Apparatuses and methods for improved switchgear sensor data communication

A method of operating medium voltage overhead switchgear mounted adjacent a distal end of a utility pole, the switchgear having a switch coupled to a phase conductor of an electric power distribution line, and an intelligent electronic device secured adjacent a proximal end of the utility pole, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a switchgear interface device located adjacent the switchgear and remote from the intelligent electronic device, analog sensor signals providing representations of current and voltage measured by sensors at the switch, and at least one status signal indicating one of an opened status and a closed status of the switch;
• digitizing the analog sensor signals and the at least one status signal to generate corresponding digital inputs;
• sampling the digital inputs to obtain samples;
• combining the samples into merged digital samples comprising digital representations of the current and the voltage measured by the sensors and a digital representation of the at least one status signal;
• and
• transmitting the merged digital samples from the switchgear interface device to the intelligent electronic device via a digital data cable.