The cable fault locator uses the principles of vibration pickup and electromagnetic induction to determine the specific location of the cable fault point. A high-voltage pulse generator is used to cause flashover discharge at the fault point. Physical phenomena such as vibration waves, sound waves, and electromagnetic waves generated by the flashover discharge at the fault point are picked up by a special probe of the pointing instrument, amplified, processed, displayed, and output by the cable fault pointing instrument. The precise location of the fault point is determined by the tester's hearing and vision. That is, the task of accurately locating the cable fault point "directly above the cable and within the range of rough measurement" is completed.
This fixed-point instrument is suitable for low-resistance, short-circuit, open-circuit and disconnection faults of power cables, high-frequency coaxial cables, street light cables, and buried wires made of various materials with different cross-sections and media, as well as high-resistance leakage and high-resistance flashover fault.
| Filter Parameters | |
|---|---|
| All-pass | 100Hz ~ 1600Hz |
| Low pass | 100Hz ~ 300Hz |
| High pass | 160Hz ~ 1600Hz |
| Bandpass | 200Hz ~ 600Hz |
| Channel Gain | 8 levels adjustable |
| Magnetic Channel Gain | 8 levels adjustable |
| Step Voltage Gain | 8 levels adjustable |
| Output Gain | 16 levels (0~112dB) |
| Output Impedance | 350Ω |
| Acoustic-Magnetic Positioning Accuracy | ≤0.1m |
| Step Voltage Positioning Accuracy | ≤0.5m |
| Path Identification Accuracy | ≤0.5m |
| Built-in BNR Background Noise Reduction and Mute Functions | |
| Display Control Method | 5-inch High-Brightness Touch Screen |
| Power Supply | 4 × 18650 Standard Lithium Batteries |
| Standby Time | More than 8 hours |
| Volume | 428L × 350W × 230H (mm) |
| Overall Weight | 7 kg |
| Ambient Temperature | -25 ~ 65°C; Relative Humidity ≤90% |
Acousto-magnetic synchronization method is a very accurate and unique method for precise fault location. Its principle is based on the traditional acoustic point determination method and adds the detection and application of electromagnetic signals.
When the high-voltage generator performs impact discharge on the faulty cable, the sound generated by the discharge at the fault point is transmitted to the ground. The sound signal is picked up by a highly sensitive probe. After amplification, a "pop" sound can be heard by listening with headphones.
The built-in probe of the probe receives the magnetic field signal in real time, and uses the principle that the propagation speed of the magnetic field is much higher than the propagation speed of sound to determine the distance of the fault point by detecting the time difference between the electromagnetic signal and the sound signal. Keep moving the sensor position to find the point with the smallest acoustic-magnetic time difference, then the exact location of the fault point will be below it.
Traditional acoustic measurement legal point instruments generally only use earphones to monitor, or are supplemented by the swing of the meter pointer to identify the discharge sound at the fault point. Since the discharge sound disappears in a blink of an eye and is not much different from the ambient noise, it often brings great difficulties to operators who are not very experienced. The acoustic-magnetic synchronization method effectively avoids the above problems of the traditional acoustic measurement method.
The pure sound method consists of an acoustic vibration sensor, a signal amplifier, a filter circuit, a sampling unit, a processor, a display unit, a power amplifier unit, headphones, etc. The pure sound method is mainly used to measure high resistance and flashover faults. Its main principle is to use a high-voltage source to apply impulse voltage to the fault cable to cause discharge breakdown at the fault point, and then use the sound generated during the discharge to accurately locate the fault. The acoustic vibration sensor converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal, which is amplified and filtered by a signal amplifier and filter circuit. Finally, it is restored to sound through headphones, or the intensity of the sound is displayed. The place with the greatest sound intensity is the fault point.
3. Pure Magnetic MethodThe pure magnetic method can determine the cable path and the precise location of the cable fault point. Its main principle is to use a high-voltage source to apply impulse voltage to the faulty cable, use an induction coil to pick up the pulse signal, and judge whether it deviates from the cable through the characteristics of the pulse signal. When the characteristics of the picked-up pulse signals deviate, it is determined as a fault point.
