The application of microelectronic instrumentation to improve distribution system reliability and reduce maintenance costs

The author describes an inexpensive digital recording unit which can be installed in primary distribution substations to provide continuous monitoring of the performance of the protection and switchgear. By connecting the recorder into a SCADA network the data can be made available for use in preventive maintenance programmes operating on the central plant database. Early identification of plant malfunction, combined with contact condition prediction, will lead to improved reliability whilst simultaneously reducing maintenance costs by eliminating unnecessary visual post fault inspection