Underground Cable Fault Detection with Arduino

Mohammad Irfan Neeta Sahay

Institute of Engineering & Institute of Engineering &
Management Management
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
University of Technology University of Technology
Kolkata, India Kolkata, India
irfan13024@[Link] neetashy82@[Link]

Abstract— Objective of this project is to detect the faults and detecting the change in voltage using an analog to voltage
abnormal changes occurring in underground cables with the help of converter and a microcontroller is used to make the necessary
Arduino. The primary idea driving this project's functioning is calculations so that the fault distance is displayed on the LCD
Ohm's low. Depending on where the cable fault is situated, the value display (Rao, et al. 2017) [5]. Introduces an optimized approach
of current varies when the direct current (DC) voltage is supplied at
the feeder end. Therefore, the Arduino's built-in ADC receives the
for cable fault distance location, employing Murray and Varley
change in voltage value measured across the resistor whenever a loop methods model and tested in MATLAB. Utilizing Box's
short circuit fault, such as an L-G or L-L fault, occurs. After the evolutionary multivariable optimization and the Bisection
Arduino processes the value, the defect is computed in terms of Method, the proposed scheme demonstrates accurate and
distance from the base station. This value is transferred to the LCD resilient fault location in underground cables, showcasing the
communicated with the Arduino board, which shows the precise effectiveness of optimization techniques combined with
location of the defect in kilometers for each of the three phases from conventional fault location methods (Nag, et al. 2020) [6]. This
the base station and the buzzer is activated. A collection of resistors paper introduces a novel wavelet-based fault-location scheme
that indicate the cable's length are used in this project. for aged cable systems, utilizing synchronized digital fault
Keywords— Arduino Board, Relay, LCD, Buzzer, ADC. recorded data at cable terminals and addressing challenges
associated with changing cable parameters over time,
demonstrating accuracy through extensive simulation studies
with the Alternative Transients Program/Electromagnetic
I. INTRODUCTION
Transients Program (Gilany, Ibrahim and Tag Eldin 2006) [7].
A microcontroller-based method for detecting faults in The passage discusses the advantages of underground cables
underground cables by applying ohm's law and measuring over overhead transmission lines in urban areas, and proposes
voltage drop to determine the fault distance, aiming to improve an IoT-based fault detection system using Node MCU and
repair efficiency and reduce outage periods. The use of Google database for improved efficiency and accuracy in
resistors, DC voltage, and an analog to voltage converter monitoring transformer status. (Goswami, et al. 2020) [8]. This
facilitates digital fault detection, addressing challenges in paper emphasizes the inevitability of underground cable faults
locating faults in underground cable systems widely used for in power transmission systems, highlighting the critical need
their reliability in power distribution networks (Singh, et al. for quick fault detection and rectification to minimize revenue
2016)[1]. First, locating faults in underground cable phases losses, production disruptions, and public inconvenience,
using Ohm's Law, and second, implementing a programmed reviewing existing and proposed high voltage cable fault
counter to track the number of faults in each phase. The locating methods, and outlining guidelines for designing a
approach involves applying a low DC voltage and utilizing a compact and efficient high voltage fault locating machine
fault sensing circuit with resistors and switches interfaced to an (Islam, Than Oo and Azad 2012) [9]. Underground cable fault
AT mega 328 microcontroller for digital data processing, detector designed to accurately measure cable resistance, detect
aiming to enhance fault detection and cable replacement fault types, and precisely determine fault locations using
efficiency based on predefined fault limits (Lal, Kedia and affordable materials, addressing the inaccuracy and low
Verma 2020)[2]. By measuring voltage drop during a fault, durability issues associated with existing fault detection
represented by resistors, and employing a microcontroller with methods, with successful tests demonstrating effective
an analog to voltage converter, the system aims to calculate and detection of open circuit and short circuit problems within a
display the distance of the fault on an LCD display (B., et al. maximum distance of 4km (Dada, et al. 2019)[10]. Here a set
2017)[3]. It builds a microcontroller system to pinpoint of resistors represents the cable, and a microcontroller
underground cable faults by measuring voltage drop (based on calculates and displays the fault distance on an LCD display by
Murray Loop and Varley Loop) and displaying the fault detecting changes in voltage caused by faults like short circuits
distance on an LCD screen (Wasim, et al. 2019)[4]. When any (P.M., et al. 2015) [11]. This focuses on developing a novel
fault like short circuit occurs, voltage drop will vary depending fault location system for underground power cables, employing
on the length of fault in cable, since the current varies, by high-speed data acquisition and signal processing through a
specially designed board to monitor and analyses transient
signals, ultimately enhancing accuracy in fault detection and
location (Jae-Duck, et al. 2006) [12].
Since faults in subterranean systems are uncommon and
hard to pinpoint precisely, we developed the concept described
in this study to address this issue. The primary goal is to
determine how far away in kilometers the open circuit and three
phase short circuit faults are from the base station. This
prototype is composed of a set of resistors that display the
cable's length in kilometers, along with a set of switches that
cause a fault at each known kilometer. The accuracy and
findings of the fault readings are shown on an LCD that is
attached to the Arduino UNO board.
II. METHODOLOGY
Murray Loop Bridge: Murray Bridge loop is a bridge circuit Fig. 2: Block Diagram of Underground Cable Fault Detection
used for localization of underground or submarine cable faults.
It has been used for over 100 years. One end of the defective
wire is connected by a pair of resistors to the voltage source.
Also, a zero detector is connected. The other end of the cable is
short-circuited. The bridge is balanced by modifying the RB1
and RB2 values.
Rz / ( Rg + Ry ) = RB1 / RB2 (1)

