LCM500

MOSA Leakage Current Monitor

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved

1
 LCM500 training session

• Surge Arrester on-line testing - motivation and background

• IEC 60099-5 standard
• Arrester requirements for LCM500 test
• LCM500 instrument overview
• Functional test of LCM500
• LCM500 testing procedures & LCMViewer software
• Evaluation of Arrester Condition
 Motivation and background

• The MOSA is a cheap and passive component, but protecting crucial apparatus
• Overlooked despite of severe consequences if it fails

• MOSAs can age and fail due to a variety of reasons

• May offer inadequate over voltage protection, especially if the rated voltage is
selected to low.
• Diagnostic indicator: Resistive leakage current increases with time  increasing risk
of failure
 Motivation and background

Why test Metal Oxide Surge Arresters?

• Utilize the lifetime of the operating MOSAs.
• Prevent arrester failures by replacing aged arresters before breakdown.
• Avoid disturbances and costly outages of the electric power supply.
• Reduce the risk for damages to other equipment, for instance transformer
bushings.
• Increase the safety for the utility/maintenance staff.
 Motivation and background
Mechanism for degradation of MOSA

• Sealing defects

• Discharging due to surface contamination

• Overloading

• Long term aging during normal service

• Internal partial discharges

Metal-Oxide resistors

SOURCE: Volker Hinrichsen “Metal-Oxide Surge Arrester – Fundamentals”

 Common Test Methods of MOSA.
Leakage Current (mA-meter)
Mayd detect changes in the total leakage current, which is mainly the capacitive
current vector.

Tan Delta /Power Factor (M4000)

OFFline Dielectric loss/Watts loss test of the overall
insulation (condition of oxide blocks not included)

Resistive Leakage Current Test (LCM500)

Online measurements of the resistive leakage current vector of the
total leakage current.

Partial Discharge (PDS100 )

Online detection of partial discharge activity.
 Motivation and background

An arrester failure may appear in different ways:

• Arrester with porcelain housing may explode

• The arrester can be causing an earth fault due to internal flashover
• Aged or overloaded arresters may have reduced protection against overvoltages,
i.e. it is not protecting the apparatus it is supposed to protect.
 Motivation and background

• One consequence of the degradation of the MOSA is an increase with

time of the resistive component of the continuous leakage current

• Increase in resistive leakage current will cause an increase in power

losses and hence increased temperature in ZnO-blocks

• The resistive current may exceed a critical limit where the accumulated
energy in the ZnO-blocks exceeds the energy capability of the arrester.
The arrester will then get thermally unstable and fail.
 IEC 60099-5 standard

B2 -method “Third order

harmonic analysis with
compensation for harmonics in
the operating voltage”

HVDC -OFFline
Resistive Leakage Current -Online
Watt Loss OFFline
 IEC 60099-5 standard

If the MOSA is energized by a pure sinusoidal voltage (fundamental frequency only),

the capacitive leakage current will show a fundamental component I1c only, while the
resistive leakage current will show both a fundamental component and a 3rd harmonic
component (I3r) due to its nonlinear properties.

The resistive components are said to be generated by the arrester itself (due to the
current-voltage characteristic) and can therefore be used as a measure for the
arrester condition.
 IEC 60099-5 standard

If harmonics are present in the operating voltage, this will generate a significant 3rd
harmonic component in the capacitive leakage current in the arrester.

This capacitive 3rd harmonic component will be “added” to the 3rd harmonic component
resistive component and create a measuring error.

The LCM 500 uses a compensation method where the capacitive component generated by
the operating voltage is eliminated.
 IEC 60099-5 standard

Typical Voltage - Current Characteristics for non-linear oxide resistors

The resistive current component:

• is typically 5-20% of the total leakage current under normal operating
conditions

• is a sensitive indicator of changes in the voltage-current characteristic

• depends on the applied voltage and temperature
 Equivalent Diagram of MOSA

Ir is normally
5-20 % of IT It

Ic Ir
U
200-3000 µA 10-600A

Ir= It- Ic
 Leakage Currents in MOSA

I
Ir1=10 Ir2=20
100 % increase of Ires
I1tot = 100,5

I2total = 102 1,5% increase of Itot

δ1
Ic1= 100 δ2

Ic2=100 Substantial changes in

Resistive Leakage Current is
not detectable by mA-
Φ
Usyst U
meters.
 Recalculation of Leakage Current

