Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger
CP survey log — structure-to-soil potentials, rectifier readings, test station condition and criteria checks for pipelines and tanks; offline.
New test station inspection
US pipeline rules: annual test-point surveys (not exceeding 15 months); rectifiers checked 6×/year (not exceeding 2.5 months).
Field guide: Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger
Cathodic protection is the polite fiction that a buried steel pipeline isn't rusting — true only while the potentials say so. The annual survey this logger supports collects the number that matters at each test station: structure-to-soil potential against a copper/copper-sulfate reference, judged by the −850 mV (instant-off) or 100 mV polarization criteria of NACE/AMPP SP0169. Recording both ON and instant-OFF values preserves the IR-drop honesty that makes the data defensible.
The system-health findings ride along: dead rectifier output (a CP system silently off is corrosion happening at full speed), cut test leads — the perennial victims of mowing and excavation — and stations paved over since last year. For regulated pipelines, this log mirrors what PHMSA auditors ask for: dated readings at intervals, rectifier checks six times a year, and remediation trails for below-criteria points.
Field tips
- Place the reference cell in moist native soil over the pipe, not on gravel or against the test post — placement errors swamp real changes.
- Trend each point against its own history; a 100 mV drift toward positive at one station beats absolute numbers as an early warning.
- Photograph cut-wire findings with surroundings — third-party damage claims need context, and re-splices need slack documentation.
Records are stored only in this browser (localStorage) — export regularly. This tool aids field documentation; it does not replace your agency's official inspection procedures or engineering judgment.
Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger — CP survey log — structure-to-soil potentials, rectifier readings, test station condition and criteria checks for pipelines and tanks; offline. Free, offline-first and GPS-aware: open it on any phone, log in seconds, and hand your GIS team clean GeoJSON.
About Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger
Cathodic protection is the polite fiction that a buried steel pipeline isn't rusting — true only while the potentials say so. The annual survey this logger supports collects the number that matters at each test station: structure-to-soil potential against a copper/copper-sulfate reference, judged by the −850 mV (instant-off) or 100 mV polarization criteria of NACE/AMPP SP0169. Recording both ON and instant-OFF values preserves the IR-drop honesty that makes the data defensible.
How to use Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger
- 1Enter the test point id and tap 📍 GPS to pin the test station's exact location (or type coordinates).
- 2Work through the test station checklist — every field matches what a real inspection program records.
- 3Pick a condition on the Protected (criteria met) / Marginal / Below criteria / System fault ⚠ scale; actionable findings are tallied automatically.
- 4Add notes and log the inspection — it saves instantly to your device, even with zero signal.
- 5Export the round as CSV for your asset system, GeoJSON for the GIS, or print a clean report.
Why use Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger?
- ✓100% free, no sign-up — built for crews, not per-seat licences
- ✓Offline-first: records save to your device instantly and survive dead zones
- ✓One-tap GPS tagging with accuracy capture on every record
- ✓Exports CSV for asset systems, GeoJSON for GIS, and print-ready reports
- ✓Checklist and guidance aligned with AMPP/NACE SP0169
Frequently asked questions
What does −850 mV actually mean?+
A structure-to-soil potential of −850 mV or more negative (vs Cu/CuSO₄), with IR drop considered — usually via instant-off readings — indicates steel is polarized enough that corrosion is effectively suppressed. It's the primary criterion in AMPP SP0169 and the number every CP survey orbits.
Why record both ON and instant-OFF potentials?+
The ON reading includes IR drop — voltage across the soil that isn't polarization — and can look comfortably negative while the steel is unprotected. Interrupting current and reading within the first second gives the instant-OFF (polarized) potential, the honest value. Where interruption isn't possible, the log notes 'on only' so nobody later mistakes it.
How often are surveys legally required?+
For US-regulated pipelines: test-point surveys annually (intervals not exceeding 15 months) and rectifier inspections six times a year (not exceeding 2.5 months) per 49 CFR 192/195. Tanks under API 653/STI follow their own cycles. The dated, GPS-pinned export from this log is the audit evidence.
What does a sudden positive shift at one station suggest?+
Local causes first: coating damage nearby, a new grounding connection (copper steals current), foreign-line interference, or a depleted local anode. A shift across many stations points at the rectifier or a broken header cable. The trend view from per-station logs is what makes this diagnosis quick.
Embed Cathodic Protection Test Point Logger on your website
Want Cathodic Protection Test Point Loggeron your own site? Paste this snippet into any HTML page — it's free, with no API key or sign-up. The tool loads in an iframe and keeps working exactly as it does here.
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