EA Technology CableData CDC2 User manual

CableData Collector
Operating Manual
Product Code: CDC2
Version: 1
January 2013

Contents
1Record of Changes 1
2EA Technology Range of Products 2
3EA Technology Training Courses 3
4Declaration of Conformity 4
5Operator Safety 5
6Warnings & Tips 6
6.1 Warnings 6
6.2 Tips 6
7Introduction 7
8Kit Contents 8
9CableData Collector Hardware 9
9.1 Connectors 9
9.2 Status LED Definition 10
9.3 Phase Reference 11
9.3.1 Transformer Reference 11
9.3.2 RFCT Reference 11
9.4 Calibration 12
10 CableData Collector Software 14
10.1 Software Installation 14
10.2 Connecting the CableData Collector 20
10.3 First Run 20
10.4 Operating the Software 22
10.4.1 Software Initialisation 22
10.4.2 Main Screen 24
10.4.3 Data Entry 25
10.4.4 Phase Information 27
10.4.5 Cable Type 29
10.4.6 Cable Length 30
10.4.7 Voltage 31
10.4.8 Switch Position 32
10.4.9 Commencing Data Capture 32
10.4.10 Aborting Data Capture 32
10.4.11 Repeating Data Capture 34
10.4.12 Data Capture Process 34
10.4.13 Single Phase Data Capture Sequence 35
10.4.14 Three Phase Data Capture Sequence 35
10.4.15 Progress Indication 36
10.4.16 Invalid Phase Reference 37
10.4.17 Capture Reports 38
10.4.18 File Output Location 40
10.5 Data Analysis 41

10.6 Restoring Software Default Options 41
10.7 Updating Software 42
10.8 Uninstalling the CableData Collector Software 43
11 Using the CableData Collector 45
11.1 Connecting the RFCTs 45
11.1.1 Practical RFCT Connection Requirements 45
11.1.2 Testing Three Phase Cables 45
11.1.3 Cable Partial Discharge (PD) 47
11.1.4 RFCT Connection Requirements 48
11.1.5 Cable Type Restrictions 49
12 Specification 50
12.1 Cable PD Inputs 50
12.2Hardware 50
12.3 Environmental 50
12.4 Dimensions 50
12.5 Power Supplies 50
12.6 Recommended PC Specification 50
13 Maintenance 51
14 Warranty Policy 52
15 Calibration 52
16 Repair 52
17 Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) 53
18 Note 53
19 Contact Us 53
20 Notes 54

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1 Record of Changes
Date
Drawing Number
Changes
December 2012
1365/L/01/1
First Issue.

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2 EA Technology Range of Products
Cable Instruments
CableSniffer™ - Locate underground LV cable Faults in minutes, with fewer excavations,
less disruption and lower costs.
Partial Discharge Instruments
UltraTEV Detector™ - hand held, dual sensor, Partial Discharge (PD) detector, which
enables swift and simple ‘first pass’ identification of potentially damaging HV equipment
faults and MV equipment faults before they become failures.
UltraTEV Plus+™ - advanced hand held, dual sensor, Partial Discharge (PD) detector,
which enables more detailed identification and comparison of PD activity across multiple
substation assets.
UltraMet Plus+™ - simple hand held tool for measuring Partial Discharge (PD) activity by
detecting ultrasonic sound. The sounds detected are displayed on screen as decibel
readings, as well as relayed to headphones as an audible signal
UltraTEV Locator™ - simple to use tool that can measure and record the exact location of
Partial Discharge (PD) activity to within 30cm in any substation assets, including cables and
overhead equipment. The most versatile PD investigation unit in the world, it can identify
faults before they become failures and deliver an accurate assessment of asset condition
UltraTEV Alarm™ - PD system that combines all the benefits of EA Technology’s award
winning Partial Discharge (PD) detection and monitoring, in one simple to install, automatic
set up. It can monitor over 100 assets simultaneously and raise the alarm if one or more
reaches critical PD levels.
UltraTEV Monitor™ -The ultimate system in EA technology’s PD instrument range, the
UltraTEV Monitor™ is much more than a fault detection and alarm system. It is the most
powerful tool ever developed for collecting and recording information on the condition of
large numbers of assets. It detects and locates, measures and monitors, records and
analyses all the data from all your substation equipment, including cables, to give you
unrivalled information on the condition of your assets.
PD Monitor GIS™ - purpose designed, retrofit condition monitoring system for all commonly
used pressurised Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS). It provides 24 hour detection, location
and analysis of PD activity to identify faults early and avoid costly failures and repairs.
Ultrasonic Contact Probe™- high tech detector that can identify the sounds of surface
discharge activity in sealed chambers by monitoring the vibrations produced in the chamber
walls. Designed to work with EA Technology’s extensive portfolio of Partial Discharge
instruments, including the UltraTEV Plus™, UltraTEV Locator™and UltraTEV Monitor™.
UltraTEV Calibration Checker™ - instantly checks whether your UltraTEV Detector or
UltraTEV Alarm Nodes are operating within specification

