OVERVIEW CABLE FAULT

LOCATION METHODS
Daniel Salathe

1
 Agenda

What do I know?

Procedure for fault location in Power Cables

Cable Construction

Different Cable faults

Pre – Location Methods

Arm Multishot

NorNed World Record

Megger Products

2
 WHAT DO I KNOW

Fault pre-location can be confusing and misleading if general
rules are not observed.

Another discussion point are the possible varieties that can be
used for fault pre-location.

This presentation is intended to bring some light into the
questions

3
 Fault Location in Power Cables
Fault Reasons for fault location
Fault

Fault Identification
Acceptance Test
after installation
Prelocation after repair

Cable Tracing Periodic Maintenance

Test
DC Hipot
Pinpointing VLF 0.1 Hz

In Operation
Cable Identification Aging
External damage
Repair
Fault location is the combination of ALL
available information
Fault History
Age
What happened Previous faults
Where Only
Faults in the vicinity
the
Comparison of all
details will provide the
full
Details picture Data
P-P / P-N Cable Type
Sheath Joints
Insulation Termination
Road work on track Material
Conduit? Manufacturer
Fault identification

Fault Low resistance < 10 – 100 Ω

“Teleflex TDR”
Fault Identification “Cable Radar”
“Impulse Echo”
“Reflectometer”
Prelocation Identify affected phase,
fault resistance, High resistance > 100 Ω
Cable Tracing breakdown voltage Isolation Tester
Which phases are affected? “Megger” 0 … 10 kV
Phase – to – Phase DC Tester
PinpointingPhase – to – Sheath VLF Tester
Phase – to – Soil
Sheath – to – Soil Sheath to soil (0 … 5 kV)
Cable Identification
Isolation Tester
DC Tester
Repair
Fault Prelocation Low resistance <10 ... 100 Ohm
TDR
“Teleflex”
“Cable Radar”
Fault “Impulse Echo”
“Reflectometer”

Fault Identification High resistance >100... ∞ Ohm

ARM Arc Reflection Method
Prelocation ARM Plus,
ICE, Decay, Decay Plus
ARM Burning with Burn Unit
Cable Tracing
High resistance, wet fault
Pinpointing Burning permanent conversion

Cable Identification Fault to earth (soil)

Sheath fault
Repair HV Bridge
Voltage Drop Method
Cable tracing Connection
Passive (no transmitter):
50 / 60 Hz,
RF radio frequency
Active:
Fault Direct galvanic, with conn. cables
Inductive Clamp on energized cables
Inductive Antenna terrain survey
Fault Identification
Method
Prelocation Minimum (Null)
Maximum (Peak)
SuperMax
Cable Tracing SignalSelect current direction indication

Frequency
Pinpointing RF radio frequency
50 / 60 Hz power frequency
Cable Identification 100 – 150 Hz: Subsea applications
400 … 1000 Hz: low coupling, long range
1 … 10 kHz: coupling, low interference
Repair 10 … 80 kHz: high coupling, water pipes
Fault Pinpointing
Fault Locating in Power Cables
- Pinpointing - Low resistance
Fault Audio Frequency:
 Twisted – Field – Method (core – core)
 Minimum distortion (core – sheath)
Fault Identification

Prelocation High resistance

SWG Surge Wave Generator
and Digiphone
Cable Tracing

Pinpointing to earth (sheath fault)

Step – Voltage – Method with
 DC step voltage
Cable Identification  Audio frequency step voltage

Repair
Cable Identification
Single Phase Cable
Pulse Method
Audio frequency signal direction ident.
Fault with inductive clamp connection

Multi Conductor Cable

Fault Identification Pulse Method
Pulse direction
Prelocation Pulse intensity
Twisted – Field – Method
Audio Frequency
Cable Tracing Twisted – Field – Method

Energized Cable LV
Pinpointing Pulse Method for energized Cables
Audio frequency signal direction identification
Cable Identification with inductive clamp connection

Repair
Repair and re-commissioning
Laws
Commissioning of electrical installations
International standards require
Fault
a norm conform
testing of electrical installations before
Fault Identification
re-energizing!

