Cable & Sheath Fault Location

Cable failures can be both disruptive and expensive resulting in the overall lifetime cost of the asset increasing. The prompt restoration of the supply following a fault is normally the main priority for operational staff, although this should be done in conjunction with a failure management procedure to ensure no evidence is lost and a correct diagnosis and mechanism of failure is identified. This information can be invaluable in preventing further failures.




Identifying the location of an underground cable fault can often present some difficulty, in addition to delaying the re-instrument of critical plant and processes. Over many years a number of fault location methods and technologies have evolved making the task easier and more efficient, reducing the number of excavations, joints, lost time and ultimately unnecessary expenditure.


Cable faults can affect both HV and LV networks and can be classified as either conductor or insulation faults, including low resistance, high resistance or flashing. However, intermittent faults can also affect LV networks, making the fault location extremely difficult, particularly on networks with many branches. In this situation specilaised equipment must be employed to monitor the supply voltage and locate the fault during a 'flashing' period. Once the equipment is installed the process can be interrogated and driven remotely from a PC.


For the majority of faults a three step approach to locating the fault is adopted including:

• Diagnosis
• Pre-location
• Pin pointing

Each stage requires experience of specific equipment. For the pre-location of a high voltage cable fault EA Technology's preferred method involves the use of Impulse Current Equipment (I.C.E), a proven method developed at EA Technology in the 1970's. However, there is no single piece of equipment or method that is prefect for all situations, and after all things are considered it falls to the skill and knowledge of the engineer to utilise the most appropriate methods to locate the fault both expeditiously and safely.




For more details please call

+44 (0)151 339 4181

or email sales@eatechnology.com[/b]