High Voltage CDS-3632U Network Systems Thumper 36kV 3200 Joules

The CDS-3632U is ideal for Network Systems or other situations where cables are rated from 69kV to 230kV, oil insulated cables, and/or long cable lengths are encounted. The powerful 3200 joule pulse makes fault locating easier using acoustical and electro-magnetic detection devices. With 280 mA of burn current, faults can be rapidly reduced to low voltage levels, permitting thumping at lower and less damaging voltage levels. The CDS-3632U can thump at 9kV, 18 kV, or 36 kV yet deliver 3200 joules. There is no better thumper. The CDS-3632U offers the complete package: three full joule output voltages, three variable hipot outputs, 280 mA burn current, variable discharge rate, tdr/radar ready, and its extremely durable design holds up to years of use. Another plus: all HVI Thumpers use EPR high voltage output cable rather than XLPE. EPR stays flexible in cold weather.

69 kV - 230 kV Cable Fault Locating
For high voltage cable fault locating on cables up to 230 kV, there are not many options. One very good approach is to use a Very Low Frequency AC hipot and the CDS-3632U. The VLF is used to burn down the cable fault to a voltage arc-over level less than the discharge rating of the surge generator. Once a fault is made to arc over at less than ~30kV, then the 36kV @ 3200 joules discharge of the CDS-3632U is sufficient to find the fault. The VLF hipot can then be used to perform a VLF AC withstand test after the repair to verify the AC integrity of the cable and the repair. Either a 120kV or 200kV VLF can be used.

Using a VLF hipot designed for cable burning is the most effective means of reducing the impedance of a fault to reduce its arc-over voltage to enable the use of smaller and more conventional thumpers. A combination of VLF, needed for AC hipoting the cable and as a voltage source for tan delta and partial discharge testing, and our CDS-3632U is the best way to go. In the VLF Burn Mode, the VLF applies its output voltage to the cable. The VLF voltage rises until the cable arcs. The VLF continues to operate, causing the cable to arc in the other polarity. This continued arcing in successively opposite polarities rapidly burns down the fault. The arc current of the VLF combined with the stored energy of the cable dumped into the fault every half cycle gets the job done far faster than DC burn down sets.