Prelocation Acceptance Test

Partial Discharge Test
Cable Tracing
Isolation test (Megger, Easytest)
DC test (PILC)
Pinpointing
Short DC Test max. 5 min. (XLPE)
VLF 0.1 Hz (60 min, 1.7 … 3 Uo)
Cable Identification
Soak test (24 h energized at Uo)
Resonance / 50 Hz test
Repair
Sheath test
Cable Construction Types

Shielded Belted cable w.

Shielded Unshielded Shielded concentric cable common shield
segmented cable segmented cable concentric cable
Typically MV/HV Typically MV
Typically LV Typically LV Typically MV/HV
3 conductors with 3 conductors
3 or 4 conductor 3 to 5 conductors 1 conductor own shield ea.
plus shield plus shield Faults between
Faults to ground Faults between Core and core
Faults mostly and Faults between Core and shield and shield
internally between cores Core and shield
Core to core fault Fault location
unlikely except difficult due to
for extreme multiple path
external damage Core - core likely
Cable Faults internal

Phase to phase
Multiple Phase Resistive Open circuit
resistive Flashing

Phase to phase
Open circuit Flashing
Resistive
Cable Faults – Earth / Sheath faults
Important Point for earth contacting cable faults
There is a high danger to cause injury, when applying HV or even Surging

Earth
Sheath Fault Fault
Resistive Fault
Flashing Fault (voltage dependent)
Earth Fault
Wet Fault
The different (HV) Fault Prelocation technologies

19
 Reflection measurement
The most common approach is a reflection measurement

A reflection measurement should be conducted before any other

type of measurement or test, just to obtain the full „picture“.
It will show the cable in its full distance and with many details.

In some cases, if the fault resistance is sufficiently low,

it will also show the fault without further HV support.

All of the “ARM” technologies are combinations wit the common

reflection measurement with High Voltage.

20
Pre – Location Methods
Pre – Location Methods from our
well known CENTRIX Cable Test Van
System

21
CFL System Concept
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

1 most likely
2 ignition voltage limited at 20kV
3 flashover/ breakdown at the fault position
4 LV cap- stage
5 depending on different factors, e.g.: Signal
attenuation, Tripping energy of the
breakdown, sometimes the range is wider

22
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM • Arc Reflection Measurement
• Damped discharge of a capacitor via inductance  up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
• Pulse generation from TDR 
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE 
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning 

23
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM • Arc Reflection Measurement
• Damped discharge of a capacitor via inductance  up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
• Pulse generation from TDR 
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE 
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning 

24
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

25
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

26
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

27
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM
ARM up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus • ARM – for cable length of a few km
4kV 1200J 2400J
• cables with moisture problems or oil filled
• ICE
joints
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay • max. Pulse amplitude 160V, 20µs
• 15 TDR traces while one HV Shot 16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning

28
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM • Arc Reflection Measurement Plus
• Damped discharge of a capacitor via a resistor and up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
extended fault burning time with an LV Capacitor 
4kV 1200J 2400J
• Pulse generation from HV Pulse 350V or 1500V 
• ICE
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay 

16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning

29
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

30
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

31
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM 1st measure a TDR Trace without hv shot from a hv capacitor
first trace - “healthy” up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE Cable length

8kV 1280J 2560J

• Decay 2nd measure a TDR Trace with hv shot from a hv capacitor
Second trace – “fault”
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus
Fault distance
32kV
• ARM Burning

32
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM
ARM Plus
up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus – for cable length more than ARM
• ARM Plus
• cables with moisture problems or oil filled 4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE joints up to 32 kV ignition voltage
• Extend fault burning time with a
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay second capacitor
• max. Pulse amplitude 350V or 1500V
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus • single TDR trace while one Shot

32kV
• ARM Burning

33
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM • Impulse Current Envelope, Direct decoupling of the
discharge current signal in the ground wire path of up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
the surge capacitors
4kV 1200J 2400J
• ICE
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning

34
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM • Impulse Current Envelope, Direct decoupling of the
discharge current signal in the ground wire path of up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus
the surge capacitors
4kV 1200J 2400J
• Display on the TDR as transient wave shape curve
• ICE
• Measure the fault distance with cursors
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay
16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

