Austria-based BAUR Pruf- und Messtechnik GmbH says it has designed shirla, a device intended to help operators of wind farms, solar parks and electrical distribution networks identify cable faults quickly.
Powered via the main supply or a built-in accumulator, shirla enables cable and cable-sheath testing of up to 10 kV DC, making it suitable for use in low- and medium-voltage networks, according to BAUR.
Preliminary location of low ohmic faults works with direct current and is based on the Wheatstone measuring bridge, the company explains. In shirla, the measuring bridge is used according to Murray (bridge circuit with one auxiliary return) and Glaser (bridge with two auxiliary returns).
When measurement is completed, shirla displays the distance to the fault location, either in a percentage of the measured cable line or in meters. For distance calculating, the device considers inputs for length, conductor cross-section and conductor material of the cable and its segments to increase the accuracy of the result, BAUR adds.
