Improved fault location on distribution circuits using advanced inputs

Following a power outage, locating the fault that caused the outage constitutes a substantial part of repair and restoration efforts. The complex, multi-branch topology of distribution circuits and the dearth of fault information make fault location inefficient and time-consuming. This is particularly true for faults that do not trip the substation circuit breaker. It also has particular relevance to locating latent conditions that cause recurrent momentary interruptions but not sustained outages. Evolving technologies, such as Distribution Fault Anticipation (DFA) technology, can provide better information and hold promise for enabling more efficient location of faults and latent fault conditions.