Plastic pipe and fiber conduit can't be found with a locator on their own. Tracer wire runs alongside the line so crews can put a signal on it and find it years later. A-Best Industrial Inc. Fittings, Valves, and Tubing supplies tracer wire for gas, water, sewer, reclaimed water, electrical and fiber installations, in the conductor, strength and insulation your job calls for.
Conductor options
| Type | Construction | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Solid copper | Solid copper conductor, polyethylene jacket | Open trench and general locating |
| Copper-clad steel (CCS) | Steel core with copper cladding bonded to it. 21% IACS conductivity (ASTM B1010). Stronger and lighter than solid copper. | Trenching, plowing and directional drilling |
| Stainless steel | High tensile strength stranded stainless conductor | Highly corrosive soils and harsh conditions |
| Pipe burst wire | 7x7 stranded, hard drawn CCS, 0.187" nominal diameter, 4,750 lbf minimum break load, 50 mil HDPE jacket rated 1,000 V | Pipe bursting and critical directional drilling pulls |
Sizes run from #18 through 1/0 AWG. The most common tracer sizes are #14, #12 and #10 AWG.
Copper-clad steel strength grades
Pick the grade by how hard the wire will be pulled during install. Open trench work doesn't need much. A directional bore does.
| Grade | Size | Minimum break load | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stress relieved | #12 AWG (0.081") | 297 lbf | Open trench, open cut |
| High strength | #14 AWG (0.064") | 351 lbf | Trenching and plowing |
| Extra high strength | #12 AWG (0.081") | 1,185 lbf | Directional drilling |
| Extra high strength | #10 AWG (0.102") | 1,940 lbf | Long or difficult directional bores |
Insulation and voltage ratings
Jackets are direct-burial high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), made from virgin-grade, RoHS compliant material per ASTM D1248. Polyethylene holds up to moisture, abrasion and rocky backfill far better than THHN building wire, and it stays flexible in the cold (brittleness temperature below -76 °C).
| Jacket thickness | Voltage rating |
|---|---|
| 30 mil | 30 V |
| 45 mil | 600 V |
| 60 mil | 1,000 V |
If the line runs near power, or you'll be using a high-output locator, step up to 45 or 60 mil.
APWA color code
Tracer wire comes in the APWA uniform color code, so anyone who digs it up knows what's underneath.
- Yellow: natural gas, oil, steam
- Red: electric power
- Orange: fiber optic, telecom, CATV
- Blue: potable water
- Green: sewer and storm drain
- Purple: reclaimed water and irrigation
- White: proposed excavation
Standards
ASTM B1010 (copper-clad steel conductor), ASTM D1248 (polyethylene insulation), UL listed 30 V and 600 V constructions, and the APWA color code. Rated for continuous operation up to 75 °C in wet and dry locations.
Install tips from the field
- Lay the wire along the top or side of the pipe. Don't spiral it around the pipe.
- Use waterproof, direct-bury splice connectors. A taped splice will corrode and kill your signal.
- Bring the wire up into valve boxes or test stations so the locate crew can hook on without digging.
- Test for continuity before backfill. It's a lot cheaper to fix a break in an open trench.
Get a quote
Tell us the utility, install method, size and length you need, and we'll match the right tracer wire. Call 310-833-3353 or email sales@abesttube.com. Open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM Pacific, with after-hours emergency service. Request a quote.