Arc detector

A system for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution equipment:

• a first sensor disposed proximate electrical distribution equipment for sensing a first radio frequency signal likely to include an arcing radio frequency characteristic indicative of an arcing event generated in the electrical distribution equipment;
• a second sensor disposed proximate the electrical distribution equipment for sensing a second radio frequency signal likely to include a noise radio frequency characteristic indicative of background electrical noise generated by the electrical distribution equipment;
• a signal processor for processing the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal detected by the respective sensors to extract the arcing radio frequency characteristic and the noise radio frequency characteristic from the signals;
• a discriminator for discriminating the arcing radio frequency characteristic from the noise radio frequency characteristic to identify occurrence of an arcing event;
• and
• an arc alarm generator for generating an arc fault signal indicative of the occurrence of the arcing event.

A method for identifying an arcing event in electrical distribution equipment:

• detecting radio frequency signals resulting from the arcing event generated by electrical distribution equipment and propagating wirelessly from the electrical distribution equipment;
• extracting radio frequency characteristics from the detected signals;
• comparing the extracted radio frequency characteristics to a predetermined arcing radio frequency characteristic and a predetermined noise radio frequency characteristic to identify an arcing event occurrence of an arcing event;
• and
• generating an arc fault signal indicative of the occurrence of the arcing event.