A novel concept for URD cable fault location

A new concept for fault location has been developed which uses fault-generated waves to perform both real-time and after-the-fact fault location on single-phase underground residential distribution cable systems that are up to a mile in length. In either mode, faults are located with an accuracy of less than 2 percent of the length of the cable circuit. Thus, a fault can easily be located as being between two adjacent transformers. A device based on the concept would be installed at the normally open point of a radial URD tap, and would monitor the circuit for fault-created transients. When triggered by either a real-time fault transient or an after-the-fact thumper impulse, the conceptual device would provide a digital readout of the distance to the fault, allowing for rapid isolation of the faulted section of cable