XHDD503E
Cable fault pinpointer — acoustic, magnetic and step voltage.
Takes the distance a pre-locator gives you and turns it into a mark on the ground. Four location methods on one receiver, because the first method tried is often not the one that works, and the acousto-magnetic time difference gives an operator something definite to walk towards instead of a sound to guess at.
At a glance
accuracy
methods
display
kit
What it does
A pre-locator gives a distance along the conductor. Between that number and the excavator sits the part of the job that goes wrong: cable route that does not follow the drawing, slack coiled in a duct, a distance measured along a conductor that wanders. The pinpointer closes that gap by finding the fault from directly above it.
- Fault position on the surface to within 0.1 m by the acousto-magnetic method, which is the number that decides how much road you open.
- Cable route and departure from the assumed route, from the magnetic signature of the surge current.
- Sheath and earth faults by step voltage with the A-frame, where there is no flashover to listen for.
The four location methods
All four run on the same receiver; the method is selected on the screen and the sensor changed where required. Having them in one instrument matters because the first method tried is often not the one that works.
| Method | What is picked up | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Acousto-magnetic synchronisation | Discharge sound and magnetic pulse, with the time difference between them | Precise fault position on flashover faults |
| Acoustic only | Discharge sound alone | High-resistance and flashover faults in quiet ground |
| Magnetic only | Induced pulse from the surge current | Cable route and deviation from the assumed route |
| Step voltage (A-frame) | Surface potential difference between two pins | Sheath and earth faults on buried cable |
The acousto-magnetic method is the one worth understanding. The magnetic pulse travels from the fault effectively instantaneously; the sound does not. The time difference between the two therefore shrinks as the probe approaches the fault and reaches a minimum directly above it — which is a far more definite thing to walk towards than "the loudest bang", particularly for an operator who has not done it a hundred times.
Key features
- Four selectable filter bands. All-pass, low pass, high pass and band pass, so the discharge can be separated from traffic, plant and wind rather than shouted over.
- Background noise reduction and mute. The receiver suppresses steady site noise between shots and mutes between discharges, which is the difference between a usable afternoon and a headache.
- Volume limited to 84 dB. A flashover into unlimited headphones is a hearing injury; the limit is fitted, not optional.
- Route deviation indication. The display shows when the probe has wandered off the cable, so an hour is not spent listening beside it.
- IP65 probe. The sensor is the part that sits in mud and standing water. Rated for it.
- 5-inch 800 cd/m² display. Legible in the conditions the work actually happens in.
- Four 18650 cells, over eight hours standby, three-hour charge. A working day without a vehicle inverter.
Technical specification
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Filter — all-pass | 100–1600 Hz |
| Filter — low pass | 100–300 Hz |
| Filter — high pass | 160–1600 Hz |
| Filter — band pass | 200–600 Hz |
| Acoustic channel gain | 8 levels |
| Magnetic channel gain | 8 levels |
| Step voltage gain | 8 levels |
| Output gain | 16 levels, 0–112 dB |
| Output impedance | 350 Ω |
| Headphone volume limit | 84 dB |
| Acousto-magnetic positioning accuracy | ≤0.1 m |
| Step voltage positioning accuracy | ≤0.5 m |
| Route identification accuracy | ≤0.5 m |
| Acousto-magnetic time difference range | 0–100 ms |
| Acoustic channel bandwidth | 100 Hz – 1.6 kHz |
| Magnetic coil bandwidth | 100 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Noise reduction | Background noise reduction and mute |
| Display | 5 in touch, 854 × 480, 800 cd/m² |
| Sensor ingress protection | IP65 (ground probe) |
| Power supply | 4 × 18650 lithium cells |
| Standby time | >8 h |
| Charging time | 3 h |
| Case dimensions | 428 × 350 × 230 mm |
| Mass | 7 kg |
| Operating temperature | −25 to +65 °C |
| Relative humidity | ≤90% |
Supplied with: receiver, ground probe with connecting rod and three claws, headphones, seven-core signal lead, A-frame with connecting cable and two ground pins, multi-function spanner, charger and transit case.
Where it fits
- Distribution cable faults after pre-location, on directly buried and ducted cable.
- Street lighting and service cables, where the fault is often shallow and the route poorly recorded.
- Sheath and earth faults by step voltage, including the sheath testing that follows a repair.
The acoustic side of this instrument is the same problem treated in WP-01: what can honestly be concluded from a sound, and where the method stops. mobile-video-acoustic-triage
Pinpointing follows pre-location. For the distance measurement that comes first, see the XHGG501E cable fault locator.
Manufactured in China. Selected, supplied and technically supported by HVPACE, Auckland. Commissioning guidance, method support and fault investigation are handled locally; warranty and calibration are arranged through HVPACE.
About HVPACE
HVPACE is the trading name of Power Asset Condition Engineering Limited, a New Zealand-based supplier of test and diagnostic instruments and selected specialty equipment — such as cable sheath voltage limiters and other low-volume, mission-critical components — for high-voltage power systems. Backed by hands-on engineering expertise, including field-tested condition assessment techniques and AI-based signal analysis, we support customers with diagnostic guidance, methodology development and fault investigation, so they get the most value from the equipment they buy.
Enquire about the XHDD503EEmail [email protected] · Phone +64 21 0259 6074 · Auckland 0616, New Zealand
HVPACE is the trading name of Power Asset Condition Engineering Limited (NZBN 9429053607218), Auckland, New Zealand.
Specifications are subject to change without notice. Confirm current configuration at time of order.