the Timco Spitfire with accessories    Steve preparing to connect the Spitfire

How Does The Timco Spitfire Operate?

     The Spitfire is a self-contained, capacitor discharge fault locating tool. Requiring only a connection to 120v, the faulted cable, and a ground rod, the Spitfire pulses a burst of electricity in to the faulted cable. This burst exits the cable at the fault and returns to the ground rod. The Spitfire detector, connected to probes measures the energy from the pulse and is used to pinpoint the location of the fault.

Note: It should be remembered that the SPITFIRE transmitter can deliver up to 960 plus volts dc and should be treated with respect. Electrical gloves should be worn when working around the transmitter and the service meter connections.

When fault locating street light circuits, remove all lamps and ballasts between the SPITFIRE transmitter and the suspected fault location.

Using The Spitfire

     Once the proper connections to the circuit have been made, assemble the probes and connect them to the Spitfire Detector. Begin with the BLACK probe near your starting point and the RED probe extended along the circuit. Press and hold the button on the detector, balance the meter needle to the center, and note which direction the needle deflects when the Spitfire pulses. At this point you want a strong needle deflection, but not so strong that the needle "pegs". Adjust the sensitivity on the detector accordingly.

     The needle deflection indicates the direction of the fault. A RED deflection indicates that the RED probe is closer to the fault, a BLACK deflection on the detector indicates that the BLACK probe is closer. Move the probes along the circuit in 10-15 ft sections, keeping the RED probe further along the circuit. Continue in this manner until the detector indicates a BLACK deflection, meaning that you have passed the fault. At this point, move the probes back on the circuit in smaller steps until a RED deflection is again indicated. Leave the RED probe in place and attempt to circle it with the BLACK probe. Continue working the probes in this manner until one probe can remain stationary and all deflections from each direction indicate the same probe. The closer that you can get the probes to each other and still get the same deflection, the better. Once both probes are about 1 ft apart and all deflections are the same, you are directly over your fault!

Note:

     The meter deflections will decrease in strength as the probes are positioned close to each other, this is normal and to be expected. One way to compensate for this is to increase the sensitivity on the detector until the deflections are easier to read. Once the fault has been pinpointed, leave the sensitivity adjustment the same but move one probe further away from the center probe in every direction. The meter deflections should continue to indicate to the center probe, but the deflections should be significantly stronger.

Note:

     It is not recommended to excavate at the first point where the Spitfire has indicated a fault. Instead, mark the area and continue working the probes as before. Check the entire section of cable with the probes in case more faults exist or a more definate location is encountered.