cali

Partial discharge calibrator

Cable testing and diagnostics with BAUR cali

BAUR cali is a PD calibrator used in power cable partial discharge measurement set ups. These partial discharges can occur in particular at air pockets, e.g. in cable accessories, joints and/or right angle plugs, or in the cable itself. Depending on their energy content and the duration of their effect, these partial discharges can cause damage to the component's insulation and even lead to the failure of the cable route.

Using a combination of a high-voltage test source and a PD measuring system, such as the PD-TaD 62, the intensity of possible partial discharges in cable routes is measured and localised with the help of offline measurements (without operating voltage in the cable route). From a technical measurement point of view, the test setup must be calibrated in order to be able to display the measured pd levels accurately.

Download data sheet Download data sheet

Cable faults in medium-voltage networks are among the situations that no one wants to experience – yet they occur time and time again. Downtime, high time pressure and critical infrastructures that need to be up and running again quickly: these are the challenges you face. In this environment, improvising is not an option. What you need is precise data, a clear approach and technology that provides you with the right answers at all times. With PD-TaD, cali and tracy, you have a measuring system that was developed precisely for these scenarios: reliable cable diagnosis, clear results and fast, targeted fault location. Combined with the innovative BAUR Software 4, it is an unbeatable system.

Process overview Process overview

Process description Process description

BAUR Software 4 BAUR Software 4

process overview

How to get started – with structure instead of stress

1. Start diagnostics with PD-TaD

Thanks to the combination of a portable diagnostic device, VLF testing system and BAUR software 4, you can see the PD level, its position and the dissipation factors – comprehensively, reproducibly and documented.

1. Start diagnostics with PD-TaD

Set up the portable diagnostics system – the heart of the PD measurement. In just a few simple steps, you connect:

PD-TaD with the cable via PD coupling units
VLF diagnostics system PHG 80 TD PD with the cable for the power supply
Laptop with the entire system for controlling the entire diagnostics process

And the software?

BAUR Software 4 controls the entire measurement process. You enter cable data, define test sequences and carry out measurements automatically – without any manual readjustment.

You can see the following live in the software:

Partial discharge levels, positions, dissipation factors
Voltage curves and trend displays
Visualisations with phase resolution – even during the VLF test

The condition analysis is now running: complete, reproducible and documented.

secure calibration

2. Ensure calibration with cali

Before drawing any further conclusions, calibrate the measuring setup in accordance with standards using the BAUR calibrator cali. Connect the calibrator to the cable and PD-TaD using the cables and clamps supplied. With just a few keystrokes, you can select the charge and polarity and send calibration pulses – precisely, quickly and reliably.

Technology in the background:

Charge range: 100 pC – 50 nC, polarity switchable
Rise time: < 25 ns, operating time: up to 60 h
Robust housing (IP54), large display with automatic illumination

BAUR Software 4 automatically recognises the calibration, adopts the reference values – and documents the calibration process.

This tells you that the values are correct and the measurement is reliable.

pinpoint fault location

3. Pinpoint the cable fault location with tracy

You have discovered a critical point in the cable – now expose this area.

This is where tracy comes in: the PD signal coupler is placed on the outside of the cable, directly above the suspected fault zone. It couples a defined signal into the cable without contact – inductively, without damage. Use the PD-TaD or a PHG TD/PD to compare whether the induced signal matches the pre-located TE.

Technical specifications:

Pulse width: 25 ns, clock rate: 20 ms – 5.1 s
Compact (110 × 213 × 42 mm), weighs only 550 g
Battery operation, runtime: approx. 20 h, protection class: IP54

With BAUR Software 4, you can overlay both signals and visually confirm the match.

This confirms the partial discharge location. Not approximately, but precisely.

BSW4

BAUR Software 4: the invisible connection

BAUR Software 4 works behind the scenes, whether in the background or actively on your screen:

✔ Plan, perform and evaluate measurements
✔ Visualise and synchronise live data
✔ Link all measurement results to cable data
✔ Central documentation & report generation
✔ Trend analyses for long-term network evaluation
✔ Whether in the field or in the measurement vehicle: you have all your data in one place – accessible at any time.

Everything interacts – step by step:

PD-TaD + VLF generator connected to the cable for diagnostics ( operated by BAUR Software 4)
cali connected to the cable + PD-TaD for calibration (documented by BAUR Software 4)
tracy conntected to exposed cable section for signal coupling (compared in BAUR Software 4)