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TESTING OF U.G. CABLES

Types of faults in U.G cables

The main faults which occur in underground cables are.

. Ground or earth faults

When the insulation of the cable between core and armouring fails or damage cable
causing a flow of current from the core of the cable to the lead sheath or to the earth. This
is called ground fault.

2. Short circuit faults

When the insulation between the two cores of a multi core cable fails or gets
damaged current starts flowing from one core to other. Such faults are known as short
circuit fault.
d k iaia.s
S
S
E
9
2. MURRAY LOOP TEST
earth fault short circuit fault in
This test is performed for the location of either
an or

with the faulty cable Since two

under ground cables provided that a sound cable runs along
It is called Murray loop test. This test employs the principle of wheat
cables form a loop.
stone bridge.
 1.54
LOCATION OF EARTH FAULT
Tes end Far end
R.

Sound cable

w Q F
Faulty cable
B
X-
Short circuiling
link

Harth fault

1g.1.30 Murray loop test (Earth fault)

Fig.1.30 shows the connection diagram to locate earth fault by Murray Loop Test
Pand Q are the two ratio arms consisting of known step resistors. G is a galvanometer,
K,
is the galvanometer key, B is battery and
K, is the battery key. The faulty cable is directy
connected to a sound cable at the far end. After closing the keys K, and K, and adjusting the
resistances of ratio arms P and Q the bridge is balanced (galvanometer indicates zero).
P R
At balanced conditions
WhereX = resistance of faulty cable from test end to fault pointE.

+1 - -(1)

If is the resistance of one of the cables

r
when free from fault.
cables having same area of cross-section
of the
(Considering both the
conductor and same conductor material).
Then R+ X = 2r
Equation (1) becomes

Q
X =p0 x2 -(2)
If is the length of cable in metres, then resistance per metre length of cable =7
 Distance of fault point F from
testing end
d For 1 meter length,
resistance =
N
****-(3)
1 1 xX
For X resistance, length =
.
(rl)
Put equation (2) on equation (3)
Distance of fault point testing end
. 20 metre.
metre
Location of short circuit fault

Test cnd Far cnd

R.

ww7P
Sound cable

K
ww Q
K

X-
F Faulty cable

Short circuiting
R link

Short circuit

Fig.1.31 Murray looptcst(Short circuit fault)

shows the connection diagram circuit fault by murray loop
to locate short
Fig.1.31
test. The connections in this case are practically same as in earth fault except that a portion

of one of short circuiting cables is used instead of earth as return path in the battery circuit.

At balanced conditions,

P+QR+X
Q

X = ( (R+ X)
P+Q
If r is the resistance of one of the cables when free from fault, then (R+X) = 2r.

a
P+O *2r - - -

(1)
 1.6
Since resistance per metre length of cable conductor 7
.Distance of fault point F from testing end
d X x
(2)

Put equation (1) on (2)

20
Distance of fault point from testing end 0
I metre.
3. VARLEY LOOP TEST
short cicuit fault in underground
his test is used to locate either an earth fault or
cables.
location of earth fault and short
Hg.1.32 and 1.33 shows the circuit diagram for the
circuit by varley loop test.
stone bridge. HereP and Q are the
This test also employs the principle of wheat
the fixed registers. S is the
These are
two ratio arms consisting of known step resistors.
obtained. Once the balance is obtained
known variable resistance from which balance is
stud 1 and then on stud 2.
with battery key k, placed on
When the balance obtained with key k, at stud 1.

Test end Far end

R-

www7 Sound cable

ww1
Q
K
ww S Faulty cablc

X
B
Short circuiting
link
K

Fig.1.32 Varley loop test (Earth fault)

R
X+S,
Where S, is the value of variablee resistor S at balance when
key k, is at stud 1.
 P+Q R+X+S
X+S,
Q (R+
X+S, = X)+QS,
(P+Q)
Q (R+ X) +QS,
X
(P+Q) -S
QR+X) + QS, -Ps,-Qs,
(P+Q)
a (R+X)- PS,
(P+Q) ....- (1)
When the balance is obtained with key k, at stud 2.

Tes! end Far end

www
P Sound cable

ww SS Faulty cablc

X
BE Short circu iting
R link

K Short circuit

circuit fault)
Fig.1.33 Varley loop test (Short
resistor S at balance when key k, is at stud 2.
Where S, is the value of variable
(2)
(R+X) PS2
From equation (1) & (2) we get

X
(PS-PS)
(P+Q)

X
P(S-S)
(P +0) -(3)
 1.58
I s the
resistance of one of the cable when free from fault
Resistance per nmetre length of conductor
'Distance of tault point F from testing end

d X x
-(4)

Put equation (3) on equation (4)

d
P(S-S,)x?
(P +Q) xr

Distance of faulty point PS-S

(P+Q)
metre