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Field Instruments
PURL™- Pole Ultrasonic Rot Locator™ is the world’s most effective instrument for
accurately establishing the condition of pine poles, producing accurate condition
assessments without the guesswork of hammer tests or the intrusion of drill through tests.
Polarity Test Kit ™- comprises an accurate and versatile Polarity Test Pen and a Test Pen
Checker, in one lightweight, portable unit that is essential for safe working around potentially
live cables. It detects live cables in all standard 220-250V 50/60Hz supplies, with or without
current flow.
Extended Voltstick™- essential safety tool for identifying low voltage cables that have
been damaged during excavations.
3 EA Technology Training Courses
MSc in Power Asset Management
Postgraduate Certificate
Postgraduate Diploma
Master of Science
Substations
Partial Discharge
Insulating Oil Handling & Analysis
Switchgear Technology for Power Systems
SF6 Training
Substation Earthing
Transformers for Power Systems
Substation Design Course
Cables
Power Cable Fault Location
Cables for Power Systems (Part 1)
Cables for Power Systems (Part 2)
Oil Filled Cables
Protection
LV/HV Protection
Power System Protection
Commissioning & Testing
For further information on our complete range of products and training courses, please
contact:
Email: [e-mail]

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4 Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturers Name: EA Technology Ltd
Manufacturers Address: Capenhurst Technology Park
Capenhurst
Chester
CH1 6ES
UK
Type of Equipment: CableData Collector
Model Number: CDC2
I hereby declare that the equipment specified above conforms to the provisions of the EC
DIRECTIVE 2004/108/EC on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). Having met the
requirements of the following standards;
BS EN 61000-6-2 :2001
GENERIC EMC IMMUNITY & EMISSION STANDARDS
INDUSTRIAL
BS EN 61000-6-3 :2001
GENERIC EMC EMISSION STANDARDS
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND LIGHT INDUSTRY
Robert Davis
Chief Executive Officer
EA Technology Group Ltd

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5 Operator Safety
The CableData Collector is designed to detect partial discharge sources in High
Voltage (HV) cables. If no discharges are detected this does not necessarily imply
that an item of HV cable is discharge free. Discharge sites often have dormant
periods and insulation structures can fail through causes other than those attributable
to partial discharges. If discharges of considerable magnitude are detected in plant
that is connected directly to the high voltage power system, the authority responsible
for the plant should be notified immediately.
The CableData Collector is designed for use at ground potential only.
When testing electrical plant ensure that the metalwork is earthed before taking any
measurements.
Adhere strictly to local safety procedures.
Do not make measurements when there are electrical storms in the vicinity.
Do not make measurements immediately following the energisation of a circuit.
Do not disturb plant during measurements either mechanically (e.g. By shaking or
striking it), electrically (e.g. by increasing the voltage) or physically (e.g. by applying
heat).
Do not operate the instrument or its accessories in an explosive atmosphere.

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6 Warnings & Tips
6.1 Warnings
Do not leave any of the Current Transformers connected in place for a measurement
while a switching operation is being performed. Due to the charging of the cable
capacitance, this can create a large inrush current that may overwhelm the input
protection circuits and cause damage to the board.
Maintain safety clearances between structures at high voltage and the instrument, its
probes and the operator at all times.
Do not connect the CableData Collector to a USB hub. It is important that the
CableData Collector is connected directly to the machine it is being used on, as use
of a USB hub may result in intermittent errors.
Always take the Phase Reference Transformer in the event that it is not possible to
acquire phase information from the RFCTs. It is only possible to collect data with a
phase reference present. The CableData Collector will attempt to detect the phase
from the RFCTs used for data capture. In some cases, this may not be possible and
an alternative reference may be needed.
Only the supplied RFCT should be used with the CableData Collector. The RFCT we
supply has an integral protection circuit to protect the instruments against transients
caused by HV switching.
Only the supplied Phase Reference Transformer should be used with the CableData
Collector.
Do not insert an SD card into the SD card slot, it is currently unsupported and not
functional.
Do not insert a network cable into the Ethernet Socket, it is currently unsupported
and not functional.
6.2 Tips
The unit contains no user serviceable parts, always return to EA Technology or your
local distributor for service and repair.
The CableData Collector unit is designed to function with a mains frequency signal
present, which may occur because of imbalanced phases. The presence of higher
frequency signals may cause interference. An example of a source for an interfering
signal is a power line carrier system. These will introduce a higher frequency signal
into the power cable that may be picked up by the CableData Collector and may
reduce the accuracy of the measurements. Wherever safely possible, attempt to
eliminate any sources of higher frequency signals.
The CableData Collector contains relays inside that may make a clicking sound
shortly after power up and during data capture. This is to be expected and may occur
during normal use.

