Detection of faulty pilot cable using AXTERA Cyclone II board with time-domain reflection (TDR) technique: article

This paper demonstrates the detection of faulty pilot cable using AXTERA Cyclone II board with time-domain reflection (TDR) technique. Pilot cables play a vital role in signaling and protection systems within power networks, and timely fault detection is crucial to prevent system failure. By integrating the high-speed processing capabilities of the AXTERA Cyclone II board with the TDR approach, this system transmits electrical pulses down the cable and analyzes the reflected signals. The time delay and waveform characteristics of the reflections are used to pinpoint the exact location and nature of the cable fault. The experimental results show that this method offers a highly precise, automated, and cost-effective solution for real-time diagnostic monitoring of critical underground and communication cables.