Authorized dealer · Contractors-Tools.comPART NO. 46-D8877 | LT8-300LTU
David White LT8-300LTU Line Transfer Unit
The transit pipe crews use to line up the pipe laser from the surface.
Order by 12 noon Central and it ships the same day. Price is live from the store.
David White LT8-300LTU Line Transfer Unit — What’s in the box
- 46-D8877 (LT8-300LTU) Line Transfer InstrumentTelescope instrument with horizontal circle, vernier and stadia reticle
- Rain hood
- Objective lens cover
- Heavy-duty hard carrying caseThe manual says to store and transport it only in the case
- Owner's manualAlso linked below as a PDF
- 2-year warrantyOn the instrument
A specialty transit built for the trench
The David White line transfer specialty transit is rugged and dependable, and it is the most effective tool for lining up reference points when you use pipe lasers in manholes and utility trenches. The 360-degree telescope lets you sight straight down, which is what pipe laying needs.
Powerful 26X optics
A sharp image magnified 26 times, with internal focusing from 6 feet to infinity.
3/16 in at 150 ft
Leveling accuracy you can trust on a line transfer, with a range of up to 400 feet.
Horizontal circle and vernier
Lock the circle, read degrees and 5-minute fractions, and fine-tune with the horizontal tangent.
Glass stadia reticle
Extra horizontal hairs measure distance at a ratio of 1:100, with no tape.
Built to take the jobsite
Solid 3-piece standards protect against dirt, damage and costly repairs. A wide-stance ball bearing center keeps movement smooth.
Easy to set up and read
A top-mounted level vial, plate vial and an easy-reach focus knob at any viewing angle.
How to line up a pipe laser with a line transfer unit
A pipe laser sits down in the trench, where you cannot easily check its line. The line transfer unit stays at the surface, looks straight down, and brings the line up to you. These are David White’s own four steps:
- Set up the instrument over your pipe laser. Place the LT8-300LTU on the tripod at the surface and set it over the pipe laser line.
- Sight on the far point and lock the horizontal screw. Pick the far reference point, then lock the horizontal clamp.
- Transit over the pipe laser. Align the front and back of the pipe laser with the cross hair in the line transfer unit.
- Transit out to the point in the ditch. Adjust the laser beam left or right to center it in the crosshairs.
Other jobs it does
Gravity-flow pipe lasers
Set up and check the pipe laser line from above the trench.
Angles and 90 degree lines
Measure angles and establish 90 degree reference lines with the horizontal circle.
Anchor bolts, forms and walls
Anchor bolt alignment, aligning forms and aligning walls.
Set up over a reference point
This model is lined up over a reference point with a standard plumb bob. If you would rather use a laser dot, the LT8-300LTU with laser plummet (46-D8879) does it for you.
- Move the tripod and instrument over the approximate point. Set the legs about 3-1/2 feet apart with the top of the head looking level, and push the points well into the ground.
- Attach the instrument by hand-tightening the 5/8-11 base to the tripod head.
- Shift it onto the point. Loosen the leveling screws and slide the instrument sideways on the shifting center until it is directly over the point.
- Level it with the four leveling screws (next section).
LT8-300LTU parts, numbered
Match the numbers on the diagram to the parts below. The telescope in the lower view is turned to look straight down.
- 1Telescope objective lens
- 2Sighting notches
- 3Eyepiece
- 4Focusing knob
- 5Instrument level vials (2)
- 6Horizontal circle
- 7Horizontal circle lock
- 8Horizontal vernier
- 9Horizontal clamp
- 10Horizontal tangent
- 11Vertical clamp
- 12Vertical tangent circle
- 13Shifting center
- 14Four leveling screws
- 155/8-11 thread base
- 17Plate level vial
Thumbs in, thumbs out: leveling in four moves
Keeping the bubble centered through a full 360 degree turn of the telescope is the most important step in using the instrument. Do not touch the tripod while you level.
- Line the telescope up over one pair of leveling screws.
