Overview
Loss of power to consumers is a key performance measure for network operators and regulators often impose significant fines if targets are not met. Typically knowledge of a Low Voltage fault only starts when the customer complains they have lost power.
How we can help
GridKey is able to detect these faults and provide an engineer on-site with information as to what happened on the network leading up to the fault – allowing for repair time to be reduced, saving both cost and more quickly re-connecting the customer back to the supply. Additionally, for certain types of faults, GridKey is able to help predict when these faults are going to happen to allow preventative maintenance to be carried out. The graph below shows a “pecking” fault – a short duration fault caused by water ingress into an underground joint, the high arc current detected dries out the water and the fault disappears without blowing the fuse. However each of these events weakens the fuse as well as reducing the life of the cable and transformer and without knowing about and correcting the problem with planned maintenance, eventually the fuse will blow leaving consumers off supply.
