/ UK Power Networks / HSS 40 054
v2.0

Use of Voltage Indication Circuit Test & Outage Restoration (VICTOR)

Owner
Name / Peter Vujanic
Title / Head of Health and Safety
Signature
Date / 06 January 2017
Authoriser
Name / Dudley Sparks
Title / Operational Safety Manager
Signature
Date / 06 January 2017

This document forms part of the UK Power Networks Integrated Management System and compliance with its requirements is mandatory. Departure from these requirements may only be taken with the written approval of the above authoriser.

Revision Record
Version number / 2.0 / What has changed?
Reviewed and no changes
Why has it changed?
No changes
Date published / 09/01/2017
Next review date / 05/01/2020
Prepared by / D Daintree
Version number / 1.0 / What has changed?
A review of the process identified a need to have a formal documented procedure. This will replace previous Operational Bulletin 29.
Why has it changed?
New Document
Date published / 09/11/2015
Next review date / 27/10/2016
Prepared by / D. Daintree
Version number / What has changed?
Why has it changed?
Date published
Next review date
Prepared by
Who needs to know?
☒ All UK Power Networks Staff
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Contents

1.0 Introduction and Purpose 3

2.0 Scope 3

3.0 Objective 3

4.0 References 3

5.0 Definitions 3

6.0 Responsibilities 3

7.0 Records 4

8.0 PPE Requirements 4

9.0 Process Detail 5

10.0 Training 7

1.0  Introduction and Purpose

VICTOR stands for Voltage Indication Circuit Test & Outage Restoration. Its use is restricted to indoor switchgear with withdrawable 6.6 kV and 11 kV Circuit Breakers and currently its use is confined to HV fault restoration in the LPN area. This procedure is a derogation from the Distribution Safety Rules to allow limited live testing of underground cables without completing all the requirements of DSR 4.1.1 (Sanction for Test)

2.0  Scope

This document deals with the use of the Victor instrument and is suitable for use on 6.6 kV and 11 kV systems and is for INDOOR USE ONLY. It is intended for application via suitably shrouded isolating spouts, for example, vertically isolated metal clad switchgear and MUST NOT be used on exposed connections that would involve unsafe proximity of the operator. Only the spouts required for testing should be accessible, all other spouts should be locked shut. It should be read in conjunction with the Distribution Safety Rules and the VICTOR operating manual (appendix a). Only staff trained and Authorised in the use of VICTOR and its potential hazards if misused are authorised to use it.

3.0  Objective

To prevent harm to UK Power Networks’ staff and its contractors whilst undertaking HV Fault Locations when using a VICTOR

This document and the appendix provides guidance in the use of VICTOR

4.0  References

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
UK Power Networks Distribution Safety Rules
HSS 01 105 / Putting People to Work
VICTOR T120 / VICTOR Operating Manual
DSR 01 002 / HV System Operations
LMS / Learning Management System

5.0  Definitions

VICTOR / Voltage Indicator, Circuit Test, Outage Restoration
DSRs / Distribution Safety Rules
HSS & TT / Health Safety Sustainability and Technical Training

6.0  Responsibilities

·  Managers are responsible for ensuring that their supervisory and field staff are suitably trained to comply with the requirements of this procedure.

·  Supervisors and Field Engineers are responsible for ensuring that staff or Contractors are competent to work on Live HV apparatus, and able to comply with the requirements of this procedure and the Distribution Safety Rules and other relevant DSR procedures and that they comply with Putting People to Work procedure HSS 01 105.

·  Staff and Contractors are responsible for ensuring that they and all members of their working party have the correct competencies and skills to carry out the work following this procedure.

7.0  Records

Work records, Safety Documents and On Site (Point of Work) Assessment shall be kept in accordance with Company procedures. Records of training and assessments will be recorded in the Learning Management System (LMS).

All records of VICTOR shall be held on the SADS database.

8.0  PPE Requirements

Approved class 1 HV Gloves and FR overalls are mandatory when using the VICTOR and any other PPE identified by the Point of Work Assessment.

9.0  Process Detail

9.1  Proving Check

9.1.1  Before use the VICTOR shall be visually inspected and confirmed in good condition and within test date. The Victor is fitted with a safety mechanism in that the green and red pushbuttons must be depressed in the correct sequence in order to generate the high voltage output. Always connect the earth lead to a suitable earth point and ensure that the Victor is clean and dry before use. Hold the Victor by the handle only. Do not touch the HV probe.

a)  Press the green pushbutton. The kV meter lamps will illuminate and continue to be illuminated for approximately 15/20 seconds after the green pushbutton has been released.

b)  While the kV lamps are illuminated, the Victor is activated. Pressing the red pushbutton while the Victor is activated will cause the 15 kV dc power supply to be energised and the high voltage output will be present on the brass end cap of the HV probe. Release the red pushbutton to de-energise the 15 kV dc power supply.

Note:

·  Energising the 15 kV power supply resets the timing circuit and so the Victor will remain in the activated mode for a further 15/20 seconds (approx.) after de-energising the 15 kV power supply.

·  Pressing the red pushbutton while the Victor is not activated will have no effect.

·  Once the battery pack has become exhausted it will become impossible to put the Victor in its activated mode. The Victor should then be recharged.