- Turn both screws at the same time with your thumbs, toward each other or away from each other, until the bubble centers. The direction your left thumb moves is the direction the bubble moves.
- Rotate the telescope 90 degrees over the second pair of screws and repeat.
- Final check: rotate over each of the four leveling points and confirm the bubble stays centered.
How to read the horizontal circle and vernier
The 360 degree circle is split into four quadrants of 0 to 90 degrees, marked in degrees and numbered every 10. The vernier divides each degree into 12 equal parts of 5 minutes. There are 60 minutes in a degree, and you read the vernier in the same direction as the degree scale.
1. Exact degree
2. Degrees and minutes
3. Reading to the left
Each vernier line is 5 minutes, so you read 5’, 10’, 15’ and so on. Tighten the horizontal clamp first, then use the horizontal tangent for the final setting.
Stadia hairs: measure distance without a tape
Every LT8-300 series instrument has a glass stadia reticle with two extra horizontal lines. Read the length “l” of a level rod between the stadia hairs. The distance to the target is that length multiplied by 100, so the distance from A to B is L = 100 × l.
LT8-300LTU 46-D8877 technical data
| Manufacturer SKU (2026 brochure) | 26-LT8877 |
|---|---|
| Range | Up to 400 ft (120 m) |
| Accuracy | 3/16 in at 150 ft (5 mm at 45 m) |
| Telescope length | 8-1/2 in (216 mm) |
| Minimum focus | 6 ft (1.8 m) |
| Aperture | 1.257 in (32 mm) |
| Power | 26X |
| Field of view | 1 ft 9 in at 100 ft (54 cm at 30 m) |
| Number of lenses | 8 |
| Stadia ratio | 1:100 |
| Horizontal circle diameter | 4-5/8 in (117 mm) |
| Graduations | Each 1 degree, numbered each 10 degrees, 0-90-0 |
| Vernier | Double direct to 5 minutes |
| Center | Wide-stance dual row ball bearings |
| Telescope level vial accuracy | 120 sec. per 2 mm |
| Plate vial accuracy | 360 sec. per 2.5 mm |
| Tripod | Use a heavy-duty 5/8-11 tripod |
| Weight (instrument only) | 9.5 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
LT8-300 series: optical plummet, laser plummet or plumb bob
The LT8-300 family comes with the plummet that suits how you set up. Pick the instrument, then the way you want to sit it over a point. Prices are live.
Swipe the table sideways on a phone.
| 46-D8877 LT8-300LTU | 46-D8879 LT8-300LTU | 44-8871 LT8-300P | 46-D8872 LT8-300LP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Line transfer unit | Line transfer unit | Universal level-transit | Universal level-transit |
| Plummet option | Plumb bob | Laser plummet | Optical plummet | Laser plummet |
| Price | 46-D8877 $995.00 | 46-D8879 $1,025.00 | 44-8871 $1,045.00 | 46-D8872 $1,050.00 |
The two line transfer units share the same 26X optics, 3/16 in at 150 ft accuracy and 400 ft range, and both come with the same case, rain hood and objective lens cover. The level-transits are separate instruments; open their pages for their own specifications.
Keep it accurate
Check it, every time
Instruments leave the factory adjusted, but it is your job to check the adjustment before you use one, and after any hard knock or a long trip. David White is not responsible for errors from an instrument that is out of adjustment.
Case and carry
Store and transport it only in the supplied case. Carry the instrument off the tripod. If you must carry it on the tripod, hold it as upright as you can, in front of you, never flat over your shoulder.
Keep it clean and dry
Wipe it with a soft, moist cloth. No solvents or cleaning agents, and never immerse it. Protect it from moisture, direct sun and big temperature swings, and let it adjust to the air before you use it.
Annual service
Have it cleaned, lubricated, checked and adjusted at a qualified instrument repair station or by the manufacturer at least once a year. Send it in its protective case, with the model and serial number.
David White LT8-300LTU 46-D8877: your questions
What is a line transfer unit?
