XZH successfully located a 10kV cable fault in the Pune industrial area, Maharashtra, India, using the flashover method

PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA — April 3, 2026

XZH TEST has successfully completed a critical 10kV underground cable fault location operation at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Industrial Zone in Pune, India. Using advanced high-voltage flashover testing technology, engineers pinpointed the fault at 172 meters with precision, enabling rapid repair and minimizing production downtime for the affected manufacturing facilities.

Fault Background

The industrial zone, which hosts numerous automotive component and electronics manufacturing plants, experienced a sudden power disruption on April 2, 2026. Initial inspection by the site maintenance team identified abnormal readings on the 10kV feeder cable, prompting an urgent call to XZH TEST's diagnostic team for professional fault location services.

The affected cable — a YJV-8.7/10 3×240mm² XLPE-insulated power cable — is a critical link supplying electricity to multiple production lines. With manufacturing schedules at risk, rapid and accurate fault location was essential.

Diagnostic Procedure and Technical Findings

Upon arrival, XZH TEST engineers conducted a systematic diagnostic protocol to characterize the fault and determine its precise location:

The initial insulation resistance test, performed using a 2500V megohmmeter, revealed critically low values across all three phases — with Phase C measuring just 0.01 MΩ, confirming a severe leakage-type low-resistance fault. The low-voltage pulse method successfully measured the total cable length at 177 meters across all phases, indicating a consistent impedance profile along the route.

To precisely locate the fault point, engineers switched to the high-voltage flashover method. As the voltage was gradually increased, the fault point broke down at 28 kV, generating a characteristic transient waveform. Analysis of the reflected waveform yielded a fault distance of 172 meters from the test terminal — just 5 meters short of the total cable length.

Precision Pinpointing and Resolution

With the fault pre-located at 172 meters, the field team deployed acoustic pinpointing equipment along the calculated cable route. Given the low-resistance nature of the fault, the discharge acoustic signature was minimal, demanding meticulous listening and multiple verification passes. After careful scanning, the fault point was confirmed with centimeter-level accuracy. Excavation and repair were completed within hours, restoring full power supply to the industrial zone.

Operational Impact

The rapid response and accurate fault location provided by XZH TEST minimized what could have been an extended production shutdown. By combining insulation resistance testing, low-voltage pulse reflectometry, and high-voltage flashover waveform analysis, the complete diagnostic chain was executed in under four hours — from initial testing to confirmed fault location.