9.2  Use as a Potential Indicator

9.2.1  Prior to using the device in the potential indicator mode it must be proved as detailed in section 9.

9.2.2  Hold the handle of the instrument in one hand and when in position use the thumb to actuate the buttons. If support is required from the hand, it must not reach beyond the pushbuttons.

9.2.3  Insert the probe into one of the spouts until it touches the required conductor, and press the green button if illumination is required to assist in reading the indication. This will show the approximate voltage to earth (the calibration is a compromise between ac and dc conditions and is not intended to be precise). A 6.6 kV circuit will give a reading of approximately 4.4 kV on the meter. Similarly an energised 11 kV circuit will give a reading of approximately 6.4 kV on the meter.

9.2.4  Repeat the test on all phases. If the indication gradually falls away it is probably a sign of a charge retained in a cable.

9.2.5  When using VICTOR as Potential Indicator (PI) to sectionalise an inter-connected HV Fault (Phase to Earth) remote switching will be carried out to confirm the Faulty section. When the Fault is visible the volt meter on the VICTOR will show 2 phases at approximately 11kV and the faulty phase at 0v, when the remote switching is carried out and the faulty section isolated the circuit volts will then return to normal approximately 6.4kV. If during the testing back-feed is lost due to remote switching revert back to using VICTOR as per 9.2.3

9.2.6  If the instrument is being used to prove a circuit dead, it should be rechecked immediately after use by repeating the proving check.

9.3  Use as a Insulation Tester

9.3.1  The VICTOR incorporates an internal high voltage dc generator powered by a rechargeable battery. This must not be utilised until it has been established that the circuit is dead, however the components have been rated so that no harm will arise if the high voltage test is inadvertently applied to a live circuit.

9.3.2  To apply the test, maintain the probe tip against the circuit conductor, and press first the green button and then the red. If the circuit is healthy the voltage indication should gradually increase as the cable charges up. The process may be arrested at an intermediate voltage by releasing the red button.

9.3.3  The source impedance is approximately 20 Megohms and the maximum output voltage is about 15 kV. The charging time of a circuit will depend on its capacitance and leakage. If a cable circuit fails to show any charge after one minute it should be regarded as potentially faulty.

9.3.4  Always release the red button before removing the probe from the circuit. Remember the circuit must still be treated as LIVE. It could hold a charge.

9.3.5  The test voltage is always applied relative to earth. For this reason it is not necessary to disconnect transformers which provide a circuit between phases, but a phase-to-phase fault will not be detected unless it also has an earth leakage path.

9.3.6  The instrument is approved for short duration use, and not for prolonged commissioning tests on cables, owing to limited battery capacity. The maximum aggregate use on one charge will normally be approximately 15 minutes depending on conditions.

Note:

·  Consideration should be given to the effect of Voltage Transformers (VTs) when using the VICTOR, some VTs have a Star wound Primary which will present itself as a 3 phase Earth fault, if VTs are connected the associated circuit breakers must be Opened to allow accurate testing not all Star wound VTs are marked on network diagrams

9.4  Approved procedure for the operation of the VICTOR instrument

9.4.1  If test access to the HV network at a Ring Main Unit position is available then carry out the following;

·  Contact Control for consent to VICTOR

·  Test Access is Via Bus Bar Spouts only the cable spouts should be locked off

·  Test for voltage on all phases if dead Inject volts with both Ring Main Unit Ring Switches closed to determine if a fault is present

·  If fault is present open each Ring Main Unit Ring Switches in turn to determine the direction of the fault

·  To determine the actual location of the faulty circuit, remote switching to sectionalise the network and retesting from the original position the unit will determine when the fault has been removed.

9.4.2  If access is at a Primary substation circuit breaker position then carry out the following:

·  Contact Control for consent to VICTOR

·  Test Access is Via cable Spouts only, the Bus Bar spouts shall be locked shut where practicable be locked off

·  Test for voltage on all phases, if dead then

·  To inject volts to determine whether a fault exists

·  To determine the actual location of the faulty circuit, remote switching to sectionalise the network and retesting from the original position will determine when the fault has been removed.

9.4.3  After testing and/or switching contact control stating the final location of the faulty circuit and the status of all equipment which have been operated.

9.5  Maintenance

9.5.1  Ensure that the instrument is kept clean and dry. Any scratches on the insulating surface of the probe should be treated with suitable non tracking varnish or polish available from stores.

9.5.2  VICTORS are only to be transported in the approved Padded Carry Cases

9.5.3  Check the integrity of the earth lead periodically Ensure that the battery is kept in a suitable state of charge. The portable dual current charger provided plugs into the socket on the tester and will recharge a fully discharged battery in about 15 hours. It may generally be used on an approximate basis of half an hour recharge for each minute of estimated use. Overcharging should be avoided, but the battery should never be left in a full discharged state. It may be trickle charged continuously.

9.5.4  VICTORS are on an annual inspection regime and maintained by Norwich Instruments Services (NIS)

9.5.5  VICTORS are stored locally in a secure location.

10.0 Training

All staff shall have the Lead Fault Finding – Enhanced competency and be have been trained and assessed in the use of VICTOR. Training records will be held in LMS.

This printed document is valid at 09/01/17, check after this date for validity.
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