Manual and automated non-destructive testing for short-circuit and ground fault conditions in branch motor circuits

Abstract

A test circuit performs fault detection tests on a motor branch circuit, to detect pre-existing faults before a motor start-up to pre-empt potential damage to the motor branch circuit therefrom. The test circuit is configured to be coupled to the phase lines of a motor branch circuit at a set of test points strategically located on the phase lines. The test circuit includes test lines that are each coupled to a different one of the phase lines at one of the set of test points. The test circuit includes a test controller that, during a test mode, sequentially presents a low voltage supply to each phase line through the test line coupled thereto, to test for ground faults then sequentially couples the low voltage supply across each possible pairing of the phase lines to test for line-to-line faults. The test mode can be initiated manually or automatically.