TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR 11 kV AND 33kV OVERHEAD LINE

FAULT PASSAGE INDICATORS (FPIs) WITH BI-DIRECTIONAL

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
SCOPE:
Supply of overhead line fault passage indicators (FPIs) for overhead lines, meant to be
installed on 11 kV and 33kV lines, along with RF-GSM based RTU for bi-directional
communication between FPIs and control center.
PURPOSE:
The purpose is to identify the faulty sections in overhead lines. The FPI shall indicate
transient faults, temporary faults and permanent faults.
FPI OPERATION:
The Fault Passage Indicator shall operate on passing over of the absolute threshold
current (user settable).
TRIP CURRENT:
Trip current for the FPIs shall be settable by the user. FPIs shall constantly monitor,
measure the line current and evaluate the same. In case current exceeds a preset value,
a fault has to be indicated. Alternatively, there shall also be an Automatic Mode, in
which the FPIs will get adapted to the service current.
FAULT TYPES:
The FPI shall detect and indicate phase to phase faults. In addition to this, the FPI
shall also detect and differentiate between transient, temporary and permanent faults.
INRUSH RESTRAINT:
The FPI shall be equipped to filter out the inrush current due to transformer
magnetizing currents thus avoiding the possible false indication of faults.
INDICATION:
The FPI shall locally indicate faults by means of bright LEDs (minimum 6 LEDs) so
that the indication is clearly visible during night times and by means of a red luminous

flag, so as to be clearly visible in the bright sunlight during day times. Further, FPIs
shall transmit the fault information to RF-GSM based RTU for onward
communication to SCADA / control center.
RESET:
Once the fault is cleared, the FPI shall reset itself upon the power return (If required it
shall be possible to disable this automatic reset at site.) It shall also have a facility of
resetting with settable time duration, remote reset and manual reset.
TRANSIENT FAULT EVOLUTION:
If FPI is busy in flashing on transient fault and if the permanent fault occurs, the FPI
shall automatically change the priority and shall start flashing differently to show the
permanent fault; thus helping maintenance crew to review the priorities.
POWER / BATTERY:
The FPIs shall be powered by inductive pickup from the 11kV conductor with a
minimum operating current of 20A. During faults, when the system is down, FPIs
shall be powered by lithium battery. The lithium battery provided inside the FPI shall
be replaceable type, in case of battery failures. The battery shall have a life of up to 10
years or indicating time of 1000 hours.
TEST AND RESET:
The FPI shall be equipped with remote Test and Reset features, so that the
functionalities including status of battery and flag can be tested without dismounting
the FPI from the line.
INSTALLATION:
The FPIs shall be suitable for installing on overhead line conductors using hotsticks,
while the line is in charged condition.
SETTINGS:
The settings for the FPI shall be programmable both at site as well as from control
center, without dismounting the FPI from the line. Following parameters shall be user
programmable.

Trip Current
Response Time
Reset Time
Turn On / Off indication for Transient Faults and Temporary Faults
Turn On / Off auto-reclosure support function and related parameters
REMOTE CONTROL UNIT:
The FPI shall be supplied along with suitable Remote Control Unit, having a LCD
display, capable of performing the following operations at site.
Perform Test / Reset operations by standing below the FPIs.
View settings of various parameters of the FPI like trip current, response time,
reset time, temporary fault indication status, transient fault indication status,
auto-reclosure support status etc.
Set various parameters of the FPI like trip current, response time, reset time,
temporary

fault

indication

status,

transient

fault

indication

status,

autoreclosure support status etc.

Perform battery check and flag check.
View real-time value of the current flowing though the 11kV line on which a
particular FPI is installed. This current shall be indicated in terms of Amps
(A).
Operating range for the Remote Control Unit shall be minimum 30m radius.
RF-GSM RTU:
The RTU or the data transmission unit shall be pole-mountable and solar powered.
The RF module of the RTU shall communicate with the FPIs while the GSM module
shall communicate with the control center / SCADA. On getting the fault information
from the FPI, the RTU shall process and suitably communicate the information to the
control center / SCADA through GPRS. The RTU shall also enable programming of
the FPIs by obtaining configuration file from the control center / SCADA over GPRS
and updating the same in the FPIs over RF. Programming of the FPIs shall include
configuring parameters like trip current, response delay, reset time, reset type, etc.,
remotely from control center / SCADA over GPRS. The system shall facilitate remote

reset command to be executed from the control center / SCADA. If it is required that
the FPI-RTU system be integrated to existing SCADA, the same shall be compatible
with generic concentrators / routers on IEC-104 protocol.
SOFTWARE:
If implemented as a stand-alone solution, suitable software shall be provided for
monitoring the field devices, i.e. FPIs and RTUs from the control center over Internet.
This software shall be user-friendly and Windows based. This software shall enable
easy navigation of field RTUs and FPIs on a map. The software shall be web-based
and accessible though standard Internet browser. The software shall indicate the status
of FPIs, settings and alarms if any. The software shall have the capability to modify
the settings of the FPIs installed in the field over GPRS. Adequate security levels shall
be provided.

FLA3 - Overhead Line Fault Passage Indicator

Distribution Voltage
6 to 33 kV
Power Frequency
50 Hz
Conductor Diameter
10 to 28 mm
Current setting trigger value
40A to 1500A and Automatic Mode
Response Delay
40 ms to 300 ms
Flash duration
30 Mins to 720 Mins
Inrush transient restraint
2 sec.
Automatic Reset
Recovering Service Current >4 A
Timer reset
30 Mins to 720 Mins
Local fault indication
Bright Red flash light (LEDs) and Red Disc
Power supply
Lithium battery with life up to 10 years
Protection Level
IP 67
EMI immunity
As per IEC 801-4 and VDE 0843
Outdoor weathering test
As per IEEE 495:2007
Temperature cycle test
As per DIN EN 60068-2-14:2000-08
Salt fog test
As per DIN EN 60068-2-11:2000-02
RF-GSM RTU
SYSTEM
CPU
Data Collection Memory
Real Time Clock
CONNECTIVITY
Ethernet
Serial
GPRS, SMS
Sensor Interface
SOFTWARE PROTOCOLS
Application Protocols
DIGITAL INPUTS
No of Inputs
Type of Input
ANALOG INPUTS
No of Inputs
Resolution
Input Range
Max Voltage
OUTPUT
No of Outputs
Type of Output
Power Supply
Operating Temperatures
Protection Level

2 bit ARM Processor

EEPROM or SD Card slot
With Lithium Battery
10/100 MBPS Ethernet port
1RS232 Ports
GSM/GPRS Modem
RS485 Port
SNMP, SMTP, FTP, MODBUS RTU, XML and IEC104
8 Digital Inputs
Active low/high
4 Analog Inputs
10 Bits
0 to 10 Volts / 0 to 20mA
12 Volts
4 Open Collector Outputs
100mA
12V DC Solar Powered
0 to 50 Deg C
IP65