Transit level how does it work

House Grail is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more. Not only do they look almost identical, but they also perform practically the same function.

However, there is one key difference that sets the transit level apart; it can measure vertical angles. Aside from this one difference, these two tools are almost the same. They both setup and operate the same way, and the tripods and measuring rods used for each are even interchangeable.

So, why might you choose one over the other? Are there any other differences between these two almost-identical tools? To set it up, you first need to stand up a heavy-duty tripod. There must be something to measure. Crosshairs in the level will allow you to pinpoint a measurement on that rod, which you can then compare to measurements taken from other points.

Each time you move the measuring rod, the level remains in the same place, allowing you to get the relative elevations of many different points. This allows you to see the high points and low points in an area for grading, leveling, building, and surveying, and more. First, you must set up a tripod, on which the transit level will be mounted. Set up transit in an area that is as level as possible and which is about feet long. Place two matching level rods or two pieces of strapping in the ground about feet apart with the faces toward each other.

Position and level the instrument so that the distance from the instrument to each rod is the same measure. Take a reading on each rod with the instrument or mark each piece of strapping where the crosshair is sighted. The difference between the marks on the rod will be the error of the instrument. The error needs to be corrected by a competent repair technician. There are degrees in a circle. Each degree is divided into 60 minutes. A basic setup should consist of the transit level itself, a tripod base, a calibrated rod, and a windup tape measure, perhaps one hundred feet or more in length.

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