From “the cable is bad” to the point to dig.
Learning Track · Module 6: Faults · Step 42 of 101
Showing content for Europe. Change the region at the top of the page.
- Find the section from the pattern of dark lights.
- Isolate and test insulation resistance between each core and earth.
- Find the distance with a time domain reflectometer (TDR).
- Find the point with a surge generator and a listening device on the surface.
- Repair and record the location and cause on the map.
Note
Get utility locates before you dig USA: (call 811) Europe: (check national utility maps and services) Middle East: (get the authority’s no-objection certificate and utility drawings) South Asia: (get utility drawings and the road owner’s permission). Many joints in one section show the cable is near end of life.
Sources
- IEC 60364-6 Verification of low-voltage installations
- IEC 61643-11 Surge protective devices
- Maker installation and maintenance instructions
Changes: 30 October 2026: First publication: guides for Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and the USA; failure library; tender clause library; comparisons; tools; downloads. See the changelog. Found a mistake? Report it.