Electrical Safety
MTag High Voltage Detectors from PBwel (P&B Weir Electrical Ltd)
June 7th, 2022
MTag High Voltage Detectors
High Voltage Detectors
The MTag series of high voltage detectors from PBwel (P&B Weir Electrical Ltd) are available from Thorne & Derrick International based in the UK, the leading Specialist Distributor of Electrical Safety Equipment.
Detectors Approved to BS EN 61243-1
Designed for «proving dead» on high voltage distribution system between 1kV and69 kV (voltage ranges calibrated according to IEC recommendations).
The MTag detects any nominal voltage present on a overhead line or in a substation
The MTag detector meets all the expectations and wishes expressed by users and experts in recent years.
Reliable Indication
• Detects nominal voltages of its range
• Eliminates related induced voltages
• Enhanced audible and visual signals perceptible in most conditions
Heavy Duty & Reliable Design
• Direct access to the battery
• Sealed, watertight electronic compartment
• Pole end fittings interchangeable by the user, no tools required
Available with separate proving unit.
Pbwel Mtag Voltage Detector
Electrical Safety Providers
We protect substation engineers, asset managers, SAPS, cable jointers, overhead linesmen and utility workers with PPE and safety equipment: this includes insulating gloves, arc flash clothing, voltage detectors, insulating matting and portable earthing to ensure worker safety when carrying out repair and maintenance on LV-HV switchgear, transformers, substations and turbines.
All of our Cable Connection & Energisation Accessories including Medium & High Voltage joints, terminations, connectors and cleats are tested to the latest international standards and supporting ranges of professional installation tools are stocked to reduce incident, accident and downtime to plant and people.
Thorne & Derrick Stocking Agreement for PBwel Rail Earthing Equipment
June 6th, 2022
Thorne & Derrick, the UK Preferred Distributor for P&B Weir Electrical Ltd (PBwel), are now stocking their range of Rail Earthing Equipment with PADS Approval for use on Network Rail high voltage electrification projects. This significant and strategic stock holding is the culmination of discussions and planning to support framework contractors and construction alliances during and beyond the current CP6 plan.
Next Day Delivery 
Thorne & Derrick will be able to provide next day delivery from stock at competitive prices for the PBwel range of Operating Poles & Temporary Earthing Kits; the complete range consists of DEP Short Earth Leads, J117 Rail Clamps, Long Blue Interlocked Earths, Short-Circuiting Straps, Rail Bonds, Rail Jumper Bonds, Rail Poles, Voltage Detectors, Rail Socket and Heads, Arboriculture Equipment and Signal Sighting Targets.
“With recent industry announcements by Network Rail about their multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, which represents the largest rail investment programme since Victorian times, it is important from a business perspective that Thorne & Derrick are placed to support clients requirements from stock. We have been privileged to be suppliers to Network Rail for several decades and this extension to our PADS Approved Rail Products range is aimed to raise levels of customer service and personal safety – the product training provided by Tim Harris including support at our office and in the field has been first-class and we look forward to introducing this news to our customers in the coming weeks.”
“The PBwel Aluflex range of temporary and portable earth leads are manufactured from multi-stranded, commercially pure aluminium with an extruded PVC sheath to preserve the cable – Short Earths, DEP Earths and Jumpers & Bonds are available at any length and with clamp choices for use on 25kV OHL and substation power systems, just contact us with your requirements,” adds Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager at Thorne & Derrick).
“We had a great discussion about our future commitments and agreed sales targets at the beginning of the year for 2022 – we are now excited to implement our business development plan for the
UK rail industry. Working together with Thorne & Derrick we can design new and customised solutions for Portable Earthing and deliver via distribution standard products on an overnight service. Thorne & Derrick will support contractors and end-users via their trained Sales Team with competitive prices and stock availability of product. I will be on hand to support their team with continuous product training, either field based or online, to ensure their technical knowledge is up to date with the latest industry standards,” comments Tim Harris (Technical Sales Engineer at PBwel).
Portable & Temporary Earthing for Rail Electrification | Safe Systems of Working
The PBWel range of PADS Approved Portable Earths handle electrical and drain induced current associated with the inadvertent energisation of 25kV overhead power lines – this provides electrical protection of trackside workers and engineers carrying out maintenance, repair or construction under supervision and inspection of the project HV SAP.