This is equivalent to Rz = ( Rg + Ry ) * ( RB1 / RB2 ) (2)

The value of Rx resistance is proportional to Lx length, so that

the fault point can be calculated. Where L is the total length of
the test cable - a proportional Rg value. The method assumes
that there is only one error, low resistance to the insulation
resistance of the cable without damage and cable conductors
have a resistance for uniform length units. However, the
Murray Bridge Loop method is of the assumption that only a
single fault exists along the cable length, cable resistance per
unit length is uniform through the whole cable and has lower Fig. 3: Flowchart of Underground Cable Fault Detection
resistance as against the high resistance of the cable. The
This flowchart has subdivided into two parts – A & B (Shown
Murray loop test is one of the traditional techniques for locating
in Figure 3). The Mode One sub-division which represents line
cable faults. The Wheatstone bridge principle, in which a good
fault has shown in 1st flow chart, Mode Two which presents
cable runs parallel to a defective cable, is the foundation of the
earth fault has shown in 2nd flow chart. The system will start
Murray loop test.
with LCD output showing Cable Fault Detection. In this
project, we have used two switches. One switch has used for
simulating Line Fault and another switch has used for Earth
Fault. When first switch will be pressed, the system will
understand that we are simulating a line fault. Then the
algorithm will continue to mode one section. Here we have
described the whole procedure for line fault detection. At first,
it will check the fault between yellow and red wire. As
instruction, the relay attached to the yellow wire will be turned
off by the system, and the relay connected to the red wire will
be turned on. In this case, 2.5 Amp is the calibrated offset
current value. The system verifies if the red and yellow wires
are shorted and displays the fault location on the LCD along
with its distance if the current value is higher than the offset
Fig.1. Working of Murray loop bridge
value. The relay attached to the yellow wire will be turned off
by the system, and the relay connected to the black wire will be
turned on. The calibrated offset current value is 2.5 Amp. The
system ensures that the black and yellow wires are shorted and
displays the fault site on the LCD along with its distance if the
current value is higher than the offset value.

Fig. 4: Circuit Diagram of Underground Cable Fault Detection

III. FLOW CHART OF SOFTWARE CODE

Fig. 5: Flowchart of Arduino Programming

IV. WORKING PROCEDURE

Underground cables offer an affordable and justifiable solution
for critical parts and in some cases the entire length of overhead
high voltage power lines. The circuit consists of a power
supply, 4 channel relay driver, 2-line LCD display, and Arduino
and resistance measurement circuit. To introduce faults
manually in the kit, fault switches are used. A total 12 fault
switches are used which are arranged in three rows with each
row having 4 switches. The 3 rows represent the 3 phases
namely R, Y and B. The fault switches have 2 positions- No
fault position (NF) and fault position (F). It is constructed using
a constant current source of 100mAmps. It can measure very
low value resistance as the cables have around 0.01 Ohm/meter
resistance. Short circuit faults, Symmetrical and unsymmetrical
faults can be determined by this method. The system is tested
by simulating a fault in the cable, and calibration is performed
to ensure accurate fault detection. When fault is induced by
operating any of the 12 switches (to F position) they impose
conditions like LG, LL, LLG, LLL fault as per the switch
operation. As a result of the fault, there is a change in voltage
value. This voltage value measured across the resistance is fed
to the ADC of the Arduino. According to distance the
calculated voltage drop is shown below in figure no 13. Using
this value, the Arduino computes the distance. At last, the
buzzer is activated and the fault's distance from the base station
is shown in kilometers.

