries as this may lead to high temperatures, leakage, or explosion. Never heat batteries in order to revive them. Do not disassemble batteries. Remember to switch off devices after use. Keep batteries out of the reach of children, to avoid risk of ingestion, suffocation, or poisoning. Utilize used batteries as prescribed by your country’s laws.

Levenhuk International Warranty

Levenhuk products, except for their accessories, carry a 5-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. All Levenhuk accessories are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for six months from the purchase date. The warranty entitles you to the free repair or replacement of the Levenhuk product in any country where a Levenhuk office is located if all the warranty conditions are met. For further details, please visit: levenhuk.com/warranty If warranty problems arise, or if you need assistance in using your product, contact the local Levenhuk branch.

Customer Support

Levenhuk Inc. (USA): 928 E 124th Ave. Ste D, Tampa, FL 33612,
USA, +1-813-468-3001, contact_us@levenhuk.com
Levenhuk Optics s.r.o. (Europe): V Chotejně 700/7, 102 00 Prague 102,
Czech Republic, +420 737-004-919, sales-info@levenhuk.cz
Levenhuk®, Ermenrich® are registered trademarks of Levenhuk, Inc.
© 2006–2024 Levenhuk, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.levenhuk.com
20240126

References

• Доживотна гаранция на Levenhuk – Официален уебсайт на Levenhuk в България
• Doživotní záruka společnosti Levenhuk – Oficiální webové stránky Levenhuk pro Českou republiku
• Levenhuk Lebenslange Garantie – Die offizielle Website von Levenhuk in Deutschland
• Garantía internacional de por vida Levenhuk – Web oficial de Levenhuk en España
• Levenhuk Lifetime Warranty – Levenhuk’s official website in USA
• A Levenhuk élettartamra szóló szavatossága – A Levenhuk hivatalos magyarországi weboldala
• Levenhuk Limited Warranty – Levenhuk’s official website in USA
• Поддержка - Гарантийное обслуживание Левенгук - Levenhuk Russia
• Gwarancja bezterminowa Levenhuk – Oficjalna witryna internetowa Levenhuk w Polsce
• Levenhuk’s official website in USA

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