Manufactured from highly conductive, commercially pure, Aluflex aluminium material the system is used during rail track possessions and electrical isolations – the Short Orange DEP (Designated Earth Point) Rail Earth is used in conjunction with operating pole sets, live line indicator and the CATU Dispensing Head MT630C.
Stocked by Thorne & Derrick
Thorne & Derrick supply an extensive range of 400V-33kV Rail Cable Accessories & Power Distribution Sytems including feeder pillars to contractors undertaking Low Voltage Power Distribution, HV Electrification & Substations, DC Traction & Networks, OLE and Track Feeder Cable Renewals – a complete range of Network Rail PADS approved track terminations, cable joints, cable repair and connection products up to 25kV, including 3M Cold Shrink, Pfisterer CONNEX and Nexans Euromold products.
Heat shrink, cold shrink, push-on and slip-over cable accessories enable the jointing, terminating and connection of medium/high voltage power cables to oil, air or gas insulated switchgear, transformers, motors and overhead lines.
Full range of Cable Pulling Equipment & Products to ensure safe and efficient of rail cables in to cable ducts and containment infrastructure including cable troughs.
Reliable & Compliant Cable Accessories for Substation, Trackside & OHL Power Supply
Contact us for a Quotation for Rail Earthing Equipment
Why Is Electrical Safety Important?
April 19th, 2022
Electrical Safety In The Workplace
- Special thanks to MD at Electrical Safety UK for the kind permission to republish
Electrical safety
Identify Electrical Safety Hazards
You cannot smell, hear, or see electricity, so making sure you have the right systems in place to manage this hazardous energy is critical to the wellbeing of your employees and your Company.
There are two major hazards of electricity:
- Electric Shock
- Arc Flash
Electrical safety is important because hazards such as arc flash and shock can result in death if you are exposed to them. Fortunately, the likelihood of this occurring is relatively low. However, the control measures that prevent these hazards require careful management, attention to detail and technical competence.
Injuries that can result from electric shock are as follows:
- Cardiac arrest due to the electrical effect on the heart
- Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction from a current passing through the body
- Thermal burns from contact with the electrical source
- Falling or injury after contact with electricity
Injuries that can result from arc flash are as follows:
- Burns from the high temperatures produced by the arc
- Blindness from the ultra-violet light produced by the arc
- Hearing loss caused by the pressure wave from the arc blast
Comply with Electrical Safety Legislation
Not surprisingly there is legislation in place that aims to regulate these electrical hazards. The three main ones are:
- Health and Safety at Work Act – Primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. It sets out the general duties which:
- employers have towards employees and members of the public
- employees have to themselves and to each other
- certain self-employed have towards themselves and others
- The Electricity at Work Regulations – expand on the rules regarding electrical safety in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Employers are given duties and responsibilities to make sure that all work activity that uses or may be affected by electricity is done safely, and that all foreseeable risks are assessed and minimised as much as possible.
- Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Employers are required to undertake an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees and other people who may be affected by their work activity.
More Electrical Safety Products for LV MV HV Cables, Conductors, Substations & Overhead Lines
Managing Electrical Risk is Important
We will now try to answer the question: What should you have in place to manage electrical risk?
In a nutshell, it is important have an Electrical Safety Management System in place. What does that consist of, you may ask? It depends upon the size of your organization, but let us assume you are a large company, you should have something like the following in place:
- Electrical Safety Rules – including training, compliance, and auditing.
- Electrical Safety Instructions typically these may cover subjects such as:
- Arc Flash
- Live Working
- Design Standards
- Earthing Systems
- Tools and Test Equipment
- Hazardous Areas
- Lightning Protection
- Electrical Maintenance
- Electrical Isolation and Immobilization
- Fault finding and phasing out
- Excavations and cartridge tools
- Ageing and obsolescence
- Fire Systems
- Electrical Permit System – typically:
- Low Voltage Permit to Work
- Limitation of Access
- High Voltage Permit to Work
- Isolation Certificate
- Sanction for Test
- Sanction for Live Work
- Electrical Authorisation System – You should have different levels of authorisation for electrical personnel that limits what work they can do. You may have several different levels of authorisation such as:
- Senior Authorised Person
- Authorised Person
- Competent Person
Take our free electrical safety self assessment for a formal report on your current situation.
