Cable Fault Location by using the exhalation of the Fault

[lors]

Hello !

First of all: Sorry for my bad english, but im from Germany, so english is unfortunatly not my mother language

Im working at a big company at energy supply and im doing the cable fault location there, using the standard stuff like TDR, Arc Reflection , burning and so on.

But i also heard that it should be possible to locate a cable fault without opening the ground via the exhalation of the Cable Fault/Gas.
The Cable Faults are often smelling really bad, so it should work normally, i also thought about drilling a dog to that find that smell.
Problem could be that you cant go out with your dog anymore, because he finds alot of problems on/in the ground

Some Informations about the used systems would be nice.

Thanks in advance !
Lorenz

 

[Marmite]

This takes me back a few years. Those who have worked on cable fault location will know that they have distinctive smell, which is difficult to describe, but unique. Sniffing around the area where you suspect the fault is, lifting mahole covers, sniffing in the base of streetlamps, cracks in the pavement etc is a widely practiced technique which usually amuses or frightens members of the general public into crossing the road to get away from the madman in the hi viz jacket. Other techniques include getting 5 or 6 guys to stand on the route of the cable whilst somebody tries the circuit back in, and if you are lucky one of them will feel the grumble under their feet. Sometimes the low tech methods are more successful than the high tech methods. I'm not aware of an electronic cable fault sniffer, but there might be someone out there who is.
Regards
Marmite

 

[bunnyman]

try EA Technology,they have a device called the cable sniffer which we were using in a large utility in the south of England with much success.

 

[lors]

Thank you for the information Bunnyman !