Essential for the Safe and Reliable Operation of Electrical Power Systems Earthing systems, also known as grounding systems, ensure that persons in and around electrical substations are not exposed to dangerous, electric voltage shocks. For safety and functional purposes, an earthing or grounding system connects specific parts of an electrical power system with the ground, typically the Earth's conductive surface. If electrical equipment at a substation is adequately grounded, stray voltage resu...
Nov 17, 2021•38 min
Best practices and recommended solutions for testing IEC 61850 substation automation systems A substation automation system (SAS) is a collection of hardware and software components that are used to monitor and control an electrical power system. Substation automation systems are essential since they increase both the integrity and safety of the electrical power network. In this episode, Thomas Schossig , an expert in the field and product manager for the StationScout testing solution from OMICR...
Oct 29, 2021•29 min
Learn about the best practices for off-line and in-service testing on MV circuit breakers. In the event of a power system malfunction, circuit breakers must be able to disconnect the fault current as quickly and reliably as possible, thereby protecting all subsequent equipment. Circuit breaker testing is performed to check and verify both the performance of individual switching mechanisms and the timing of the overall tripping system. This ensures the safe and reliable performance of this key li...
Oct 05, 2021•20 min
Learn about the benefits of cloud-based solutions for managing and sharing power system testing data Over the past decade, there have been many developments in the area of managing power system testing data in an increasingly digital work environment. The growing trend for cloud-based data management solutions is improving how data can be centrally stored in a safe location and shared among teams. With PTM DataSync WEB and PTM Data Analytics, OMICRON meets this current trend. These two additiona...
Sep 22, 2021•18 min
Discover how AC and DC PD measurements are performed to reliably assess insulation condition. Partial discharge (PD) measurement and analysis are considered a highly effective, non-destructive diagnostic method for assessing the condition of electrical insulation. Most PD measurements have been typically performed under AC voltage to detect potential failure-causing insulation defects. However, the shift towards decentralizing energy supplies and the growing number of solar power generation stat...
Sep 01, 2021•32 min
Learn about the factors driving change in the power grid and how they can best be responded to. A continuously changing power grid presents challenges that influence work practices and priorities, not only now but also into the future. What are these challenges, and how can they be best overcome? In this episode, Florian Fink, OMICRON product manager for industrial and distribution power grid applications, describes what is driving change in the power grid and how resulting challenges can best b...
Aug 25, 2021•24 min
Learn about the differences between these two testing approaches and how they should be used together. Protection systems play a key role for the safe and reliable operation of today’s electricity power systems. This is relevant for all power system grids in generation, transmission and distribution, industrial, railway, and marine applications. In order to guarantee their reliable operation, protection systems should be tested on a regular basis. There are two different approaches used for prot...
Jul 28, 2021•16 min
Learn about the importance of cybersecurity in the substation network and how to implement it. Protecting the power grid against cyber attacks requires a security strategy that takes hold at all levels within the substation network. Suitable real-time intrusion detection systems should offer not only a high degree of security in the long term, but they should also require little maintenance, and be easily integrated into the automated processes used in maintaining and operating substation system...
Jul 07, 2021•27 min
Meet Saravanan Balamurugan – a protection testing expert in India. Protection testing plays is a very important role in ensuring the reliability of power systems. A planned sequence of testing activities along with the right diagnostic equipment and software are key to protection testing success. In this episode, we speak with protection testing expert Saravanan Balamurugan . He is the CEO and founder of Minaatral Power Systems in southeast India, which specializes in protection testing on power...
Jun 21, 2021•25 min
How to reduce the risk of serious accidents during high-voltage electrical testing. Even though safety awareness has increased over the years, serious accidents can still occur. How can you prevent them? In this episode, David Gopp , electrical testing safety expert at OMICRON, discusses how to ensure safe electrical testing on high-voltage equipment and describes what OMICRON does to ensure safe electrical testing practices when using its diagnostic equipment. In addition, safety communications...
Jun 08, 2021•12 min
One software platform for performing various diagnostic tests, managing data and reporting. In this episode, Martin Pfanner , OMICRON product manager for Primary Test Manager software, discusses what contributes to making electrical testing on primary assets faster, easier and safer. One important aspect of testing efficiency is having a single, automated software platform that provides users with guided workflows and the ability to centrally manage data and create reports for all the recommende...
May 26, 2021•21 min
A globally recognized, accredited calibration laboratory according to the IEC 17025 standard. In this episode, we address the importance of standard-compliant calibrations of testing equipment, how often they should be performed and the difference between ISO 9001 and IEC 17025 standard calibrations. For example, compared with conventional ISO 9001 manufacturer calibrations, calibrations according to IEC 17025 are becoming more and more the standard in various countries. Dietmar Gehrmann, head o...
May 06, 2021•22 min
PD testing is essential for detecting insulation defects in power transformer insulation. To ensure reliable and safe operation of power transformers, it is key to assess the condition of the insulation system during a transformer’s life cycle. Partial discharge (PD) measurements, for example, are a highly effective and non-destructive tool for the detection, assessment, and localization of insulation weak spots, which could eventually lead to transformer failure. In this episode, OMICRON PD mea...
Apr 23, 2021•23 min
The upcoming virtual event features a complete program of diagnostic topics and is open to all In this episode, we are talking about the upcoming OMICRON Diagnostic Forum . The next OMICRON Diagnostic Forum takes place on March 24-25, 2021. This event is scheduled every 2 years, and has become an OMICRON tradition of sharing knowledge, experiences and best cases with industry peers about diagnostic testing on a wide variety of power system equipment. Event organizers Verena Rein and Tobias Schmu...
Mar 12, 2021•16 min
New virtual concepts for sharing knowledge and training The OMICRON Academy is an important pillar of knowledge sharing at OMICRON. For more than 25 years, it has offered a wide variety of theoretical and practical training courses on power system testing topics at its training centers around the world for energy suppliers, industrial companies, service providers, and electrical equipment manufacturers. Of course, due to current travel restrictions, it is not possible to attend in-person trainin...
Mar 02, 2021•25 min
Combining a love of the outdoors with performing diagnostic measurements in remote locations It goes without saying that we are still going through challenging times, but it is always amazing to hear stories about how colleagues in this industry continue to find innovative ways to still get the job done in order to ensure power system reliability. One such colleague is Gustav Lundqvist, who has joined us for this episode. He is the CEO and founder of Kraftdiagnos – a service company that provide...
Mar 02, 2021•26 min
Important electrical tests used for assessing the condition of motors and generators The reliable operation of rotating electrical machines, whether generators or motors, is essential for continuous power generation and critical industrial processes. However, defects resulting from operational stresses and aging, can cause rotating machines to fail. Various electrical testing methods allow you to identify developing problems throughout a machine’s service life. But which electrical tests are ess...
Jan 29, 2021•19 min
When to perform PD testing and monitoring to assess insulation condition in electrical equipment Partial discharge (PD) is a very reliable indicator of potential failure-causing faults in electrical equipment insulation. Regular PD testing and PD monitoring are used to reliably assess insulation condition throughout equipment lifetime. In this episode, two of OMICRON’s PD experts – Patrick Zander and Samuel Scheller – describe the differences between PD testing and monitoring, when they are used...
Dec 23, 2020•21 min
