Fault sensor device with radio transceiver

Abstract

A fault sensor device which can detect and distinguish abnormal current and voltage events on an alternating current overhead and underground power transmission or distribution line. The abnormal current events are momentary outage, sustained outage, normal overload, and inrush on transmission or distribution lines. The sensor can further distinguish whether the momentary or sustained fault is a line to ground fault, line to line fault or a three phase fault. It can also identify the faulted phase(s). In the overload scenario, the sensor can identify if the overload has occurred on all three phases or only on one or two phases of the power line in an unbalanced situation. The voltage events are open line(s) on one, or two of the phases with a possibility of a fallen live wire and voltage sag. The sensor can identify which of the three phases or if all three phases of the power line are open or on the ground. The sensing device can be attached to an overhead or underground transmission or distribution line and automatically transmits an alarm signal or general information to a control, switching center or any designated ground station when the device detects a fault condition. The device can also be remotely programmed and reprogrammed to alter its trigger or threshold level or time delay to reset the device when a fault has occurred.