Apparatuses and methods for improved switchgear sensor data communication

A switchgear interface device for a medium voltage overhead switchgear mounted on a distal end of a utility pole and connected to an electric power distribution line, the utility pole having a proximal end secured to a ground support and a cabinet with an intelligent electronic device (IED) secured at the proximal end, the switchgear having sensors at a switch provided at one of three phase conductors associated with the power distribution line, a switchgear interface device comprising:

• a housing configured to be disposed adjacent the switchgear and mounted on the distal end of the utility pole;
• a plurality of inputs at the housing configured to receive analog signals providing representations of current or voltage measured by the sensors at the switch, and to receive at least one status signal indicating one of an opened and closed status of the switch;
• a processor disposed within the housing and configured to digitize the analog signals and the at least one status signal to generate corresponding digital inputs therefrom, sample the digital inputs to obtain samples, and combine the samples into a set of merged digital samples having a designated format and comprising digital representations of the current and voltage of a corresponding one of the phase conductors measured by the sensors, the status signal, and metadata, the metadata chosen from identification of which of the sensors that the digital samples originated from, identification of the switch, at least one of identification and location data of the switchgear;
• a memory disposed within the housing and configured to store the set of merged digital samples;
• and
• a digital data connector connected to the housing and configured to be connected to a digital data cable chosen from an optical fiber cable and an Ethernet cable and to provide the merged digital samples and the metadata as outputs to the digital data cable and the IED when the digital data cable connects the digital data connector and the IED, the digital data connector chosen from a fiber cable connector and an Ethernet cable connector that corresponds to the digital data cable.

A switchgear interface device for a medium voltage overhead switchgear mounted on a distal end of a utility pole and connected to an electric power distribution line, the utility pole having a proximal end secured to a ground support and a cabinet with an intelligent electronic device (IED) secured at the proximal end, the switchgear having sensors at a switch provided at one of three phase conductors associated with the power distribution line, the switchgear disposed adjacent to a junction box at the distal end of the utility pole, a switchgear interface device (SID) comprising:

• switch SID components arranged proximally to and electrically connected to the switch, the switch SID components comprising
• a processor configured to receive analog signals from the sensors that are representations of current or voltage measured by the sensors at the switch, and at least one status signal indicating one of an opened status and a closed status of the switch, digitize the analog signals and the at least one status signal to generate corresponding digital outputs therefrom, sample the digital outputs to obtain samples, and combine the samples into a set of merged digital samples having a designated format and comprising digital representations of the current and voltage of a corresponding one of the phase conductors measured by the sensors, the status signal, and metadata, the metadata chosen from identification of which of the sensors that the digital samples originated from, identification of the switch, at least one of identification and location data of the switchgear;
• a memory configured to store the set of merged digital samples;
• and
• a digital data connector configured to be connected to a digital data cable chosen from an optical fiber cable and an Ethernet cable and to provide the merged digital samples and the metadata to the junction box when the digital data cable connects the digital data connector and the junction box, the digital data connector chosen from a fiber cable connector and an Ethernet cable connector that corresponds to the digital data cable.