Patent ID: 9720043
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: G01R

Claim:
1. A method of testing insulation using an umbilical monitoring device, the method comprising: applying, using the umbilical monitoring device, an electrical DC measuring signal comprising a current feed having a voltage to an umbilical cable and to earth, wherein the cable carries AC and comprises insulation surrounding a first and a second electrical conductor in the umbilical cable, and wherein the umbilical monitoring device further comprises a fuse connected to the first and the second electrical conductor; measuring, using a processor, an insulation resistance value using a voltage and current measuring circuitry of the umbilical monitoring device, wherein (i) an insulation resistance value below an insulation resistance threshold value indicates the fuse is not blown and (ii) an insulation resistance value above the insulation value threshold indicates a high insulation resistance or either the fuse has blown or the umbilical monitoring device is not connected to the umbilical cable, and causing, using the processor, the application of the electrical DC measuring signal current feed to cease; and determining, using the processor, whether the insulation resistance value above the insulation value threshold is due to high insulation resistance or either a blown fuse or the umbilical monitoring device is not connected to the umbilical cable, comprising: measuring a time for the electrical DC measuring signal voltage to decay to calculate capacitance, wherein (i) if the capacitance is above a threshold value, the fuse is not blown and (ii) if the capacitance is below a threshold value, either fuse has blown or the umbilical monitoring device is not connected to the umbilical cable.