Time correlated techniques to investigate arcing dynamics about the peak voltage instant during current interruption in sand filled fuses using an optical spectrum analyser

This paper will present attributes of apparatus and results from a study of disintegration and arcing in quasi short notched HBC sand filled fuses. Discussion will be centred around the aspects of time correlation of data captured from several data sources yet focusing on data acquired from a scanning optical spectrum analyser. Techniques for synchronising the scanning cycle of the spectrum analyser to the disruption period of the fuse element yet more accurately to the sub time domains of element disintegration will be discussed. Importantly, results indicating the possible nature of arcing phenomena about the peak fuse voltage instance will be presented.