Virtual instrument for condition monitoring of on-load tap changers

The condition monitoring of on-load tap changers is very important because they have proved to be the elements with noticeable failures in a power transformer. This article describes the development of a portable virtual instrument for monitoring this kind of elements. The monitoring task is based in the measurement and analysis of the vibrations that a tap change produces. In contrast with other methods that can be used, this one has the advantage of being able to do continuous monitoring because the transformer can be operated on line.