A typical electrical installation can involve a large network of cables, and each individual cable can be a considerable length. So when faults arise with a specific cable, it can be very hard to locate which cable it is and where exactly the fault is on the cable.
Many electrical installations are powering systems which are required to distribute electrical energy and operate a network of machinery and equipment, and hence, in a commercial or industrial environment, it is essential that these systems operate efficiently. This means fault location becomes very important because you need to quickly and easily identify where a fault is so that you don’t need to power down a system unnecessarily, thus causing disruption and operational losses. So the objective of a cable fault locator is to identify the location of a cable fault quickly and with precision, so that a fault can be repaired as soon as possible, to minimise disruption to the operations in terms of downtime and unnecessary remedial work.
Understanding the cable fault locator
In simple terms, a cable fault locator is a portable device with a spectrum of measurement methods which are used to identify the location of a cable fault. The device will display identified faults on a user-friendly screen to enable fast and effective fault detection.
A cable fault locator can be used in low, medium and high voltage circuits, with units ranging from small handheld instruments for low voltage testing to much larger, wheel-mounted units for high voltage testing. A cable fault locator is often used for utilities installations, but also in telecommunications and power distribution systems where long lengths of cable are installed.
How does the cable fault locator work?
Faults in an electrical cable can occur through various means during normal operation. Mechanical damage can cause a fault, as can moisture ingress, joint failure or the insulation around the cable breaking down and degrading. These issues can cause insulation and conductor faults and short and open circuits which can lead to power loss, reduced performance or electrical safety hazards.
The cable fault locator will carry out a series of tests on a length of cable to determine what the faulty phase is and the type of fault. It can also test the insulation resistance of the cable, the voltage of the cable and it can detect damage to the outer cable insulation, through sheath fault detection. The cable fault locator will then use a technology known as Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and surge generators to send signals such as high-voltage pulses or electromagnetic waves down the cable to locate exactly where a fault is located. The instrument will then display this location on the user screen.
What are the benefits of cable fault locators?
It is essential that an electrical tester can accurately locate a cable fault, particularly in large scale industrial installations, because it enables targeted repairs to take place without powering down or disrupting large sections of an electrical network. The cable fault locator enables the accurate detection of faults so that remedial work can be proactive and planned. This means only the affected sections of a network are isolated and powered down, enabling other sections to continue operating as normal.
Therefore, the cable fault detector:
- Reduces repair costs
- Reduces unnecessary downtime
- Speeds up repair times
- Prevents operational disturbance and inefficiency
- Maintains a safe and effective electrical installation
- Enables regulatory compliance for your electrical installations and distribution systems.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.