Symbol image 32kV

• ARM Burning Fault distance

35
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV Capacitors
• ARM
ICE up to max. 32 kV
• ARM Plus • for longer cables of more than 10 km
4kV 1200J 2400J
• self generating pulse waves by fault
• ICE
• measure the transients at discharge current
8kV 1280J 2560J
• Decay • Useful on high voltage cable feeders with
Cross bonded joints 16kV 2000J
• Decay Plus

32kV
• ARM Burning

36
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM Decay
• for high resistance faults above 32kV up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus
• method with self-excitation of the pulse
• Display on the TDR as transient wave shape curve
• ICE

• Decay

• Decay Plus

• ARM Burning

37 method with self-excitation

Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM Decay
• method with self-excitation of the pulse up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus
• Display on the TDR as transient wave shape curve
• Measure the fault distance with cursors
• ICE

• Decay

• Decay Plus

Symbol image
• ARM Burning Fault distance

38 method with self-excitation

Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM
Decay up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus
• for high resistance faults above 32kV
• ICE • self-excitation of the pulse waves by fault
• TDR in transient recorder mode
• Decay
• measure the transients at discharge voltage

• Decay Plus • Useful on high voltage cable feeders with

Cross bonded joints
• ARM Burning

39
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM Decay Plus
• for high resistance faults above 32kV up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus
• method with self-excitation of the pulse
• single TDR trace while one Shot
• ICE

• Decay

• Decay Plus

• ARM Burning

40 method with self-excitation

Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM
Decay Plus up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus • for high resistance faults above 32kV
up to 80kV
• ICE • cables with moisture problems or oil filled
joints up to 80 kV ignition voltage
• Decay • Extend fault burning time with a
second capacitor
• Decay Plus • max. Pulse amplitude 350V or 1500V
• single TDR trace while one Shot
• ARM Burning

41
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM
up to max. 80 kV
• ARM Plus

• ICE

• Decay

• Decay Plus

• ARM Burning

42
Pre – Location Methods
Fault classification Fault Prelocation Fault pinpointing

HV- DC Power supply

• ARM
ARM Burning up to max. 20 kV
• ARM Plus • for high resistance faults up to 20 kV ignition
voltage up to max. 40 A DC
• ICE • to reduce the resistance of the fault
called „fault conversion“
• Decay

• Decay Plus

• ARM Burning

43
 ARM Burning

44
Activation
HV ON
Reference Trace
Set HV
ARM Discharge
1. Fault trace
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
Trace selection
The selection
NorNed

NorNed is a 580-kilometre (360 mi) long HVDC submarine power

cable between Feda in Norway and the seaport of Eemshaven in
the Netherlands, which interconnects the electricity grids of both countries.

With a DC voltage of ±450 kV, the converter for the NorNed project
has a terminal to terminal DC voltage rating of 900 kV, making it also
the highest voltage rating of any HVDC converter in the world.

Installation of the first sections was started in early 2006;

the final section was laid by the end of 2007.
Commercial operation started on the 5th of May 2008 with a capacity auction.
The first commercial power transfer took place on 6th of May 2008.
The Word record!

At the 2nd September 2013 we tested together with

Statnett the NorNed cable with the Teleflex VX
The complete length
The End
End verified by open and short, Zoom 10x
The available Cable Test Vans
Semi atomatic VARIANT
Fully atomatic CENTRIX

For transmission R 30

Manual system Classic

The available Portable Systems
 3kV … 40kV
 500J … 3500J

SFX 40
SFX 16 / 2000J 1000 or 2000J
SFX 15 or 25 SFX 32 1750J
SFX 5 1150J or 3500J
1000J
 Questions?
Power on
At Megger, we understand that keeping the power on is essential for the success
of your business. That is why we are dedicated to creating, designing and
manufacturing safe, reliable, easy-to-use portable test equipment backed by world-
leading support and expertise.

We can assist your acceptance, commissioning and maintenance testing for

predictive, diagnostic or routine purposes. By working closely with electrical
utilities, standards bodies and technical institutions, we contribute to the
dependability and advancement of the electrical supply industry.

72