Arrester datasheets are referred to

T ambient = 20°C
U operating/U rated=0.7p.u
• By recalculating all measurements to these two references, measurements can
be done at any conditions.
• Recalculation require correction tables from manufacturer.
• Siemens and ABB are offering correction tables.
• LCM500 uses ABB correction tables as Standard table.
• By using the same table, the trend will be correct enough even the exact result
may not be exactly correct.
 Recalculation of Leakage Current

The voltage and temperature influence of the Leakage Current

Arrester requirements for LCM500 testing

1. Metal Oxide Surge Arrester - MOSA

2. Separate grounding wire

3. Insulated base for each arrester

 Requirements for online survey of MOSA
Only 2 Arresters can be 3 Arresters can be tested
tested

Base insulators

Counters/
2 arresters can
mA meters
be tested here
Requirements for online survey of MOSA
Only 1 Arrester can be tested
 LCM500 instrument overview

4 1. LCM500 unit
1
2. Current Probe
2
3. Field Probe
5 3
4. 12V DC cable
5. Field Rod adapter
6 6. Power supply cable
6 7. Antenna
7
8. Grounding cable
9. Current loop wire
9 10. USB A+B cable
8 10 11
11. Field test cable
 LCM500 instrument overview

Optional accessory

Field Probe Rod – delivered in separate transport case.

Rod is divided in 3 pieces - 1m each.

Should not be used as a Hot Stick!

 LCM500 instrument overview
Communication ports
Self test Light diodes
Mains power
supply/Charging

External DC
power sypply
Power switch
Turning knob

“Select” button

Antenna input Four pushbuttons LCD display

 LCM500 instrument overview

Self-test outputs – used for functional test of LCM500

• FIELD
Simulated field probe signal to be connected by coaxial
cable (type RG58)
• V.TRSF
Simulated voltage transformer signal to be connected to
the voltage transformer adapter (optional accessory)

• CURRENT
By connecting an electrical wire between the two black
connectors, a current loop simulating total arrester
leakage current is created
 LCM500 instrument overview

Communication Ports

USB, RS232, Ethernet

By connecting data cables to one of above ports, the instrument can
communicate with a PC using the enclosed Windows based data management
software LCMViewer.
 LCM500 instrument overview

Wireless Probes

FP500 CCT500
Field probe FP500: Clip-on current transformer CCT500:
Provides information about the
Provides information about the shape of shape of the total leakage current
the electrical field. through the arrester.
Functional Test of LCM 500

Connection diagram
 Functional Test of LCM 500

Measurement System
Test
Leakage Current
Monitor Teast : verify system
LCM500 Simul. : generate test
signals

Meas Setup Dbase Test Test Simul. Main

Measurement System
Test

Connect arrester and

antenna test signals
to probe before start

Start Main
 Functional Test of LCM 500

Measurement in
progress

Aquisition started
PLEASE WAIT!

LCM 500
LCM 500 Measurement System
Test Failed
Measurement System Test CONTACT MANUFACTURER
Succeeded Measured:
Ir: 081µA
It: 332µA
Start Main
 Functional Test of LCM 500

TROUBLE SHOOTING:

- Be sure that all connections between field test

cable “crocodile” clips are fasten properly to
Field Probe

- Observe that current loop is not in vicinity or

not around antenna
 LCM500 testing procedures

The following procedures can be applied for LCM500 testing

• Preparation of the surge arrester data in advance of the on-site test (Ir corr available
during test):
• Uploading arrester data to the instrument from LCMViewer software
• Performing LCM500 on-site test
• Downloading measurements from the instrument and assigning them to arresters in LCMViewer database

• Ad-hoc on-site test (Ir corr not available during test):

• Performing LCM500 on-site test
• Downloading measurements from the instrument and assigning them to arresters in LCMViewer database
LCM500 testing procedures
Define New Arrester

• LCMViewer opens Nameplate tab

automatically
• Enter arrester data accordingly (* required
data)
• Choose arrester Manufacturer, Type, Ur and
Ucov from LCMViewer database
• If the arrester Manufacturer and Type are not
in LCMViewer database create a new arrester
by clicking
ADD/Modify Manufacturer/Type

