Switchgear On-Line Testing

Asset information is key for all network owners to operate efficiently and safely.

A large Australian utility asked LIVE HV to PD test their switchgear so that they could identify any areas that required attention.

They also required information to help assess which switchboards required replacement and if they were suitable for retrofit.

Out of 40 switchboards tested, 5 had issues requiring immediate attention, 9 had a mid-range level of discharge where further monitoring was recommended and the remainder were in a healthy condition.

The location of all issues detected was pinpointed, e.g. the CT’s in Panel 5. In some cases further Off-Line testing was completed to confirm problem areas identified with the On-Line testing.

With the assistance of this information the utility was able to make some immediate repairs to avoid failures. They were also able to make informed decisions as to the future of the switchboards.