Patent ID: 7496430
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: H02H,H04B

Abstract:
1. In a two-way automated communication system (TWACS) for a multiple phase electrical distribution system by which communications including poll requests are sent from a station of the system to transponders of electrical meters located at power using facilities and responses are sent back to the station by the transponders in response to the communications, some of the meters responding to communications sent on one of the phases with other of the meters responding to communications sent on other of the phases, a method of quickly and accurately mapping a location and extent of an outage occurring in the electrical distribution system without having to poll all of the electrical meters, comprising: using a programmable device incorporating a memory in which is stored addresses of the electrical meters in an area where the outage has occurred; detecting the occurrence of a fault causing the outage and the electrical phase on which the fault has occurred, occurrence of the fault being indicated by operation of a protective device including a circuit breaker for a feeder line of the electrical distribution system, or a fuse for a lateral line coming off of the feeder line, operation of the protective device producing a signature indicative of the type of protective device which operated; when the fault occurs, using the programmable device and the TWACS to selectively poll the meters associated with the electrical phase on which the fault has occurred in that portion of the electrical distribution system experiencing the outage, those meters outside the area where the outage has occurred responding to the poll, and those meters within the area of the outage not responding thereto; and, based upon solicited responses received from the poll, mapping the extent of the outage, whereby by only polling meters within the area where the fault has occurred and determining which, if any, meters responded to the poll, the extent of the outage is quickly and accurately mapped and efforts to restore service within are rapidly and efficiently carried out.