• Enter arrester Manufacturer

• Enter arrester Type and assign
Correction table. If the correction
table the particular arrester is not
available use a Standard one
• Enter arrester Rated Voltage and
Continuous Operating Voltage
• Confirm by button OK at the end
Define New Arrester

• Use option Save for storing arrester data

• Send the arrester data to Instrument Queue

• Back to the Nameplate tab and create next

arrester
• Repeat the procedure for each arrester to be
tested
Uploading arrester data to instrument

Arresters to Instrument tab

including arresters waiting to be
sent to the instrument.
Testing connection between LCM500 and PC

• Go to Setup, Log tab

• Set Comm Port and Baud Rate
• Click button Test
• See the response in Log window
Uploading arrester data to instrument

• After establishing connection

with the instrument come back
to Arrester to Instrument tab
• Upload arrester data by clicking
Send Arrester Data to
Instrument
Transfer arrester data to instrument

• In case the arrester files already

exist, go to File tab
• Click in the Look in folder
raw and find the folder with the
arrester files
• Select the files and click Queue
to Instrument
• Upload arrester data by clicking
Send Arrester Data to
Instrument button
Performing LCM500 test
 Performing LCM500 test

Grounding LCM500 instrument before testing

In laboratory testing or during charging battery by using the power supply cable.
Power supply plug has to be connected to the local mains with earth.

During field measurements grounding cable has to be connected to local earth

system in the substation.
 Performing LCM500 test

Setup during LCM500 testing

1 1. Gapless MOSA
2. Insulated base
The Field Probe should 3. Grounding wire
NEVER exceed this limit
2
4. Clip-on CT500
3 5. Surge Arrester Counter
4
5
6. Field probe FP500
8 9
7
7. Arrester pedestal
8. Field Probe Rod
9. LCM 500 unit
Performing LCM500 test

The CCT500 probe should

be clamped on the
arrester’s grounding wire
above the surge counter.

The FP500 probe should be

held under the overhead
line within 1 m from the
arrester base.
 Performing LCM500 test

Set-up Mode From Main Menu

Leakage Current
Monitor
LCM500

Meas Setup Dbase Test

 Performing LCM500 test

Set-up Mode From Main Menu

Language: only English.
Leanguage : English <
Dump mode : OFF Dump mode: ”ON” is for use in continuous
Time : 10:30:45
Date : 2011.06.14
measurements. The measurements will be
Backlight : 40 dumped continuously to the serial port. When a
Baudrate : 57600
Serial # : 205039
PC with proper software is connected the
Netw. Radio Next Main measurements can be downloaded.
Time: battery backed real-time clock.
Backlight: time in sec. the light in the LCD display is turned on.
Baudrate: baudrate defines the data transfer speed during communication
with a PC and can be set to 9600 bit/sec. or 57600 bit/sec.
 Performing LCM500 test

Set-up Mode From Main Menu

Ir3/Ir corr : Ir corr < Ir3/Ir corr: 3rd harmonic leakage current can be
Display : Normal
displayed instead of corrected value of resistive
leakage current .
Display: Normal or Inverted – backlight of
Back Main dispaly can be inverted what increase its visibility
in sunny conditions
Performing LCM500 test

Measuring mode

Leakage Current
Monitor
LCM500

Meas Setup Dbase Test

 Performing LCM500 test

Measuring mode

Station/Loc/Arrester:
No station chosen <
By pressing the “Meas” button in the main
No location chosen menu, the screen presented on the left
No arresrer chosen
Installation #
appears.

