Surge Generators are produced in a range from 5kV to 32kV with discharge energy ranging from 500 Joules to 2000 Joules. Combination Systems are available that enables the user to Pre-Locate high resistance faults.
DETECTION OF CABLE FAULTS
Surge generators (also known as thumpers or bangers) are mainly used by electricity supply or distribution companies for the location of cable faults in power cable networks. Cable faults in underground power cables are a common occurrence. Buried power cables often become faulty due to ageing or damage. Because energy cables are normally not supplied in lengths much longer than 300m, inevitably in the case of underground cables the cable joints are also buried underground. These cable joints are often the cause for cable faults which render the cable useless until repaired and put back into service.
GENERATION OF POWER SURGES
Surge generators feed high voltage pulses or surges of power into the faulty cable. This causes an arc at the fault position which produces an acoustic noise. Used in conjunction with pre-location and pinpoint location equipment, surge generators can precisely locate the position of cable faults. Once the fault has been pinpointed, then it’s just a matter of digging down to repair the fault in the cable.
THUMPERS AND BANGERS
Surge generators are also known as thumpers or bangers because of the noise and vibration that is created at the fault site. When the high voltage energy is fed into a faulty cable, it will dissipate (flash) at the weakened fault site, and that release of energy will produce a loud bang – hence the name ‘banger’. Out in the open air this noise will be heard as a bang, but when the cable is buried underground, a more muffled sound or vibration is usually produced, which is referred to as the thump – hence the name ‘thumper’. Sometimes thumpers can be heard above the ground, but most often they can only be detected with a ground microphone with a receiver and amplifier.
MADE LOCALLY TRUSTED INTERNATIONALLY
At Southern Africa Fault Location we manufacture a range of surge generators to meet every voltage requirement. They are part of our world-class Adret range of power cable fault location and testing equipment.