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7 Introduction
Non-Intrusive Detection of Partial Discharge Activity
General
Partial discharges are electric discharges that do not completely bridge the electrodes. The
magnitude of such discharges is usually small however; they do cause progressive
deterioration of insulation that may lead to eventual failure.
Non-intrusive partial discharge detection provides a means for identifying these potential
sources of insulation failure that result not only in loss of supply to customers but can also
endanger staff.
A partial discharge emits energy in the following ways:
Electromagnetic:
Radio
Light
Heat
Acoustic:
Audio
Ultrasonic
Gases:
Ozone
Nitrous oxides
When the partial discharge event occurs in a cable, there will be a resulting voltage pulse
coupled into the earth sheath of the cable. These pulses will propagate away from the PD
side in both directions. Once the pulse reaches a change in impedance, this will cause a
partial reflection. This results in the pulses travelling back down the cable several times
(depending on the cable length) as they decay away.
A measurement is taken using the Radio Frequency Current Transformer (RFCT) at one end
of the cable. This will reveal a pattern of pulses, where the first pulse is the direct pulse from
the PD event. The second pulse is the reflected pulse from the far end. If the PD site is at
the far end of the cable, then the direct pulse and the reflection will be very close to each
other, or perhaps superimposed on each other. Conversely, if the PD site is at the near end
of the cable, the direct pulse will be received first, and then there will be a longer gap as the
pulse travelling away will have to travel nearly twice the length of the cable until it is
detected.

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8 Kit Contents
CableData Collector Unit
3 x RFCTs
4 x 5m BNC Leads
USB Data & Power Cable
Phase Reference Transformer
Carry Case
Operating Manual
Software USB drive
Spares and Accessories
For spares and accessories, please contact:
Email: [e-mail]

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CableData Collector Operating Manual
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9 CableData Collector Hardware
9.1 Connectors
The CableData Collector, shown in Figure 1, has connectors on the front and rear, which are
required for testing.
Figure 1 - CableData Collector
On the front panel, there are four BNC connectors that are used during testing. Three of the
connectors are for use with the supplied RFCTs for capturing data. The fourth connector is
the Auxiliary input, which the phase reference transformer should be connected to. Only the
supplied phase reference transformer specifically designed for the CableData Collector
should be used with this input. The channels are identifiable from the label on the top of the
instrument. RFCT input channels can also be identified from the auxiliary channel by the
colour of the connector; RFCT input channels have black connectors and the auxiliary
channel has a white connector.

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To the rear of the CableData Collector, as shown in Figure 2, there are four items. On the
very left is the SD card slot. Currently this is unsupported and is not functional - please do
not insert an SD card into the slot. Underneath the SD Card Slot, are three status LEDs.
Further information on the LEDs is available in the next section.
To the right of the SD Card Slot, is the USB Connector. This connector is used for both
powering the instrument and communicating with it. The CableData Collector is supplied with
a split USB Cable that allows more power to be drawn from an additional USB port if the
USB port of a laptop cannot provide sufficient power.
On the right of the USB connector is the Ethernet Socket. Currently this is unsupported and
is not functional - please do not insert a network cable into this socket.
Figure 2 - CableData Collector Rear
9.2 Status LED Definition
The left hand two status LEDs indicate the status of the firmware. When the unit is powered
up but not collecting data, they should remain a solid green. When collecting data, the left
(outermost) LED should briefly flash whilst collecting event data. The centre LED will flicker
when collecting waveform data. As the waveform collection is a slower process, this will
flash for a longer period.
The right most LED is the phase reference indicator. When a phase reference is present, the
LED should remain solid green. In the event that the phase reference is lost, it will turn
orange.
In the event that any of the Status LEDs turns red, try power cycling the unit to see if this
alleviates the problem. If the red status light remains illuminated, this may indicate a possible
hardware issue with the unit. If this occurs then please contact EA Technology Product
Support Team for further instructions.
USB Connector
SD Card Slot
Ethernet
Socket
Status LEDs