Within each category there can also be different levels of authorisation dependent upon the competency required to undertake certain tasks.
1. Electrical Competency Management System:
This should describe how you manage electrical competence, from recruitment through to technical competence requirements for each electrical role within your organisation.
2. Organisational Arrangements:
This should describe who is responsible for electrical safety and how your organisation is set up to manage electrical safety, including individual roles and responsibilities.
Electrical Safety Management is our core business. We provide expert consultancy and advice services for blue chip organisations across Europe concerned with the safe management of risk associated with all electrical work activities.
Electrical Safety UK provide a multi-faceted holistic approach including a full electrical safety management programme, project management and policy documentation all bespoke to the client’s requirements including fully accredited and bespoke training courses and personnel assessment programmes.
2 Genesis Business Park
Sheffield Road
Rotherham
S60 1DX
Tel: 0800 652 1124
Tel: 01709 961 666
Email: [email protected]
To find out more information click here
Electrical Safety Providers
We protect substation engineers, asset managers, SAPS, cable jointers, overhead linesmen and utility workers with PPE and safety equipment: this includes insulating gloves, arc flash clothing, voltage detectors, insulating matting and portable earthing to ensure worker safety when carrying out repair and maintenance on LV-HV switchgear, transformers, substations and turbines.
All of our Cable Connection & Energisation Accessories including Medium & High Voltage joints, terminations, connectors and cleats are tested to the latest international standards and supporting ranges of professional installation tools are stocked to reduce incident, accident and downtime to plant and people.
On-line Partial Discharge Monitoring & Location on a 33kV Offshore Wind Farm Export Cable
April 19th, 2022
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Special thanks to Jordan Edmenson at HVPD for the kind permission to republish Link to the original article can be found here
Partial Discharge
Monitoring & Location on a 33kV Offshore Wind Farm Export Cable
Project
An offshore wind farm operator in the UK requested On-Line Partial Discharge monitoring and cable fault location on two 33kV XLPE land sea export cables to an offshore wind farm. The 33kV circuit began from a grid-connected onshore substation feeding a 2 km long land subsea transition joint, which in turn fed a 12 km 3-core cable directly to the offshore wind farm.
Solution
Short-term continuous monitoring was conducted using an HVPD diagnostic device connected to High Frequency Current Transformer (HFCT) and a Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) sensor.
- The HFCT and TEV sensors were installed at the cable terminations during a temporary outage
- The HFCT sensors are split core enabling them to be easily installed around the cable core and earth for detection of PD activity within the cable
- The TEV is a capacitive probe designed to detect local, high frequency PD pulses originating within the switchgear and terminations
Conducting short-term continuous monitoring over a number of days enables intermittent PD activity to be captured and correlated with other parameters such as load, temperature and humidity.
HFCT and TEV Sensors
Background Theory
If significant levels of PD activity were detected, fault location could be carried out using the cable mapping function of the HVPD diagnostic device. Cable mapping is conducted by detecting the an original PD pulse from the fault location as well as a reflected PD pulse (caused when the original PD pulse reaches the far end of the cable). Using the time delta between these pulses, and the signal propagation speed (which is provided in the cable data sheet) the approximate location of the PD source can be identified.
Results
During the short-term monitoring period, high levels of PD activity were detected with the HFCT on Phase L3 of Circuit 1. Cable mapping on this circuit was then carried out to confirm the location of the fault, with the results indicating that the source was located 800m from the onshore substation.
This result was then corroborated with the cable schedule which confirmed the presence of cable joint no.7 at this location. Based on these findings, it was recommended that the affected joint no.7 be replaced. Following this replacement a forensic analysis on the joints was conducted in which significant insulation damage and tracking within the inner insulation section was found.
Partial Discharge Map Showing PD Location
Forensic Examination of Cable Joint
PD Trend Line Before Replacement
PD Trend Line After Replacement
Conclusions and Recommendations
During the short-term monitoring period, high levels of PD activity were detected and cable mapping on this circuit then confirmed the location of the fault. The affected joint was able to be taken out of service and replaced during a scheduled outage, avoiding the risk of an in-service cable failure.
About HVPD
HVPD supplies a comprehensive range of equipment to detect and monitor On-line PD for the condition assessment of in-service power cables, switchgear, motors and generators, and transformers rated at 3.3kV and above. Our PD testing and monitoring technology provide you with an early warning of developing insulation faults, helping you to avoid costly failures and resulting unplanned network outages.