4. A-Frame MethodIf a ground fault occurs in a buried cable, we can use the potential difference method to find the fault point. The method is to add a test voltage between the test point of the faulty cable and the ground, then a distributed electric field concentric with the entry point will be formed around the entry point of the cable. There is no potential difference between any points with the same radius in this electric field, but there is a potential difference between any two points with different radii (points A and B in the figure), and when the distance between the two points is fixed, the distance between the two points is The closer the object is, the stronger the potential difference is.
Using this feature, we can move points A and B gradually closer to the center point. When the fault point is exactly between points A and B, the potential difference becomes zero. If it continues to move beyond the fault point, the polarity of the potential difference will be reversed, so that the grounding point can be accurately determined by moving back and forth.
Instrument Layout and InstructionsComposition of the Instrument:
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Once the A-frame is connected, it will automatically enter the test interface as shown above. Notice that at the bottom of frame A there are arrows, red and green, with red at the front and green at the back. This means that red indicates the end of the cable and green indicates the beginning of the cable.
Slowly move the A-frame along the cable burial path towards the end of the cable and observe the changes in the red and green bar graphs on the test screen. This reflects a change in the direction of the current.
At a great distance from the point of damage, the red and green bars on the screen appear slightly irregular and small. When you get close to the fault point, for example about 5 meters from the fault point, you will notice that the red bar graph becomes very large, as shown in the image above on the left.
When you are directly above the fault point or approximately 1-2 meters in front of and behind the fault point, you will notice that the red and green bar graphs become very small and appear on the screen as shown in the image on the right above. Once you pass the fault point, for example about 5 meters from the fault point, you will notice that the green bar graph becomes very large. This way, by searching patiently, you can find the location of the fault.
Q: What do AMS, BNR and A-Frame detection modes each do?
AMS (Acoustic-Magnetic Synchronization) combines acoustic and electromagnetic signals for precise pinpointing of flashover faults. BNR (Background Noise Reduction) filters ambient noise in urban or industrial environments. A-Frame step voltage detection locates sheath/insulation faults on directly-buried cables by measuring ground potential gradients. Together they cover the full spectrum of cable fault pinpointing scenarios.
Q: How accurate is the pinpointing and what depth can it detect?
Acoustic-magnetic synchronization achieves 0.1m precision, reducing the excavation zone to approximately 30cm diameter. Detection depth depends on soil conditions and fault discharge energy, typically reaching 5-8m for standard flashover faults. The separate acoustic and magnetic channels provide cross-verification, ensuring you dig once in the right location.
Q: What does the touch screen interface add to field operations?
The sunlight-readable touch screen provides clear visual feedback of acoustic waveforms and magnetic field strength, enabling pattern recognition during fault pinpointing. Operators can visually confirm the discharge rhythm matches the audible signal, reducing false positives. The digital interface also stores test parameters for report documentation.
Q: How does the system perform in noisy urban environments?
BNR technology digitally filters background noise from traffic, construction and industrial equipment. The magnetic channel provides a secondary confirmation signal unaffected by acoustic noise. For extreme noise conditions, the IP65-rated headphones with active noise isolation allow operators to focus on faint fault discharge sounds that would otherwise be masked by ambient noise.
Q: What battery life can I expect in the field?
The XHDD503E provides 8+ hours of continuous operation on a full charge, sufficient for a full field shift. Fast charging replenishes the battery during lunch breaks or transit between sites. The IP65-rated sealed battery compartment protects against moisture ingress during extended outdoor use in wet conditions.
Q: What warranty and support is included?
12-month standard warranty covering manufacturing defects, with lifetime technical support. CE and ISO certified. Each unit includes a user manual, headphones, carrying case, and charger. Optional on-site training and extended warranty plans available. Technical inquiries typically answered within 24 hours.
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