The project is intended to detect the location of fault in underground cable

lines from the base station in kilometers using an Arduino board.This project uses

the standard concept of Ohms law i.e., when a low DC voltage is applied at the

feeder end through a series resistor to the Cable lines, then current would vary

depending upon the location of fault in the short circuited cable.

In the urban areas, the electrical cable runs in undergrounds instead of overhead

lines. Whenever the fault occurs in underground cable it is difficult to detect the

exact location of the fault for process of repairing that particular cable. The

proposed system finds the exact location of the fault.

This system uses anArduino board and a rectified power supply. Here the current

sensing circuits made with combination of resistors are interfaced toArduino board

with help of the internal ADC device for providing digital data to the

microcontroller representing the cable length in KM’s. The fault creation is made
 by the set of switches. The relays are controlled by the relay driver IC which is

used for switching the power sequentially to all the lines. A 16x2 LCD display

connected to the microcontroller to display the information.

In case of short circuit (Line to Ground), the voltage across series resistors changes

accordingly, which is then fed to an ADC to develop precise digital data to a

programmed Arduino board that further displays fault location in kilometers.

The project future can be implemented by using capacitor in an ac circuit to

measure the impedance which can even locate the open circuited cable.

Hardware Requirements

 LCD

 Crystal
 Relays

 Relay Driver IC

 Transformer

 Diodes

 Voltage Regulator

 Resistors

 Capacitors

 Arduino Uno R3

 LEDs
 slide switches

 Arduino board

CIRCUIT
Abstract—

Cable faults are damage to cables which affects the resistance in the cable. If
allowed to persist, this can lead to a voltage breakdown. To locate a fault in the
cable, the cable must first be tested for faults. This prototype uses the simple
concept of OHMs law. The current would vary depending upon the length of fault
of the cable. This prototype is assembled with a set of resistors representing cable
length in Kilo meters and fault creation is made by a set of switches at every
known Kilo meters (km’s) to cross check the accuracy of the same. The fault
occurring at what distance and which phase is displayed on a 16X2 LCD interfaced
with the microcontroller. The program is burned into ROM of microcontroller. The
power supply consists of a step down transformer 230/12V, which steps down the
voltage to 12V AC. This is converted to DC using a Bridge rectifier. The ripples
are removed using a capacitive filter and it is then regulated to +5V using a voltage
regulator 7805 which is required for the operation of the microcontroller and other
components.

TYPES OF FAULT IN UNDERGROUND CABLES The most common

types of fault that occur in underground cables are,
1. Open circuit fault.
2. Short circuit fault.
3. Earth fault.
1. Open circuit fault - When there is a break in the conductor of a cable,
it is called open-circuit fault. The open-circuit fault can check by a
megger. For this purpose, the three conductors of the 3 core cable at far
end are shorted and earthed. Then resistance between each conductors
and earth is measured by a megger. The megger will indicate zero
resistance in the circuit of the conductor that is not broken. However if a
conductor is broken the megger will indicate an infinite resistance.
2. Short-circuit fault -When two conductors of a multi core cable come
in electrical contact with each other due to insulation failure, it is so
called as short-circuit fault. Megger can also be used to check this fault.
For this the two terminals of a megger are connected to any two
conductors. If the megger gives a zero reading it indicates short-circuit
fault between these conductors. The same is repeated for other
conductors taking two at a time.
3. Earth fault - When the conductor of a cable comes in contact with
earth, it is called earth fault or ground fault. To identify this fault, one
terminal of the megger is connected to the conductor and the other
terminal connected to the earth. If the megger indicates zero reading, it
means the conductor is earthed. The same procedure is repeated for
other conductors of the cable.

