Enabling low voltage network visibility to detect hazards on rural distribution networks

This paper investigates the use of smart meters to detect hazardous conditions on rural LV networks with a TN-C-S earthing system. Various hazards that can be detected by taking voltage and current measurements at the transformer and customer installations are identified and evaluated. These hazards include PEN conductor failure, transformer LV earth electrode high impedance failure and hazardous conditions that lead to current unbalance. Developmental smart meters were installed on an experimental laboratory feeder. Experimental results show that these hazards can be detected and communicated to the network utility via ZigBee and GPRS.