Run Auto Setup Main

If you press ”Setup” in the above menu, you will enter the
measuring set-up mode
Performing LCM500 test

Measuring set-up mode

Station/Loc/Arrester:
No station chosen <
No location chosen
No arresrer chosen
Installation #

Run Auto Setup Main

 Performing LCM500 test

Measuring set-up mode

Mode: In field test 3-phase mode should be set. 1-phase

Mode : 3-phase <
Temp : Auto 24 C
mode is for use in lab tests.
Line : Man 245 kV
Transf : 1:1000 Temp: Choose between manual or automatically setting
of the temperature. This parameter has impact on the Ir
corr.
Meas Main
Line: The phase-to-phase operating voltage. This
parameter has impact on the Ir corr.
Performing LCM500 test

Auto measurement

Station/Loc/Arrester:
No station chosen <
No location chosen
No arresrer chosen
Installation #

Run Auto Setup Main

 Performing LCM500 test

Performing Measurements

Station/Loc/Arrester:
No station chosen <
When database was uploaded from the
No location chosen LCMViewer software, you will get access to it
No arresrer chosen
Installation #
in this menu. By using turning knob and Select
button choose arrester for testing
Run Auto Setup Main

In case of ad-hoc testing do not change

anything in this manu.
 Performing LCM500 test

Measurement in progress

Measurement in
progress After setting the correct parameters
PLEASE WAIT! you can run a measurement from the
main measuring window by pressing
>>>
”Run”. The above menu will appear.
 Performing LCM500 test

If the measurement runs ok, the measuring result will be

shown in the LCD display like the example below.
90005
STA A1 PH R
Ircorr-total corrected resistive leakage current with
standard deviation (corrected value regarding to
Ir corr: 159µA ambient temperature and line voltage).
Ant. 3rd harm. : 0.8%
It: 587 µA Ir: 89 µA It-total leakage current
24 C 68 kV
Run Store New Main
Ir-total uncorrected resistive leakage current

In addition the ambient temperature and the line voltage used during the measurement are
displayed.

To save your measurement, press the ” Store” button

 Performing LCM500 test

If the measurement runs ok, the measuring result will be

shown in the LCD display like the example below.
90005
STA A1 PH R <
During ad-hoc testing before pressing ”Store” button
enter the arrester identification name by clicking Select
Ir corr: 159µA and using turning knob. The character position in the
Ant. 3rd harm. : 0.8%
It: 587 µA Ir: 89 µA name row is chosen by using left and right arrows.
24 C 68 kV
Clear <--- ---> Space
Download the measurements from LCM500
Download the measurements from LCM500

• Click
in order to download
measurements from the
instrument.
• The star icon indicates
that the arrester file was
found on PC. Click

for automatically assigning

the measurements to the
arrester file.
Download the measurements from LCM500

• For the measurements

without the star icon, click

for manually assigning

measurements to the
particular arrester
• The software goes directly
to the arrester without the
star icon.
• Browse for the arrester file
or assign measurements to
the arrester in Nameplate
tab.
Arrester data & measurements
Arrester data & measurements
Arrester data & measurements
Arrester data & measurements
 Testing Strategy

Doing a Thermal Inspection is always better

 If you find a severe hotspot, better not doing the LCM inspection

Establish threshold levels

 Define the maximum recommended levels of resistive leakage current
for each arrester type (Buku Pedoman Pemeliharaan LA).

 Establish baseline reading if max. levels are not available

 Define action limits

 Good condition, satisfactory, retest / monitor continuously, contact
manufacturer, replace

 Define measurement regularity

 Normal, frequent, continuously, after special fault situation

www.doble.no
 Resistive Leakage Current Threshold based on
manufacture (collected by PLN P3B Indonesia)

www.doble.no
 Evaluation of Arrester Condition

• In general look for increasing trends

• Normally Ires is about 40-50 µA
• Baseline reading of new arresters could be useful
• ABB and Siemens provide normal and max resistive leakage current values
• Increase of Ir more than 3-4 times(typically), is indicating severe aging
• Compare Ir of similar type/design
• Compare the three arresters in same section
• All similar arresters in the grid
• Consider the age of the arresters, the lightning/overvoltage activity, practical
experiences.
Pelaksanaan Pengukuran LCM

Berdasarkan Buku Pedoman

Pemeliharaan Lightning Arrester
PDM/PGI/12 : 2014
 Pelaksanaan Pengukuran LCM
(Berdasarkan Buku Pedoman Pemeliharaan LA - PDM/PGI/12 : 2014)