. ULN 2003 relay driver IC: ULN2003 is an IC which is

used to interface relay with the microcontroller since the output of the
micro controller is maximum 5V with too little current delivery and is
not practicable to operate a relay with that voltage. ULN2003 is a relay
driver IC consisting of a set of Darlington transistors. If logic high is
given to the IC as input then its output will be logic low but not the vice
versa. Here in ULN2003 pins 1 to 7 are IC inputs and 10 to 16 are IC
outputs. If logic 1 is given to its pin no 1 the corresponding pin 16 goes
low. If a relay coil is connected from positive to the output pin of the
uln2003, (the relay driver) then the relay contacts change their position
from normally open to close the circuit as shown below.
 Figure. Relay Driver And Relay

Operating procedure:
Figure. Resistor and Switch (Cable Part)

While any of the 12switches (representing as fault switches) are operated they impose conditions like line
to ground (LG), line to line (LL), line to line to line(3L) fault as per the switch operation. The program
while executed continuously scans by operating the 3relays in sequence of 1sec interval. Thus any NO
point while driven to GND through the common contact point of the relay develops a current flow
through R1 & any of the cable by the fault switch depending on the created fault. Thus the voltage drop at
the analog to digital (ADC) pin varies depending on the current flow which is inversely proportional to
the resistance value representing the length of cable in kilometres. This varying voltage is fed to the ADC
to develop an 8 bit data to the microcontroller port1. Program while executed displays an output in the
LCD display upon the distance of the fault occurring in km’s. In a fault situation it display’s R=3km if the
3km’s switch is made ON. Accordingly all other faults are indicated.

. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF UNDERGROUND CABLE SYSTEM

1. Advantages

This includes aesthetics, higher public acceptance, and perceived benefits of protection against
electromagnetic field radiation (which is still present in underground lines), fewer interruptions, and
lower maintenance costs. Failure rates of overhead lines and underground cables vary widely, but
typically underground cable outage rates are about half of their equivalent overhead line types.
Potentially far fewer momentary interruptions occur from lightning, animals and tree branches falling on
wires which de-energize a circuit and then reenergize it a moment later.

Primary benefits most often cited can be divided into four areas: Potentially-Reduced Maintenance and

Operating Costs: Lower storm restoration cost

 Lower tree-trimming cost

Improved Reliability:

Increased reliability during severe weather (windrelated storm damage will be greatly reduced for an
underground system, and areas not subjected to flooding and storm surges experience minimal damage
and interruption of electric service.

 Less damage during severe weather

  Far fewer momentary interruptions
  Improved utility relations regarding tree trimming
  Improved Public Safety: Fewer motor vehicle accidents
  Reduced live-wire contact injuries
  Fewer Fires
  Improved Property Values: Improved aesthetics (removal of unsightly poles and wires,
enhanced tree canopies). Fewer structures impacting sidewalks

Disadvantages
The main disadvantage is that the underground cables have higher
initial cost and insulation problems at high voltages. Another main
drawback is that, if a fault does occur, it is difficult to locate and
repair the fault because the fault is invisible.
 RELAY

Relay is a common, simple application of electromagnetism. It

uses an electromagnet made from an iron rod wound with hundreds
of fine copper wire. When electricity is applied to the wire, the rod
becomes magnetic. A movable contact arm above the rod is then
pulled toward the rod until it closes a switch contact. When the
electricity is removed, a small spring pulls the contract arm away
from the rod until it closes a second switch contact. By means of
relay, a current circuit can be broken or closed in one circuit as a
result of a current in another circuit.

Relays can have several poles and contacts. The types of

contacts could be normally open and normally closed. One closure
of the relay can turn on the same normally open contacts; can turn
off the other normally closed contacts.

Relay requires a current through their coils, for which a voltage

is applied. This voltage for a relay can be D.C. low voltages upto
24V or could be 240V a.c.
A relay is an electrical switch that opens and closes under control of another electrical circuit. In
the original form, the switch is operated by an electromagnet to open or close one or many sets
of contacts. It was invented by Joseph Henry in 1835. Because a relay is able to control an output
circuit of higher power than the input circuit, it can be considered, in a broad sense, to be a form
of electrical amplifier.

These contacts can be either Normally Open (NO), Normally Closed (NC), or change-over
contacts.

 Normally-open contacts connect the circuit when the relay is activated; the circuit is
disconnected when the relay is inactive. It is also called Form A contact or "make" contact. Form
A contact is ideal for applications that require to switch a high-current power source from a
remote device.
 Normally-closed contacts disconnect the circuit when the relay is activated; the circuit is
connected when the relay is inactive. It is also called Form B contact or "break" contact. Form B
contact is ideal for applications that require the circuit to remain closed until the relay is
activated.
 Change-over contacts control two circuits: one normally-open contact and one normally-closed
contact with a common terminal. It is also called Form C contact.

