e-ISSN: 2582-5208

International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science

( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:03/March-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
IOT BASED UNDERGROUND CABLE FAULT DETECTION
Janhavi Bhure*1, Mamta Sarkar*2, Satyam Dhomne*3, Aditya Sarve*4,
Prajwal Borkar*5, Paras Uplap*6, Dr Kushal Kanhav*7
*1,2,3,4,5,6Student, Electrical Engineering , St. Vincent Pallotti College Of Engineering & Technology,
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
*7Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, St. Vincent Pallotti College Of
Engineering & Technology, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India .
ABSTRACT
The project is meant to discover the situation of fault in underground cable lines from the base station to
precise location in kilometers associate with Arduino microcontroller kit. Within the urban areas, the cable are
underground rather than overhead lines. Whenever the fault happens in underground cable it's difficult to
discover the particular location of the fault for method of repairing that exact cable. The projected system finds
the particular location of the fault. This technique uses Arduino microcontroller kit and LCD display. Here this
sensing circuits created with a combination of resistors and interfaced to Arduino small controller kit to assist
of the inner ADC device for providing digital knowledge to the microcontroller representing the cable length in
kilometers. The fault is created by using switches. The relay driver is used to control the relay. An LCD display is
connected to Arduino to display the fault location. If short circuit fault is occurring in the cables the voltage
across series resistors changes , which is then fed to an ADC and that data is send to Arduino micro controller
kit which further display exact location of fault location from base station.
Keywords: Arduino Microcontroller ,LCD Display, ADC, Underground Cables, Fault.
I. INTRODUCTION
The basic aim of this project model is to detect the precise location of underground cable fault from the bottom
station using an Arduino board. Normally we use overhead lines. We can simply detect the faults but in rushed
places or cities we couldn’t use overhead lines. So, we are using underground cables. Underground cables are
used mostly in urban areas rather than overhead lines. The underground cable is a vital one for distribution
especially in metropolitan cities, airports, and defense services because underground cables aren't suffering
from weather conditions like snowfall, heavy rainfall, storm. But when any fault occurs in cable, then it's
difficult to search out out the fault. The cable fault detecting equipment presently getting used is relatively
heavy. However, in some cases, only 1 method isn't sufficient and proper fault determination may require over
one method together. Different fault detection methods like Murry loop methods and acoustic detection
methods aren't used much because they suffer many disadvantages. The sectionalizing method is can not be
preferred because inspecting of underground cable isn't possible. The Murry loop method is predicated on the
wheat stone bridge concept and is extremely improperly caused by lead resistances. The failure of the
underground cable reproduces a significant hazard to the reliability and efficiency of the facility system causing
the breakdown of the cable. The objective of this fault detector is to seek out out the precise distance of the
underground cable fault from the bottom station in kilometers. A DC voltage is supplied to a briefing of series
resistors representing a cable betting on the gap of fault because the current varies, the potential difference
also changed across the resistors accordingly and this potential difference helps to see the precise location of a
fault occurring within the cable. In the case of a brief circuit fault, this potential is fed to the ADC to form correct
digital data which the programmed Arduino families would display in kilometers.
In this project we've got calculated correctly the precise location of a cable fault, minimize the noise-causing by
arcing voltage of the cable by using Arduino programming and software named IDE (Integrated Development
Environment).
II. LITERATURE SURVEY
This project is to determine the distance of underground cable fault from the bottom station in kilometres and
displayed over the internet.Underground cable system is a typical followed in major areas in Metro cities. While
a fault occurs for a few reason, at that point the fixing process associated with that specific cable is difficult

