Repeatable and calibrated arc fault generator

This article describes the design and use of a repeatable and calibrated arc fault generator. We have developed a test bench which can generate AC and DC currents and series and parallel arc faults on variable loads and have chosen a method which consists in producing an overvoltage in arc initiation, obtained with a step-up transformer; a line generator (AC or DC) then sustains the arc. We show the initial measurement results relating to arc current/voltage characteristics for all possible scenarios, thus enabling us to extract those indicators which are useful for fault detection (such as, for example, arc time constant). This device can also be used to test the arc fault detectors.