Advanced cable fault locator

It has been demonstrated that it is possible to utilize the electromagnetic transients generated by the faulting process itself to locate the fault site in typical Underground Residential Distribution cable. Successful tests were carried out on a full scale model underground test facility and on two operating utility underground distribution circuits. The fault location system differs from existing ones not only in the way it handles the transients but also by the fact that it requires no operator interpretation of the waveforms. A personal computer is made a part of the system and, in response to simple, usually single key strokes, the computer does all of the interpretations and calculations. In practice, the fault location process is divided into three main parts: (1) Global Location'' which gives the fault location relative to the nearest transformer; (2) Precision Location'' which gives the fault location relative to the end of the isolated faulty cable; and (3) Tracer Location'' which gives the fault location relative to a convenient reference point on the ground in the vicinity of the fault site. 85 refs., 85 figs.