Utilitty locating equipment

Hi folks, hope everyone is well

I was recently hired to work for a contracting company locating utility lines(gas, cable, phone, hydro, water) Having not started yet I am a little worried about the equipment affecting the pacemaker. It's pretty low wattage(around 12 watts I think) and where the signal comes from is about 3-4 feet away from my device. It's electromagnetic equipment like this
http://locatorguys.com/rd7000_plus.html

does anyone have any experience with this type of equipment? I know to stay away from welding equipment but I doubt this puts off even a quarter of the power a welding machine does.

any info would be awesome

thanks guys!

2 Comments

Don't Sweat It

by PJinSC - 2015-06-23 03:06:52

It is at the end of a wand that is plenty distant from your PM. Just don't put it directly over your PM. The worst it could do is to put you in test mode, but as soon as you move it, you will go back. This was explained to me by my device nurse.

If you look at my post from yesterday, welding equipment is not likely to bother you either.

Good Luck and Good Life. PJ

There is some speculation

by Theknotguy - 2015-06-23 04:06:51

PJinSC and I are trying to keep track of interference with PM's. What we've found so far is most warnings are just that - warnings. We haven't found many situations where there was an actual interference. However, since we live in a country where there is tort law, everyone has to protect themselves.

As PJ said, his previous post was on his brother using a 60 amp welding outfit and if that didn't cause any problems, your metering equipment isn't going to even come close.

I did a previous post where I had forgotten about my PM, was running a large DeWalt drill, got tired, and was leaning on the drill while it was running. My PM was resting on the back of the drill as it was running and I had absolutely no problems. No sudden problems with its activity, no SOB, zilch, nada, nothing.

My PM is Medtronics. In their brochure they indicate your PM should be a minimum of six inches away from EMF/RFI interference. I won't argue with their warnings even though the DeWalt drill kinda indicates it isn't a problem. As PJ said, the equipment you'll be using will be several feet away from the PM.

There is some speculation the radio/WiFi section of the PM is turned off unless the donut sized magnet is resting on top of the PM. That happens when they're doing the readings at your checkup. So that means you can be near a lot of broadcasting RFI and your PM won't even notice. Similar to a radio being turned off while a thunderstorm goes by. Nothing happens.

In addition to the DeWalt drill, I volunteer in a woodshop and run all the equipment in the shop. No problems and that includes the 220 volt table saw. Completely forgot about my PM the other day and went over to the big power panel to check a circuit breaker. They changed the electric meter at my house to one of those digital meters. Was at the box checking out the new, pretty meter. Once again, zero, zilch, nada, nothing.

Was over at my son's house. Checked on a bad switch for the garage door opener. Picked up a live 110 volt line and got a pretty good tickle. Nothing from the PM. Like the old Timex watches, it just kept on ticking.

Based upon what PJ and I have found out so far, I don't think you're going to have any problems with the metering equipment.

Hope your new job works out well for you.

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