Operation
When a current flows through the coil, the resulting magnetic field attracts an armature that is
mechanically linked to a moving contact. The movement either makes or breaks a connection
with a fixed contact. When the current to the coil is switched off, the armature is returned by a
force that is half as strong as the magnetic force to its relaxed position. Usually this is a spring,
but gravity is also used commonly in industrial motor starters. Relays are manufactured to
operate quickly. In a low voltage application, this is to reduce noise. In a high voltage or high
current application, this is to reduce arcing.
If the coil is energized with DC, a diode is frequently installed across the coil, to dissipate the
energy from the collapsing magnetic field at deactivation, which would otherwise generate a
spike of voltage and might cause damage to circuit components. If the coil is designed to be
energized with AC, a small copper ring can be crimped to the end of the solenoid. This "shading
ring" creates a small out-of-phase current, which increases the minimum pull on the armature
during the AC cycle. [1]
By analogy with the functions of the original electromagnetic device, a solid-state relay is made
with a thyristor or other solid-state switching device. To achieve electrical isolation, a light-
emitting diode (LED) is used with a photo transistor.

Relays are used:

 to control a high-voltage circuit with a low-voltage signal, as in some types of modems,

 to control a high-current circuit with a low-current signal, as in the starter solenoid of an
automobile,
 to detect and isolate faults on transmission and distribution lines by opening and closing circuit
breakers (protection relays),
 to isolate the controlling circuit from the controlled circuit when the two are at different
potentials, for example when controlling a mains-powered device from a low-voltage switch.
The latter is often applied to control office lighting as the low voltage wires are easily installed in
partitions, which may be often moved as needs change. They may also be controlled by room
occupancy detectors in an effort to conserve energy,
 to perform logic functions. For example, the boolean AND function is realised by connecting NO
relay contacts in series, the OR function by connecting NO contacts in parallel. The change-over
or Form C contacts perform the XOR (exclusive or) function. Similar functions for NAND and NOR
are accomplished using NC contacts. Due to the failure modes of a relay compared with a
semiconductor, they are widely used in safety critical logic, such as the control panels of
radioactive waste handling machinery.
 to perform time delay functions. Relays can be modified to delay opening or delay closing a set
of contacts. A very short (a fraction of a second) delay would use a copper disk between the
armature and moving blade assembly. Current flowing in the disk maintains magnetic field for a
short time, lengthening release time. For a slightly longer (up to a minute) delay, a dashpot is
used. A dashpot is a piston filled with fluid that is allowed to escape slowly. The time period can
be varied by increasing or decreasing the flow rate. For longer time periods, a mechanical
clockwork timer is installed.
 TRANSFORMER

PRINCIPLE OF THE TRANSFORMER:-

Two coils are wound over a Core such that they are
magnetically coupled. The two coils are known as the primary and
secondary windings.

In a Transformer, an iron core is used. The coupling between

the coils is source of making a path for the magnetic flux to link
both the coils. A core as in fig.2 is used and the coils are wound on
the limbs of the core. Because of high permeability of iron, the flux
path for the flux is only in the iron and hence the flux links both
windings. Hence there is very little ‘leakage flux’. This term leakage
flux denotes the part of the flux, which does not link both the coils,
i.e., when coupling is not perfect. In the high frequency
transformers, ferrite core is used. The transformers may be step-up,
step-down, frequency matching, sound output, amplifier driver etc.
The basic principles of all the transformers are same.
 MINIATURE TRANSFORMER

CONVENTIONAL POWER TRANSFORMER

STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER

Step down transformer from 220 volt Ac to 9-0-9 ac. We use step down transformer to step down the

voltage from 220 to 9 volt ac. This AC is further connected to the rectifier circuit for AC to DC

conversion. Transformer current rating is 750 ma .

DIODE.

In this project we use IN 4007 diode as a rectifier. IN 4007 is special diode to convert the AC into DC
In this project we use two diode as a rectifier. Here we use full wave rectifier. Output of rectifier is

pulsating DC. To convert the pulsating dc into smooth dc we use Electrolytic capacitor as a main filter.

Capacitor converts the pulsating dc into smooth dc and this DC is connected to the Regulator circuit for

Regulated 5 volt DC.