Inspector 400 Applications
Electric Arc, Corona, Tracking Detection
Inspector 400 Ultrasonic Probe
2 - 9
User Manual
Important! When testing electrical equipment,
follow your plant or company’s safety procedures.
When in doubt, ask your supervisor. Never touch
live electrical apparatus with the Inspector 400.
The method for detecting electric arc and corona
leakage is similar to the procedure outlined in leak
detection. Instead of listening for a rushing sound, a
user listens for a crackling or buzzing sound. In some
instances, as in trying to locate the source of radio /
TV interference or in substations, the general area of
disturbance may be located with a gross detector such
as a transistor radio or a wide-band interference
locator. Once the general area has been located, the
scanning module of the Inspector 400 is utilized with
a general scan of the area. The sensitivity is reduced
if the signal is too strong to follow. When this occurs,
reduce the sensitivity to get a midline reading on the
meter and continue following the sound until the
loudest point is located.
Determining whether a problem exists or not is
relatively simple. By comparing sound quality and
sound levels among similar equipment, the problem
sound tends to be quite different.
On lower voltage systems, a quick scan of bus bars
often picks up a loose connection. Checking junction
boxes can reveal arcing. As with leak detection, the
closer one gets to the emission site, the louder the
signal.
