Detecting Fault Before It Trips – Janitza RCM

Detecting Fault Before It Trips – Janitza RCM

Janitza RCM

Janitza RCM1

Janitza RCM2

Residual Current Fault, also known as Earth Leakage Current, is a serious electrical condition that can pose risk to human life and malfunction of sensitive equipment. A leakage current flow of a few mA can potentially be lethal. Conventional protection system and relay are set to trip at preset level. However, the development of a Residual Current Fault, do not happen suddenly. It is a progressively increasing condition which develop over time. A high sensitivity current detection such as the Janitza UMG96-RM-E and Janitza 20CM meter can be used to monitor a circuit and provide an early warning alarm should a possible Residual Current Fault is developing. This provide advance alert time for the electrical maintenance technician to attend to the problem and replace any faulty component before a power interruption is triggered by a system protection device. The Janitza UMG96-RM-E and 20CM provide very low level detection starting from 10mA with resolution of 1mA accuracy. The smart meter can also be programmed to distinguish “normal starting surge leakage” vs abnormal progressive increasing leakage. User can easily configure the “Leakage Current Limit” and “Time Delay” setting via the GridVis EMS software to customize to the need of individual load behaviour. This address the issue with false alarm due to operation of heavy induction machines e.g. Direct Online Motor, with inherent high inrush and starting surge characteristics. It is recommended to install the Janitza UMG96-RM-E or 20CM at DB where critical loads e.g. Computer Data Servers, Medical Machinery, Production Plant Inline Processes; are connected. The Janitza UMG96-RM-E and 20CM smart meter can communicate with traditional Building Management Software or Janitza GridVis PQM software for providing alarm status via email, panel indication buzzer or via dry contact to activate other counter measures.