Common CAT and Genny Mistakes to Avoid
The most common CAT and Genny mistakes are sweeping too fast, relying on Power mode alone, defaulting to induction instead of a direct connection, ignoring the SWING warning, and using a unit that is out of calibration. Each one turns a safety tool into false reassurance.
Cable strikes are rarely caused by faulty kit. They are caused by predictable habits. Here are the five that catch people out, and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: sweeping too fast
A CAT needs time to respond. Wave it over the ground at walking-and-a-half pace and a shallow service can pass the antenna before the unit reacts. Slow down, hold it vertical, and cover the area in a grid. Speed is the single biggest cause of missed services.
Mistake 2: trusting Power mode on its own
Power mode only finds cables carrying an unbalanced load. An unloaded street-light cable or a balanced supply can read as silence. Always back up the passive sweep with a Genny signal so unloaded cables still show. Silence in Power mode is not proof of clear ground.
Mistake 3: inducting when you could connect
Induction is convenient but imprecise; the signal can couple onto nearby services and send you tracing the wrong line. Where you can safely connect directly to an isolated service, or clamp around it, do that instead. Save induction for when there is genuinely no access.
Mistake 4: ignoring the SWING and tilt warnings
Holding the CAT at an angle or swinging it skews the reading. The unit warns you for a reason. Keep it upright and let the response settle before you trust it. Our SWING technique guide explains what the alert is actually measuring.
Mistake 5: skipping calibration and checks
A unit drifts out of accuracy invisibly. Without a daily function check and an in-date annual calibration, you have no idea whether a quiet CAT means clear ground or a deaf instrument. Get into the habit of checking before every shift.
Avoid these five and you are most of the way to a safe locate. For the complete method and the modes behind it, see the 2026 ultimate guide to cable avoidance, and browse CAT and Genny kit when you need to upgrade.