Fault location of UG cable

Hello Guest,

Try Mr Google's excellent Search Engine.

Use Search Terms: underground cable fault locate (Not in bold, just the 4 words, equally spaced).

There are plenty of methods to choose from, depending on what test equipment you have, and your ability to interpret the results.

We often used to easily find underground cable faults in Winter mornings, by the overnight passing of a low-voltage high current through the cable, then driving a van along the cable route.

Where the frost was melted, that's where we excavated, 100% right, every time.

There are better methods now.

Kind Regards....

You can use a TDR (Time Domain Reflectometer) designed for powered cables...

The TDR sends a pulse down the cable and the fault reflects a portion back to the TDR this return pulse shows the location of the fault, the type of fault i.e. short, open or partially short open etc...

I have a couple in my workshop and as long as you know the velocity factor of the cable you can pinpoint faults very accurately within a minute.

John.

In the location I live, we can call the local power company and they will come out for free and locate the break. Have you contacted your power distributor?

James