System for Monitoring the Status of a Line in an Energy Chain

An adapter system for monitoring the status of a line during operation, comprising a first module (200A) and a second module (200B), which can each be connected or coupled in an adapter-like manner to a first end or to a second end, respectively, of a line section (130) to be monitored;

• the first and second modules (200A, 200B) are configured to work together in order to determine, during operation, at least one electrical RF (radio frequency) transmission property of the line section (130) with respect to a predetermined RF signal;
• the first module (200A) comprises an RF generator (210) for generating a predetermined RF signal as test signal, which test signal is independent of the intended use of the line (13) to be monitored and which is not used as payload signal, wherein the RF generator can be coupled to the line (13) to be monitored in order to apply the predetermined RF signal as a test signal;
• and
• the second module (200B) comprises an RF receiver (210), which is coupled to the line to be monitored in order to receive the applied RF signal from the line section (130), and is set up to evaluate properties of the received RF signal in order to determine at least one value relating to the transmission quality over the line section.

A method for monitoring the status of a line during operation, with a system comprising a first module and a second module, which are located at a first end or at a second end, respectively, of a line section to be monitored, and the method comprising:

• determining with the first and second modules working together, during operation, at least one electrical transmission property of the line section with respect to a predetermined RF signal, which is independent of the intended usage of the line to be monitored;
• generating with the first module the predetermined RF signal as a test signal, which the test signal is independent of the intended use of the line (13) to be monitored and which is not used as payload signal, and the first module brings onto or couples into the line section the predetermined RF signal as the test signal;
• and
• receiving with the second module the RF signal from the line section and evaluating properties of the received RF signal in order to determine an indicator value relating to the transmission quality of the received RF signal, wherein this indicator value is used for the evaluation of the monitored line status.