To find out how we can test and monitor your cable network for PD and locate any faults, terminations or joints, get in touch today at [email protected] or call us on 0161 877 6142.
Thorne & Derrick
Specialist Electrical Distributor
Established since 1985, T&D International based in the UK distribute the most extensive range of LV, MV & HV Cable Jointing, Terminating, Pulling & Installation Equipment – contact us today for a competitive quotation.
Key Products : MV Joints & Terminations, Access Chambers, Cable Cleats, Duct Seals, Cable Transits, Jointing Tools, Feeder Pillars, Cable Duct, Earthing & Lightning Protection, Electrical Safety, Cable Glands, Arc Flash Clothing Protection & Fusegear.
Distributors for : 3M, Pfisterer CONNEX, Nexans Euromold, Elastimold, Catu, Roxtec, Emtelle, Centriforce, Lucy Zodion, Alroc, Cembre, Prysmian, Ellis Patents, ABB & Furse.
T&D Providers Of Jointer Training Courses By Pfisterer CONNEX & Nexans Euromold
Reliable Voltage Testing | Pfisterer KP-Test 5 Capacitive Voltage Detector
April 11th, 2022
Voltage Detectors Distributed from Stock | Approved Supplier | UK & Export Sales
Voltage Detectors
Pfisterer KP-Test 5
The KP-Test 5 capacitive voltage detector manufactured by PFISTERER and distributed by Thorne & Derrick can be used for indoor and outdoor medium voltage applications. It indicates the presence of operating voltage. The KP-Test 5 voltage detector is distinguished by its high level of user friendliness and user safety.
Voltage detectors in the KP-Test 5 series perform an automatic self-test when they are switched on. The detectors also give off a clear visual and audible warning to signal the presence of voltage.
Voltage detector provides wider range of application, easier handling, improved signal indication – KP-Test 5 keeps pace with increased market requirements and makes high-quality electrical safety equipment possible.
Pfisterer Voltage Detector
KP-Test 5 Voltage Detector
Tested to EN 61243-1 the capacitive voltage detector can be used in all weather conditions. As with any security-related tool, there are a few basic rules to follow:
The employers’ liability insurance association for energy, textiles, electronics and media products (BG ETEM) currently points out that the contact electrodes or test prods of voltage testers must have conductive electrical contact with the system part to be tested in order to reliably determine the absence of voltage.
Clear measuring conditions, which are covered by the IEC 61243-1 standard, only arise in direct contact with the conductive part of the system. Even the simplest adhesive strips from office supplies can cause voltage drops of a few kV on busbars and lead to incorrect test results.
In practice, busbars are often color-coded, and measurements should never be taken at these points. This fact is due to the principle and applies to devices from all manufacturers. Another important rule: Voltage testers must be checked for proper functioning both before and after the measurement. The built-in self-test function is used for this.
Voltage Detectors 11kV 33kV
The KP-Test 5 family offers the right voltage detector for every application. Medium or High Voltage, alternating or direct current for use on overhead power lines, switchgear, in substations or on railway systems. All devices are individually adapted to our customers’ requirements. PFISTERER offers solutions for all voltage levels from 1 to 420 kV AC.
The SEANEX inner cone solution is an offshore variant of the successful Connex HV connection system that is specially adapted for 66kV inter-array cabling.
THORNE & DERRICK
Thorne & Derrick are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation & Electrical Equipment – servicing businesses involved in cabling, jointing, substation, earthing, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV, 66kV and EHV. Supplying a complete range of power cable accessories to support the installation and maintenance of low/medium and high voltage cable systems:
- Slip-on Cable Terminations
- Cold-shrink Cable Terminations
- Heat-shrink Cable Terminations
- Cable Joints – Heat & Cold-shrink
- Separable Connectors (Euromold)
- Surge Arresters & Switchgear/Transformer Bushings
Key Product Categories: Duct Seals | Cable Cleats | Cable Glands | Electrical Safety | Arc Flash Protection | Cable Jointing Tools | Cable Pulling | Earthing | Feeder Pillars | Cable Joints LV | Joints & Terminations MV
MV Connex Products | Ex Stock Thorne & Derrick | Inner Cone Cable Connectors 33kV
