Localization of Cable Faults

 Underground cables during their operation can experience various fault

conditions.

 Determination of exact location of fault sections in underground

distribution cables is extremely important from the point of view of
quick restoration of service without loss of time for repair .

 Ground faults where cable insulation may break down causing a current
to flow from the core of the cable to the outer metal sheath or to the earth.

 Short-circuit faults where a insulation failure between two cables, or

between two cores of a multi-core cable results in flow of current
between them.

 Loop tests are popularly used in localization of the aforesaid types of

faults in low voltage cables.
 Murray Loop Test for Underground Cable Fault Localization
Ground faults localization
P, Q, R and X are the four arms of the Wheatstone bridge.
 Lets, AB is sound cable,
 CD is faulty cable,
 The Earth fault occurs a point F.
 The end D point of the faulty cable is
connected to far end sound cable point B
through a low resistance.
 Two variable resistance ( i.e P, Q ) is
connected to the end A point of sound
cable and C point of faulty cable
respectively.
 R = Resistance of the conductor loop upto
fault point F from the test end point A, i.e
resistance of portion AF.
 X= Resistance in between two points C and
F.
In the balance position of the bridge, we get

If 𝑟 is the resistance of each cable, then 𝑅 + 𝑋 = 2𝑟

𝑄
𝑋= 2𝑟
𝑃+𝑄

Let, total length of the cable is 𝑙 meter, so the resistance per meter will be = 𝑟/𝑙, Therefore , we can easily
measure the fault point from the faulty point is

𝑿 𝑸 𝒍 𝑸
𝒅=𝒓 = × 𝟐𝒓 × = × 𝟐𝒍
ൗ𝒍 𝑷 + 𝑸 𝒓 𝑷+𝑸
Short circuit fault localization

DC Source terminal is connected to the point O and

the other point is connected to another faulty cable.

𝑿 𝑸 𝒍 𝑸
𝒅=𝒓 = × 𝟐𝒓 × = × 𝟐𝒍
ൗ𝒍 𝑷 + 𝑸 𝒓 𝑷+𝑸
 Varley Loop Test for Underground Cable Fault Localization
Ground faults localization

1. The key K1 is first connected to position 1, now the

variable resistance S is varied till the galvanometer
shows zero deflection. Let, the resistance of the
variable resistance is S1 when galvanometer shows
zero deflection

(R+X) total loop resistance can be calculated from the

above equ. as all the values are known.

2. Then key K1 is connected to position 2, now the variable resistance S is varied till the galvanometer shows
zero deflection. Let, the resistance of the variable resistance is S2 when galvanometer shows zero deflection
• 𝑋 values can be calculated by substituting (𝑅 + 𝑋) obtained from the previous step

𝒍
𝑹=𝝆
𝑨
Short circuit fault localization