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 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:03/March-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
because of exact unknown location of the fault within the cable.This Technology is used to search out out the
precise location of the fault and to send data in graphical format to our website employing a GSM module at the
identical time it display on the LCD screen.This project is to see the gap of underground cable fault from the
bottom station in kilometres and displayed over the net. Underground cable could be a common followed in
major areas in Metro cities. While a fault occurs for a few reason, at that point the fixing process associated with
that exact cable is difficult because of exact unknown location of the fault in the cable. This Technology is
employed to seek out out the precise location of the fault and to send data in graphical format to our website
employing a GSM module at the identical time it display on the LCD screen. The project uses the quality theory
of Ohms law, i.e., when an occasional DC voltage is applied at the feeder end through a series resistor (Cable
lines),then the present would vary depending upon the situation of the fault within the cable because the
resistance is proportional to the distance. just in case there's a brief circuit (Line to Ground), the voltage across
series resistors changes in keeping with the resistance that changes with distance .This is then fed to an ADC to
develop precise digital data which the programmed microcontroller of the 8051 family displays in kilometres.
III. TYPES OF FAULTS
Faults occurring in cables are –
Open circuit fault
Short circuit fault
Earth fault
Open Circuit Fault
When one or more conductor cables are break then the continuity of the supply will also break .Sometimes this
faultis occur due to mechanical stress on joints of conductor. This is called as Open circuit fault.
Short Circuit Fault
It occurs only in multi-cored cables. When two or more than two conductors come in contact with each other,
then the fault is occurred which is known as short circuit fault. It is very difficult to detect the fault visually. This
fault is alsooccurring if insulation damage takes place. We can detect this fault using megger.
Earth Fault
If any conductor of the cable comes in contact with the earth, it is known as an earth fault. This fault is
occurring when the outer sheath of conductor is damaged due to chemical reactions takes place with the soil or
due to vibrations andmechanical stress. This fault is little bit similar as a short circuit fault as the excess current
takes the least resistive path and flows through the earth. This fault is also detected by using a megger.
IV. BLOCK DIAGRAM

Figure 1
We uploaded the program in Arduino UNO to determine faults from the underground cables. When a fault
occurs in underground cables, we can find out faults through Arduino controller. Digital display which
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 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:03/March-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
displays the faults in terms of distance. In this project we created faults manually by using switches. There
are different types of conductor cable. Every cable has different resistance and resistivity. The value of
resistance is directly proportional to the length of conductor. So here resistance is the leading role of the
project. If there are any changes occurs in the resistance, the value of the voltage will be changed at
particular point is known as FAULT. We are determining those faults in the system.
V. HARDWARE COMPONENTS
1. Power Supply Unit
The main function of power supply unit is to convert AC supply into DC supply, and also it regulates the DC
output voltage to desired value. The components used for the same are as follows.
1.1 Transformer
1.2 Bridge rectifier
1.3 Filter
1.4 Voltage regulator
1.1 Transformer: -
It is a static device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another circuit. The process is called as
Electromagnetic induction. In power system its commonly used as step-up (increase) or step-down (decrease)
the voltage levels within circuits. It is also called a passive device because it cannot generate electricity but can
convert and dissipate it. Here we are using the step-down transformer. The 230v AC supply is given to the 12v
step-down transformer. The transformer will step-down the voltage from 230v AC to 12v.
1.2 Bridge rectifier: -
It is a converter that rectifies main AC input to DC output. Bridge rectifiers are widely used in in power supply
unit which provide DC supply to electronic devices. They can be constructed by four or more diodes or any
controlled solid- state devices.
1.3 Filter: -
It is a device which allows passing of DC component of the load and blocks the AC component of the rectifier
output. Thus, output of the filter circuit will be a steady DC voltage. For construction of an ideal power supply
which gives pure DC output, we need to filter out the AC component from the output of rectifier. All together
filter is a circuit capable of amplify certain frequencies also can cancel certain frequencies. The filter we use
here is passive type of filter so its function will be not to amplifying the output but just removal of unwanted AC
components from the inputand give pure DC output.
1.4 Voltage regulator: -
A voltage regulator circuit that gives fixed output no matter the any changes in input voltage or load conditions.
It keeps the voltage within the range of voltage within the desired range of other electrical components. In
project we use linear type of voltage regulator that means we require constant voltage which will be relatively
close to a desiredvalue that is 5V DC supply is given to Arduino uno.
2. ARDUINO UNO
It is an open-source hardware and software company that design and build microcontroller kits for making
devices. Arduino boards are available on official websites as well as through the distributors. Boards have
digital and analog input and output. The boards also contain USB for uploading programs and the language
used for programming the Arduino microcontroller is C language. It is a microcontroller board which is based
on AT mega 168 or 328 datasheet. It has 14 I/O pins out of which 6 acts as pwm output of 6 analogous input
pins. A 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB and power jack, an ICSP header and a reset button.
3. LCD: -
Liquid crystal display is interfacing to microcontroller. Most commonly LCD used are 16*2 and20*2 display.
In16*2 display means there are 16 columns and 2 rows. LCDs are available to display computer images or fixed
images with low information content, such 7-segment displays as in a digital clock.
4. RELAY: -
A relay is an automatic device which senses the fault and sends a signal to isolate the faulty section of circuit.
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 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:03/March-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
So, an electrical circuit is controlled and is governed by change in the same or another electrical circuit. There
are various types of relays: Static relay and electromagnetic relay. Relay are arranged in panel in the control
room. Here we used three mini power relay each for one of the three phases. The relays scan the three phases
and send the signal to the Arduino microcontroller. The rating of relay is 12V each.
5. RELAY DRIVER IC: -
Relay driver Circuit is used to amplify signals from microcontrollers to control power switches in semi-
conductor devices. Driver circuits perform the functions that include isolating the power circuit and the control
circuit, detecting malfunctions, reporting failures to the control system and store it, send signal to protect the
circuit against failure, detecting sensor signals and creating additional voltage. In this project we used ULN2003
as the relay driver circuit. It is an integrated circuit which is work as the relay driver and amplify the supply
which is given to the relay.
Stimulation diagram with fault