1. Lakukan pengukuran Thermovisi sebelum pelaksanaan Uji LCM. Bila ditemukan Hotspot pada
kompartemen LA, pengukuran LCM tidak boleh dilaksanakan.
2. Grounding alat uji harus baik. LCM harus terhubung ground dengan baik.
3. CT clip-on harus menutup sempurna saat pengkuran.
4. Seluruh koneksi pengukuran terhubung baik, tidak longgar.
5. Pastikan setting LCM benar:
a. Mode: untuk pengukuran di lapangan, gunakan mode 3-fasa.
b. Temp: setting suhu untuk pengukuran tidak kontinu, menggunakan setting manual,
masukkan estimasi suhu LA.
c. Line: masukkan tegangan operasional saat pengukuran (tegangan kontinu – Uc).
d. Average: Jumlah cacah perhitungan, standar deviasi (penunjukkan error perhitungan),
akan semakin kecil, bila nilai Average semakin besar (rata-rata 10 -20 kali cacah). (sudah
tidak dipakai di FW baru).
©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 66
 Pelaksanaan Pengukuran LCM
(Berdasarkan Buku Pedoman Pemeliharaan LA - PDM/PGI/12 : 2014)

6. Posisi menaruh Electric Probe : 10 cm vertikal di bawah insulator dudukan LA dan 5 cm

horizontal dari LA, tidak menyentuh piring insulator LA.
7. Catatan pelaksanaan pengukuran :
a. Pengukuran dilaksanakan minimal 4 kali dengan posisi probe yang berbeda (posisi depan
– belakang – samping kiri dan samping kanan).
b. Hasil ukur arus bocor resistive adalah nilai rata-rata dari keempat pengukuran.

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 67

Pelaksanaan Pengukuran LCM

Berdasarkan Doble LCM500

Quick User Guide
 Panduan Pengoperasian LCM 500

1. Tempatkan LCM500 pada bidang datar dan stabil. Hubungkan instrument melalui kabel yang
layak (kabel listrik/ kawat tanah).

2. Nyalakan instrument dengan menekan tombol ON/OFF pada panel di bagian depan dari
instrument.

3. Keluarkan CCT500 (Clip on Current Transformer) and nyalakan ke tombol ON.

4. Hubungkan CCT500 pada kabel tanah sedekat mungkin pada MOSA. Peringatan! MOSA berisi
energi listrik.

5. Keluarkan FP500 (Field Probe) dan nyalakan ke tombol ON.

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 69

 Panduan Pengoperasian LCM 500

6. Tempatkan FP500 secara langsung di bawah basis arrester sedekat mungkin dengan dasar
tanpa melebihi jarak batas aman dan di bawah overhead line (OHL). Pastikan posisinya tetap
sama selama proses akusisi pengukuran.

7. Tekan tombol “Meas” pada bagian utama dari unit.

8. Tekan tombol “Run” pada bagian utama dari unit.

9. Tunggu 10 – 20 detik sampai pengukuran selesai.

10. Tekan “Store” untuk menyimpan hasil pengukuran.

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 70

 Evaluasi Hasil

1. Pengukuran dikoreksi berdasarkan suhu dan tegangan. Pengaruh komponen harmonik ketiga
dari OHL sudah dikurangi (penting untuk memasukkan tegangan operasi yang benar, line-to-
line).

2. Hal yang paling penting dari pembacaan hasil adalah dengan membandingkan dengan nilai
yang direkomendasikan dari pabrikan MOSA, kapan penggantian diperlukan.

3. Masa operasi normal dari arrester berakhir ketika arus bocor mencapai 4x nilai pada saat
tanggal commissioning. (contoh: pada saat komissioning= 30µA, End Of Life = 120µA)

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 71

 Evaluasi Hasil

4. Jika data yang direkomendasikan ini tidak ada, maka cara lain yang baik adalah
membandingkan hasil dari arrester yang sama dalam populasi yang sama.

5. Air, polusi dan panas merupakan penyebab kerusakan dari MOSA. Masuknya air dapat
mempercepat penuaan dari MOSA. Panas biasanya disebabkan oleh kondisi lingkungan dan
tegangan berlebih (yang disebabkan karena petir, switching dan tegangan yang lebih)
sehingga menyebabkan arrester mengalami kerusakan.

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved 72

 THANK YOU

Peter Widjaja
Technical Application Engineer
Doble Engineering
pwidjaja@doble.com

©2015 Doble Engineering Company. All Rights Reserved

73