A line transfer unit is a specialty transit used to line up reference points when you work with a pipe laser in a manhole or utility trench. The David White LT8-300LTU stays at the surface, sights straight down with its 360-degree telescope, and transfers the line to the laser in the trench.
How do you use a line transfer unit with a pipe laser?
David White lists four steps. Set up the LT8-300LTU over your pipe laser. Sight on the far point and lock the horizontal screw. Transit over the pipe laser and align the front and back of the pipe laser with the cross hair in the line transfer unit. Then transit out to the point in the ditch and adjust the laser beam left or right to center it in the crosshairs.
What is the difference between the 46-D8877 and the 46-D8879?
Both are the LT8-300LTU line transfer unit with the same 26X optics, 3/16 in at 150 ft accuracy and 400 ft range. The 46-D8879 adds a laser plummet, a laser dot that sets the instrument over a point so you do not need a plumb bob. The 46-D8877 is set up with a standard plumb bob.
How accurate is the LT8-300LTU, and how far does it reach?
Accuracy is within 3/16 in at 150 ft (5 mm at 45 m), with a range of up to 400 ft (120 m). The telescope has 26X power and a 1.257 in aperture.
What battery does the laser plummet use?
The 46-D8877 has no laser plummet and needs no battery. The model with a laser plummet, the 46-D8879, uses one CR2 lithium battery.
What tripod do I need?
David White specifies a heavy-duty 5/8-11 tripod. A tripod is not included in this package.
How do I level the LT8-300LTU?
Line the telescope up over one pair of leveling screws, then turn both screws at the same time with your thumbs, toward or away from each other, until the bubble centers. Rotate the telescope 90 degrees over the second pair and repeat, then check all four positions. Do not overtighten the screws.
How do I read the vernier?
The circle is marked in degrees and numbered every 10. The vernier splits each degree into 12 parts of 5 minutes. If the 0 on the vernier lines up with a degree line, the reading is in whole degrees. If not, take the last degree line the 0 passed and read up the vernier, in the same direction as the degree scale, to the minute line that lines up exactly.
How do I measure distance with the stadia hairs?
Read the length of a level rod that falls between the two stadia hairs. The distance to the rod is that length multiplied by 100, because the stadia ratio is 1:100. A rod interval of 1.20 ft means a distance of 120 ft.
How often should the instrument be checked and serviced?
Check the adjustment before each use and after any severe knock. David White says precision instruments should be cleaned, lubricated, checked and adjusted only at a qualified repair station or by the manufacturer, at least once a year.
Is the LT8-300LTU a level or a transit?
It is a line transfer unit, a specialty transit. It has a horizontal circle and vernier for angles and a 360-degree telescope that sights straight down. It is intended for determining and checking precise horizontal partitions and for pipe laying work.
Which LT8-300 has an optical plummet, and which has a laser plummet?
The LT8-300P level-transit (44-8871) has an optical plummet. The LT8-300LP level-transit (46-D8872) and the LT8-300LTU line transfer unit with laser plummet (46-D8879) have laser plummets. The LT8-300LTU line transfer unit without a plummet (46-D8877) is set up over a point with a plumb bob.
What is the part number for the LT8-300LTU?
Our part number is 46-D8877. The manufacturer's 2026 brochure lists the LT8-300LTU without a plummet as SKU 26-LT8877, and David White also calls it the LT8-300LTU.
What warranty does it have?
David White laser tools and optical instruments carry a 2-year limited warranty from the date of purchase. Accessory items carry a 90-day limited warranty.
Owner’s guide and brochure
David White LT8-300LTU Owner’s Guide (PDF)
The full 12-page manual: safety, parts, setup, leveling, vernier, stadia, pipe laying, care and warranty. Our phone number is on every page.
Download the guide
LT8-300LTU Universal Line Transfer Unit Brochure (PDF)
The manufacturer’s one-page brochure: features, applications, specifications and what’s included in each model.
Download the brochure
