Handheld monitor listens for HV discharges

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 18, 2006

Handheld instrument monitors surface partial discharge activity in high voltage electricity assets.

UK power engineering company EA Technology has launched a new handheld instrument for monitoring surface partial discharge (PD) activity in high voltage electricity assets.

The UltraMET is a highly sensitive ultrasonic listening device, which provides engineers with instant indications of levels of surface PD activity, in the form of decibel readings.

These signals are also converted into audible sound through the supplied headphones.

EA Technology's Colin Vickers explains: "The UltraMET fills an important gap in our portfolio for a portable and easy to use device, which gives an accurate measure of the source and level of surface PD activity in terms of ultrasonic emissions".

The UltraMET is supplied precalibrated to 38.4kHz, with its own case, rechargeable batteries and noise isolating headphones.

An UltraMET Plus option is bundled with a complete range of accessories at a preferential price, including a parabolic waveform concentrator, which enables the UltraMET to measure surface PD activity in overhead assets.

All accessories can be purchased individually.

EA Technology is offering both UltraMET options at a special introductory price until 31st December 2006.

Vickers added: "The UltraMET fits into our portfolio alongside the MiniTEV handheld instrument, which measures PD activity in the form of transient earth voltages (TEVs)".

"Used together, they are very effective at surveying the condition of HV assets, locating faults as they start to develop and monitoring changes in emission levels".

The UltraMET and MiniTEV can also be used as a first response to an UltraTEV PD detector 'red light' indication.

The UltraTEV is a small handheld instrument, which provides an immediate warning of the presence PD activity at levels which require further investigation.

With all three instruments in their toolkits, engineers have a complete range of portable tools for detecting, measuring, and understanding PD activity.