How A Cable Fault Locating Service Can Benefit You

An underground cable fault can be detrimental. It can be difficult to locate the position of the fault and the cause of the fault. Identifying and locating the faulty cable must therefore be done as quickly as possible. Accuracy is also a high requirement as unnecessary trenching leads to wasted time and money or could cause even greater problems.

In this article, we will discuss the common faults that are most likely to occur in underground cables, how to find the location of a cable fault, as well as how cable fault locating services can benefit you.

Which is the Common Fault Likely to Occur in Underground Cables?

Before determining the location of an underground cable fault, it is advisable to determine the type of fault that has occurred. This will allow one to choose the best detection method that will provide one with the most accuracy. There are various faults that occur in an underground cable; however, there are three faults that are most likely to be the cause of a fault.

• Earth Fault: When the outer sheath of a cable is harmed and damaged the conductors of the cable could come into contact with the earth. The current then flows through the earth instead of through the cable. This occurrence is known as an earth fault. This cable damage could be caused by chemical reactions within the soil, mechanical crystallisation, or harmful vibrations. An earth fault can be detected by making use of a megger, where the megger is connected between the conductor and the ground.
• Open-Circuit Fault: An open-circuit fault typically occurs when any or multiple of the cable conductors break, or when a cable disconnects from its joint. This leads to discontinuity and an open circuit within the conductors. This fault can be detected by making use of a megger that is connected between the conductor and the earth.
• Short-Circuit Fault: When the individual insulation of a cable is harmed, it is possible for two or more of the conductors within the same cable to come into contact with one another. This causes a short-circuit fault. This can only happen in multi-cored cables. This fault is detectable with a megger. The megger is used to measure the resistance between two conductors. A short-circuit fault can be identified if there is no resistance present.

How Do I Find the Location of a Cable Fault?

There are typically three methods that one can utilise to find the location of a cable fault. These three methods consist of:

• Thumping: This method detects the location of a fault by supplying a high voltage to the faulty cable. This current makes a loud noise when it strikes the fault. In order to pinpoint the exact location of the fault, the thumper is set to repeat this process so that one may walk along the cable to the point where the thumping noise is loudest.
• Time Domain Reflectometer: A TDR makes use of low-energy signals that are sent consistently and repetitively along a cable. Once this voltage hits a fault, it reflects a signal back. The time that the signal takes to return is measured and the location of the fault is then determined.
• High-Voltage Radar: One can perform a high-voltage radar test in three different ways by making use of different methods. These methods are known as arc reflection, surge pulse reflection, and voltage pulse reflection.

Why You Should Make Use of a Cable Fault Location Service

Detecting the type of cable fault and the location of the fault requires the appropriate experience and tools. Learning how to detect these faults and use the tools required to do so can take a lot of time and effort. This is why it is best to make use of a cable fault location service offered by professionals. They will have all the necessary equipment to accurately determine the type of fault as well as where the fault lies, ensuring you find the problems and are able to solve it efficiently and comprehensively.

West-Gen Warehouse for Cable Fault Finding

West-Gen Warehouse is a company that specialises in identifying and finding the location of underground cable faults. They are also able to rectify the problem once it has been found. This will allow you to relax knowing that the problem is being dealt with by experts.

Visit the AgrifoodSA directory to find out more about how West-Gen Warehouse can help you save time and money when it comes to detecting and fixing your underground cable problems.