THE CABLE SNIFFER, A NEW AND PROVEN TECHNIQUE FOR LOCATING LV CABLE FAULTS

摘要

The CableSniffer is an intuitively simple device to pinpoint Low Voltage (LV) cable faults. It operates by "sniffing" the gases given off by faulting LV cables as the cable insulation burns. The CableSniffer was developed through a collaborative research programme involving a number of parties, including all of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) through the Strategic Technology Programme (STP), local universities and the UK Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). Its development was needs driven, with very substantial cost to, and disruption of, the electricity networks being caused by lengthy fault finding techniques. The CableSniffer has been widely adopted within the UK DNOs with very substantial cost benefit resulting. It has been trialled across Europe, the Middle East and Far East and has potential globally to reduce the impact of LV cable faults on customer minutes lost and restoration costs.