10kV Cable Outer Sheath Fault Locator Clamp Current Cable Fault Locator |

XHHD523L Cable Outer Sheath Fault Locator Overview

The output voltage of the high-voltage cable outer sheath fault locator is 10kV and below, fully meeting the cable outer-sheath withstand test requirements of the Chinese national standard GB50150-2006, including the acceptance and preventive tests of cable outer sheaths suitable for cross-bonding systems as well as fault location of cable outer sheaths. It quickly and accurately finds outer-sheath grounding faults and hidden hazards such as excessive leakage current in 10kV-500kV single-core and three-core high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cables, and can also carry out 5kV-10kV, 1-minute DC withstand tests on HDPE and PVC cable outer sheaths. It is an essential dedicated instrument for the cable equipment maintenance of 10kV-500kV single-core and three-core high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cable operating units, extra-high-voltage cable engineering companies and power transmission & transformation engineering companies.

Who It Is For (Target Audience)

The XHHD523L is positioned for the ongoing jacket-condition management of cable systems already in service — scheduled preventive jacket testing and troubleshooting of jacket leakage on long routes and in tunnels, so that recurring jacket defects can be found and resolved instead of being left as hidden hazards. It is engineered for independent cable testing and diagnostic service companies that offer outsourced jacket fault-location services to multiple cable owners, for operation & maintenance teams that run periodic jacket preventive tests on 10kV-500kV single-core and three-core high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cables under cross-bonding systems, and for utilities and cable owners that are building long-term jacket defect-management programs against recurring problems such as termite bites, grounding-box water ingress and moisture penetration in branched grounding wires. It covers directly buried routes (step voltage method) and tunnel routes (current method), and also performs 5kV-10kV, 1-minute DC jacket withstand tests on HDPE and PVC sheaths. Unlike the other instruments in the same category, which combine jacket fault ranging with withstand testing, this device is a dedicated portable locator: it has no bridge ranging section and focuses on pinpointing the jacket ground fault on site and running the jacket withstand test in one portable unit.

Product Features Technical Specifications Working Principle

Localization function: the AC 220V mains supply passes through full-wave rectification for an excellent conversion, becoming the high-power special signal needed for identification; this signal is applied to the cable to be localized through the connecting line, and the “step voltage method” or the “current method” can then be used to precisely pinpoint the cable fault.

Step voltage method: for a buried cable with a grounding fault, the potential-difference method can be used to find the fault point. A test voltage is applied between the test point of the faulty cable and the ground, so a distribution electric field concentric with the cable's entry point into the ground forms around that point. In this field there is no potential difference between any points of the same radius, but there is a potential difference between any two points of different radii, and with a fixed spacing between the two points the potential difference is stronger the closer the two points are to the center. By moving the two points A and B gradually toward the center, the potential difference becomes zero when the fault point lies exactly midway between A and B; moving further past the fault point reverses the polarity of the potential difference, so moving back and forth allows the grounding point to be judged accurately.

Current method: for a tunnel cable with a grounding fault, the opposite current directions before and after the fault point can be used to find the fault point. A pulsed high-voltage signal is applied to the faulty cable so the fault point discharges; the currents before and after the fault point then have opposite polarities, while the current at the fault point is the smallest. A receiving clamp is used to judge the direction of the current before and after the fault point: with the receiving clamp clamped on the cable, the receiving box indicates a direction, and moving further past the fault point reverses the current polarity, so moving back and forth allows the grounding point to be judged accurately.

Withstand function: switch the function key to the withstand function to output 0-10kV for a withstand test on the cable.

