Functionality Description > Power System Functions

Earth Fault Detection

All power systems that use any of the Smartpack2 Basic controllers, or newer Elteks controllers, have
Earth Fault Detection functionality built-in the controller.
WARNING:
To be able to use the Earth Fault Detection functionality, the power system must
be implemented with floating earth, which means that Telecom Earth (TE) or
DC Earth must !T be connected to the power system"s DC output rail (# or $)%
&ead more in topic 'bout 'C, DC Earthing (ystems
The Earth Fault Detection functionality reuires no e!ternal wirin", but it is #isable# by #efault, an#
must be activate# in the controller via the PowerSuite confi"uration pro"ram.
Earth Fault Detection Scheme
$n %floatin" earth& supply systems, the "roun#-to-supply con#uctor '( or )* impe#ance is always hi"h.
Earth faults in the system ten# to re#uce the "roun#-to-supply con#uctor impe#ance, an# will cause
earth lea+a"e currents that flow to chassis.
The Earth Fault Detection function is base# in a #evice that compares the "roun# 'chassis* volta"e
',
Earth
* with a reference volta"e ',
-ef
*.
.hen no earth fault is present '-
Fault/
an# -
Fault0
1 2*, then ,
Earth
3 ,
-ef
an# the #evice output
,
EF$
3 4.
.hen an earth fault is present 'an# -
Fault/
or -
Fault0
5 -
6imit
* 7 there is a current lea+a"e from the
supply con#uctor 'from ( or ) or both* to "roun#. 8onseuently, ,
Earth
9 ,
-ef
an# the #evice output
,
EF$
9 4, causin" the controller to activate an earth fault alarm.
:otice that even if there is an earth fault, the controller will not raise an alarm, as lon" as -
Fault/
an#
-
Fault0
are hi"her than -
6imit
, which you must confi"ure in e.". PowerSuite.
WARNING:
)hen the power system is implemented with more than one Smartpack2 Basic
controllers, you must remo*e the +umper ,in- (see diagram) from inside ',, the
Smartpack2 Basic controllers but one%
Configuration of Earth Fault Detection
The Earth Fault Detection functionality in the controller is #isable# by #efault, but you can activate it
when suitable to your power system.
;sin" e.". the PowerSuite confi"uration pro"ram 'in the %SP0 <asic& #ialo" bo!, the %Earth Fault& tab*,
you must enable the function, confi"ure the earth fault alarm limit '-
6imit
* an# calibrate the Earth Fault
Detection circuitry.
-ea# how to confi"ure this function in topic 8ontrol ;nit Earth Fault tab, in PowerSuite Online Help.
-ea# about how to calibrate this function in topic 8alibration - Earth Fault Detection.
Earth Fault Detection Accuracy
The Earth Fault Detection functionality built-in the Smartpack2 Basic controllers can be use# to raise an
earth fault alarm, when the impe#ance ground-to-positive supply conductor is not the same as the
impe#ance ground-to-negative supply conductor. This situation will occur when there is current lea+a"e
from the supply con#uctor 'from ( or ) or both* to "roun#.
Even thou"h the Earth Fault Detection circuitry is software-compensate# to a#=ust to #ifferent systems>
scenarios, the function is not accurate enou"h to measure the e!act "roun#-to-supply con#uctor
impe#ance, because the power system may contain many parameters that will affect the accuracy, such
as?
The system>s D8 output volta"e '-@A,, B4,, //4,, etc.*
The connection of current shunts in the positive or the ne"ative supply con#uctors
Situations where there is current lea+a"e from both ( an# ) supply con#uctors to "roun#
$na#euate calibration schemes
For e!ample, you cannot use the Earth Fault Detection functionality to raise an alarm when the earth
current lea+a"e e!cee#s e!actly C4mA.