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9.3 Phase Reference
A phase reference is required by the CableData Collector to improve the data analysis and
allows classification of events based on the phase position. A phase reference can be
supplied to the CableData collector by one of two sources, either via the phase reference
transformer or the connected RFCTs. A phase reference on the Auxiliary channel from the
phase reference transformer is the preferred source for the phase reference, but if the
instrument detects it is not present it will attempt to locate a phase reference from the
connected RFCT’s.
9.3.1 Transformer Reference
The supplied phase reference transformer is the preferred source for a phase reference
signal, as it will provide better results than using the RFCT’s. Because of this, it should be
used wherever possible. To use the Transformer Reference, plug the BNC connector from
the end of the transformer cable into the Aux input.
If the attached cable is too short, it is possible to use either a mains extension lead or a
longer BNC terminated coaxial cable from the phase reference transformer to the
instrument. EA Technology can supply the recommended parts, please contact
EA Technology Product Support for further information. For contact details please see
section 19 of this manual.
The phase reference transformer input is in the form of an IEC320-C7 power cable, which
can be swapped for an off the shelf version of the cable with a local plug. If this is not
possible, the transformer will work with basic travel adapters. The more complex travel
adapters that also convert the voltage may not work and should be avoided. The transformer
is designed to work with an input voltage between 100V and 240V.
9.3.2 RFCT Reference
The CableData Collector will attempt to obtain a phase reference from the sheath current
flowing through the RFCTs. This 50Hz or 60Hz current is due to the cable capacitance, or in
some circumstances may be down to induction from the phase conductors. A current of
approximately 200mA is required to give a reliable reference - if the current is lower, the
reference may be intermittent and unreliable. If the current is around the lower limit, the
phase reference LED may occasionally change between green and orange. If this occurs
then it is recommended to use the phase reference transformer. If the instrument is being
used in Single Phase mode it will only attempt to detect the phase reference on channel 1,
but if it is being used in three phase mode all three input channels will be attempted. This
information is logged in the capture reports and can be viewed at the end of the data capture
process.

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9.4 Calibration
It is recommended that the CableData Collector be calibrated annually. The calibration date
and due date can be viewed through the CableData Collector software by looking at the
instrument information screen.
Figure 3 - About button in CableData Collector Software
Clicking the About button will display the instrument information window shown in
Figure 4. Calibration Due Date will give an indication of the remaining time left until
calibration is recommended.
Figure 4 - About CableData Collector

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When attempting to use the software with a CableData Collector whose calibration period has
expired, a warning will be displayed as shown in
Figure 5. Clicking OK will allow the software to continue and it will still be possible to collect
data, however it is recommended that you return the device for calibration at the earliest
convenience.
Figure 5 - Warning about calibration expiry

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10 CableData Collector Software
10.1 Software Installation
Before starting the installation process, any other older version of the CableData Collector
software should be uninstalled including the accompanying Virtual COM Port driver.
The CableData Collector software requires Microsoft’s .Net 3.5 framework to be installed, for
which a separate installer included with the setup files. If you are unsure, whether you have
this installed then it is advisable to run and install this before starting with the installation of
the CableData Collector.
To start the installation, locate the install files supplied. Run the exe file to start the
installation process. Windows administrator privileges are required to install the CableData
Collector software. The installer applications are shown in Figure 6.
Figure 6 - Setup Files
Running the CableDataCollector_Setup_xxx file will ask for confirmation before installation
proceeds. The confirmation screen is shown in Figure 7. To start the installation, click Yes.
Figure 7 - Installer Confirmation
The CableData Collector Setup Wizard runs, and has several installation steps. As part of
the installation process, a Virtual COM Port driver is installed. This is necessary to
communicate with the CableData Collector.

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During the installation, a preparation window will appear first as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8 - Virtual COM Port Driver Installation Preparation
Once the preparation is completed, the installer will wait to start as shown in Figure 9. To
start the driver install, click Next.
Figure 9 - Virtual COM Port Driver start of installation

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This installer will copy across the required files, shown in Figure 10.
Figure 10 - Driver installer copying files
Once the required files have been copied across, the Windows Device Driver Installation
Wizard will run, shown in Figure 11. To install the driver click Next.
Figure 11 - Windows device driver installation wizard
Windows will now install the driver, and once completed will show a confirmation screen.
Once completed, click the Finish button to close the Device Driver Installation Wizard and
proceeded to the next stage, as shown in Figure 12.