Instrument Composition Main PanelGrounding column: grounding point of the instrument, for safety protection.Receiver PanelPosition switch: “0” position means off; “I” position can be used for step voltage test mode and receiving clamp test mode, suitable for test environments with a weaker input signal (there is an internal amplifier circuit); “II” position can only be used for step voltage test mode, suitable for test environments with a stronger input signal (there is no internal amplifier circuit).Main Operation Use Examples

Localization — step voltage method (for pinpointing outer-sheath faults of directly buried cables, with the main unit transmitting a signal in localization mode to ensure a continuous pulse current output): install the A-frame and connect it to the receiver with the A-frame connecting line; set the receiver position switch to “I” (weaker signal) or “II” (stronger signal), zeroing the microammeter with the zeroing knob in position “I” (in “II” position the zeroing knob has no effect); along the cable route, directly above the cable within the rough measuring range, insert the A-frame probes into the ground and observe the magnitude and direction of the ammeter, using the adjustment knob to set a suitable pointer swing; keep the adjustment knob and the front-to-back order of the A-frame probes unchanged and keep moving the A-frame forward above the cable, first finding the section where the polarity changes and then the point where the pulsating signal is “0” or reversed, which is the fault point; when finished, set the receiver position switch to “0”, switch off the high-voltage pulse signal and discharge the cable and capacitor.

Localization — current method (for pinpointing outer-sheath faults of cables laid in tunnels, with the main unit transmitting a signal in localization mode): connect the current receiving clamp to the receiver; set the receiver position switch to “I” (or “II” when the current is strong) and zero the microammeter with the zeroing knob; within the rough measuring range, clamp the current receiving clamp on the cable and observe the magnitude and direction of the ammeter, using the adjustment knob to set a suitable pointer swing; keep the adjustment knob and the direction of the receiving clamp unchanged and keep moving the clamp forward, first finding the section where the polarity changes and then the point where the pulsating signal is “0”, which is the fault point; when finished, set the receiver position switch to “0”, switch off the high-voltage pulse signal and discharge the cable and capacitor.

Withstand mode: insert the red high-voltage line into the “high-voltage output” terminal with the other end connected to the metal sheath or armoring and the “ground” reliably connected (never connect wiring while the unit is on); after wiring is complete, connect the AC 220V supply and switch on; confirm the on-site cable condition and that the wiring is correct, and before starting check whether the voltage adjustment has been turned counter-clockwise to zero; select the withstand mode with the function switch button (red lamp); press the start button and the stop button lamp comes on; turn the voltage adjustment clockwise and watch the voltmeter and ammeter to select a suitable output voltage; after the test, turn the voltage adjustment counter-clockwise to the zero position, press the stop button, and then switch off; only after discharging the faulty cable with high voltage may the test wiring be removed.

Notes and Common Issues

Warranty: within one year from the date of purchase, free repair is provided for product quality problems, with lifetime maintenance and technical service.

FAQ Q1: What is the XHHD523L used for?

It is a high-voltage cable outer sheath fault locator with an output of 10kV and below. It quickly and accurately finds outer-sheath grounding faults and excessive leakage-current hazards in 10kV-500kV single-core and three-core high-voltage and extra-high-voltage cables, fully meeting the cable outer-sheath withstand test requirements of GB50150-2006, including acceptance and preventive tests of outer sheaths suitable for cross-bonding systems.

Q2: What is the output capability?

The input voltage is AC 220V (±10%), 50Hz (±2Hz); the output voltage is 0~10kV (square wave) and adjustable; the output current is 0~200mA; the output capacity is 2kVA; and the frequency adjustment ranges from a minimum of 0.2Hz to a maximum of 5Hz (adjustable). It can also carry out 5kV-10kV, 1-minute DC withstand tests on HDPE and PVC cable outer sheaths.

Q3: How does it pinpoint the fault point?

In localization mode the AC 220V supply is converted into a high-power special signal applied to the cable, and the fault is pinpointed with the step voltage method for directly buried cables (with the A-frame) or the current method for cables laid in tunnels (with the receiving clamp), following the polarity change and then the point where the pulsating signal is zero.

Q4: What protection and display features does it provide?

It has over-current, over-voltage and over-heat automatic protection, zero-position start protection, and a unique self-discharge design (once the high-voltage output is cut off, its own high voltage becomes zero). It uses dual pointer meters for current and voltage, allows one-key switching between localization mode and withstand mode, has no blind area in the test range, and provides an over-current protection switch and adjustable receiver sensitivity.

Q5: What are the physical specifications and what is included?

The dimensions are 540L × 310W × 460H and the weight is 35kg. The instrument comes with the main unit, a high-voltage connecting line, a power line, a receiver, an 8A fuse (with spare), a ground wire, a receiving clamp and an A-frame.