Detection of Energized Structures With an Electro-Optic Electric Field Sensor

An electro-optic, solid-state electric field sensor system for noncontact detection of energized objects at power frequency (60 Hz) was investigated. In laboratory testing, the sensor system was found to have a minimum detectable field amplitude of 4 mV/m/Hz^1/2, which was further reduced by a factor of 2 through vector averaging over 20 cycles. In an experimental setup emulating the realistic scenario of an energized conducting structure (such as a street light or metal fence post), the detection of a 1-m object energized at 1 VAC at a distance of 2 m was demonstrated.