High Impedance Faults

High impedance faults challenge conventional fault passage indicators (FPIs) and standard protection functions like overcurrent, ground fault, distance, and differential relays. Because these faults involve high resistance and low fault current, they can easily slip under the radar. Electrical transients – quick, high-energy pulses – are produced by events like grid switching, lightning, and high impedance faults.

Safegrid’s Intelligent Grid System® closes this detection gap using instant-on transient sensors and cloud-based analytics to capture and interpret these transient signals.

Its intelligence lies in recognizing the precise moment when a change occurs in the grid – detecting even the slightest anomalies through highly sensitive, high-sampling-rate data. By analyzing these subtle shifts, the system not only identifies faults but also provides actionable insights, helping utilities make informed decisions on how to respond and prevent future issues.

With high-accuracy GPS time synchronization, the system can accurately locate transients linked to high impedance faults. Proprietary algorithms classify events by type and severity, allowing utilities to proactively detect faults, foresee potential problems, and prevent them from escalating.