Electromagnetic Radiation Behavior of Low-Voltage Arcing Fault

A feasibility study of utilizing radiated electromagnetic energy from spark/arc source as a means of detecting arcing faults is conducted using two types of simple antenna, stick and loop. From the investigation, it is concluded that arc/spark of low voltage can be detected by portable antennas with frequency bands of low amplitude modulation and megahertz as an alternative method to the conventional arcing detection methods and their apparatus. In addition, each of the first two phases of arc process, initial glow-like discharge and transient arc development, is distinguished by the respective inception time and radiation spectral content of the captured signals by the antennas.