Figure 2: Stimulation diagram with fault

VI. ADVANTAGES
1. The overall maintenance required is less
2. Very less power is consumed in fault detection process.
3. Easy to integrate with big network
4. Distance of fault is specified in terms of kilometers
5. Reduce human efforts
6. It has higher efficiency
VII. CONCLUSION
Thus, the project on IOT based Underground cable fault detection was done and the fault occurs in cable was
display in terms of distance from the base station in kilometers. Circuit can be tested with creating fault
manually with the help of switches. Here we used resistors in place of the cables to simulate various fault
conditions. In this project we can detect fault if the distance is greater than 1km up to 4km.When fault is occurs
the fault switches are operated then the phase related to that particular switch is considered as the faulty
phase. So, the faulty section can easily be detected. We developed the prototype model and in future the same
can be implemented to product level. For any product to be cost effective user friendly and compact. In future
we can usethe capacitance to measure the open circuit fault occur in cables.
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[2192]
 e-ISSN: 2582-5208
International Research Journal of Modernization in Engineering Technology and Science
( Peer-Reviewed, Open Access, Fully Refereed International Journal )
Volume:04/Issue:03/March-2022 Impact Factor- 6.752 www.irjmets.com
VIII. REFERENCES
[1] “Detection of Underground cable fault using Arduino and GSM module”, P. Hari chandana, M.
Venkataramana,K.
[2] Satyanarayan, P. Yogendra, Srinivasa Acharya, IJIRT, Vol.5 Issue 11, April 2019
[3] “Arduino Based Underground Transmission Cable Fault Location System”, Roshani Shingrut, Dakshata
Mokal,Shubham Shelar, Shekar Mhatre , IJERT, Vol.9 Issue 02, February 2020.
[4] “Underground Cable Fault Detection using Raspberry Pi & Arduino”, R.K.Raghul Mansingh,
R.Rajesh,S.Ramasubramani, G.Ramkumar, IJETER, Vol.5 Issue 04, April 2019.
[5] Pooja P.S and Lekshmi M(2015) ‘Fault Detection Technique to pinpoint Incipient Fault for Underground
Cables’-InternationalJournal of Engineering Research and General Science May-June, 2015.
[6] Yu Xiang and Joseph F.G. Cobben(2015) ‘A Bayesian Approach for Fault Location in Medium Voltage Grids
With Underground Cables’- IEEE Power and Energy Technology Systems Journal, Volume 2, No. 4,
December 2015.
[7] Anurag. D. Borkhade (2014) ‘Transmission Line FaultDetection Using Wavelet Transform’-
InternationalJournal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication.

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