Figure 8: Fault at R phase (R = 2KM)

Fig. 6: According to distance voltage & sensor values

V. RESULTS
In the present project, the goal of the project was to learn how
to use an Arduino microcontroller to precisely locate a circuit
fault in subterranean cables by measuring its distance from the
feeder end to a few meters. The bridge circuit's output voltage
fluctuations are detected by the Arduino microcontroller. As
soon as a cable fault arises, the bridge is balanced at a resistance
different from its typical state. An algorithm is then utilized to Figure 9: Fault at R & B phase (R = 2KM + B = 3KM)
identify the fault site by producing a voltage across the
microcontroller's analogy input terminals as the outcome of that
resistance. The result of the design carried out in the previous
chapters and the test of the various units is shown in the table
1. The results of the tests performed above suggested that the
system sub-units are effectively designed and regard to the
system as a whole.

Figure 10: Figure of all three-phase fault

Figure 7: Result of No Fault all three phases

 TABLE I. RESULT OF ALL UNITS Locator." Asian Journal of Applied Science and
Technology (AJAST) 1, no. 3 (2017): 95-98.

S/N Open Circuit Test Short Circuit Test Test Result [4] Wasim, Mohd Tahir, Lokesh M. Devadig, Siddappa V.
1 Power Supply Unit
Ramadurga, and Iqbal Ahammed AK. "Underground cable
fault distance locator." International Research Journal of
Ok Ok Ok Engineering and Technology (IRJET) 6, no. 5 (2019):
2 Microcontroller Unit 1992-1996.
Ok Ok Ok
[5] Rao, G. Joga, S. Sharmilla, M. Mohan Avinash, N. Dileep
3 LCD Display Unit Kumar, S. Mohan Swamy, and B. Ranjith Kumar.
OK Ok Ok "Analysis of Underground Cable Fault Distance
4 Software Programme Locator." Themed Section: Engineering And
Ok Ok Ok
Technology (2017).

[6] Nag, Ankita, Anamika Yadav, A. Y. Abdelaziz, and

Mohammad Pazoki. "Fault location in underground cable
VI. CONCLUSION system using optimization technique." In 2020 first
international conference on power, control and computing
The project is designed using structured modelling and is able technologies (ICPC2T), pp. 261-266. IEEE, 2020.
to provide the desired results. The goal of this project is to
utilize an Arduino microcontroller to pinpoint the precise [7] Gilany, Mahmoud, and Doaa khalil Ibrahim. "Traveling-
location of a circuit failure in subterranean cables that are wave-based fault-location scheme for multiend-aged
measured in kilometers from the feeder end. With a few underground cable system." IEEE Transactions on power
delivery 22, no. 1 (2006): 82-89.
adjustments, it can be successfully used as a Real Time system.
Components with a longer range must be added for the system [8] Goswami, Laxmi, Manish Kumar Kaushik, Rishi Sikka,
to be usable in real time. The output of the cable resistance Vinay Anand, Kanta Prasad Sharma, and Madhav Singh
powers the Arduino microcontroller. Relays aid in dividing the Solanki. "IOT based fault detection of underground cables
good line from the bad line. In addition, this project can be through node MCU module." In 2020 International
conference on computer science, engineering and
improved by measuring the impedance in an AC circuit using a applications (ICCSEA), pp. 1-6. IEEE, 2020.
capacitor, which can even locate the open circuited cable. In
contrast, the above proposed project only uses resistors in a DC [9] Islam, Md Fakhrul, Amanullah MT Oo, and Salahuddin A.
circuit to locate the short circuit issue Azad. "Locating underground cable faults: A review and
guideline for new development." In 2012 22nd
Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference
(AUPEC), pp. 1-5. IEEE, 2012.
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