Abstract:
An electrical power line voltage measurement device comprises a probe including an insulated shield supporting an electrode to sense voltage from one phase of the power line. The shield houses a high voltage resistor connected in series with the electrode. A meter comprises a housing operatively associated with the shield and enclosing a measurement circuit electrically connected to the high voltage resistor for measuring leakage current. A calibration circuit correlates measured leakage current to approximate power line voltage. A display is driven by the measurement circuit for displaying approximate power line voltage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD 
       [0004]    This disclosure relates to a high voltage meter for use with electrical power lines and, more particularly, to a direct high voltage measurement device. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    Electrical power distribution systems often include overhead electrical power distribution lines mounted upon poles by a wide variety of mounting structure. Other distribution systems include underground distribution lines in which protected cables run under the ground surface. It is often necessary to take voltage measurements of distribution and transmission lines while testing for induced or live power line or equipment. 
         [0006]    Known high voltage safety line detectors, meters and testers comprise high resistance probes connected in series with a calibrated panel meter to read the voltage. They are designed for use as safety tools by high voltage line maintenance workers to verify the status of the line or equipment as nominal, induced or de-energized. Known devices for providing such measurements include contact type and non-contact type. 
         [0007]    The direct high voltage measurement by contacting the live high voltage power lines by using high voltage measuring and detecting equipment is often cumbersome due to distance of the power line from the ground. There are also safety concerns since voltage levels are generally more than 69 kV in an electrical power system. A non-contact type measurement technique does not require that the testing equipment directly contact the power line. However, the conventional non-contact voltage testing devices determine only the presence of a voltage on the line. They do not show the magnitude of the voltage. The approximate magnitude of the voltage is necessary to understand the voltage levels in the electrical power system. Also, decisions must often be made with respect to voltage presence due to induced voltage or voltage due to overloading or voltage levels of different electrical lines. There can also be voltage accuracy issues with floating high voltages. 
         [0008]    The disclosure is directed to improvements in high voltage measurement devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    As disclosed herein, a measurement device displays power line voltage level from one phase of the power line. 
         [0010]    Broadly, there is disclosed herein an electrical power line voltage measurement device comprising a probe including an insulated shield supporting an electrode to sense voltage from one phase of the power line. The shield houses a high voltage resistor connected in series with the electrode. A meter comprises a housing operatively associated with the shield and enclosing a measurement circuit electrically connected to the high voltage resistor for measuring leakage current. A calibration circuit correlates measured leakage current to approximate power line voltage. A display is driven by the measurement circuit for displaying approximate power line voltage. 
         [0011]    It is a feature that a handle portion is integrally formed with the housing. A hot stick may be selectively attached to the housing. 
         [0012]    The measurement circuit may comprise a micro-ammeter circuit. 
         [0013]    It is a feature that the calibration circuit comprises a resistor having a value correlated to a particular line voltage range. 
         [0014]    It is another feature that the calibration circuit comprises a variable resistor having a value selectively correlated to a particular line voltage at a pre-select distance or a preselect line voltage range. 
         [0015]    The variable resistor may have a value selectively correlated to one of a plurality of power line voltage ranges. 
         [0016]    It is another feature to provide a digital display device. 
         [0017]    There is also disclosed herein a portable electrical power line voltage measurement device comprising a probe including an elongate insulated shield connected to a handle portion at a near end and an electrode at an opposite distal end to sense voltage from one phase of the power line. A meter housing is operatively associated with the probe. An electrical circuit comprises a high voltage resistor connected in series with the electrode. A measurement circuit connected to the high voltage resistor measures leakage current. A calibration circuit correlates measured leakage current to approximate power line voltage and a display in the meter housing is driven by the measurement circuit for displaying approximate power line voltage. 
         [0018]    Other features and advantages will be apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of use of a high voltage measurement device as disclosed herein; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the measurement device; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an electrical schematic of the measurement device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a portable high voltage measurement device  10  is shown for measuring approximate voltage for a single phase in a high voltage distribution and transmission line system  12 . The distribution and transmission line system  12  includes three lines in the form of conductors  14 ,  16  and  18  carrying high voltage power of alternating current with each line being 120° out of phase with the other lines, as is conventional. The measurement device  10  may be used by a maintenance worker W for measuring voltage such on the electrical conductor  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The measurement device  10  may also be used to measure other voltages, such underground high voltage lines directly or using cable capacitive test points if present. 
         [0023]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the measurement device  10  comprises a probe  20 , a meter  22 , an electrode  24  and a hot stick  26 , see  FIG. 1 . The hot stick  26  is for extending length of the measurement device  10 , as is conventional, to reach the line being tested. 
         [0024]    The probe  20  comprises an elongate cylindrical insulated shield  28  connected to a handle portion  30  at a near end and a terminal  32  at a distal end. The terminal  32  threadably receives the electrode  24 . The electrode  24  can be a straight probe as shown, or a hook or clamp, or the like, as necessary or desired. The meter  22  comprises a housing  34  integrally formed with the handle portion  30 . The housing  34  is frustoconical in shape including a bottom bezel  36  through which a display  38  is visible. The display  38  can be an analog display or a digital display. An adaptor  40  on the handle portion  30  is aligned with the shield  28  and is adapted to secure the hot stick  26  in a conventional manner. 
         [0025]    In use, the measurement device  10  is held proximate the power line  14 . The measurement device  10  is extended, by gripping the hot stick  26 , to place the electrode  24  in contact with the power line  14 . An approximation of actual power line voltage will be displayed on the display  38 . 
         [0026]    The measurement device  10  will be used by maintenance personnel for detecting high voltage in the overhead or underground high voltage lines of the electrical power system. The voltage can be as low as 100V at capacitive test points of the URD high voltage cable and up to 69 kV for overhead lines. The measurement device  10  is capable of measuring any of these voltages. Utilizing the measurement device  10  only one phase of the line is used for the voltage measurement. As such, the measurement device  10  detects the voltage without a closed circuit. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an electrical circuit  42  is shown for the measurement device  10 . The electrical circuit  42  uses the micro-ammeter method for measuring approximate line voltage. As will be apparent, other techniques for measuring voltage could also be used. 
         [0028]    The circuit  42  includes a high voltage resistor R 1 . The high voltage resistor R 1  is located in the probe  20 , particularly within the shield  28 , and is electrically connected in series with the electrode  24 . The voltage V 2  represents applied voltage that will be measured by the circuit  42 . The electrical circuit will display approximate line voltage responsive thereto. 
         [0029]    The electrical circuit  42  includes a rectifier circuit  44  comprising series connected diodes D 1  and D 2  having their junction connected to the high voltage resistor R 1 . This circuit works as a voltage to current converter. The diode D 1  is connected to the base of a transistor Q 1 . The opposite side of the diode D 2  is connected via a resistor R 3  to an emitter of the transistor Q 1 . This circuit comprises a transistor amplifier circuit. The transistor Q 1  is biased by leakage current flowing through the base of the transistor Q 1  based on the applied voltage represented by V 2 . The corresponding current which is flowing in the collector of the transistor Q 1  is equivalent actual high voltage being applied to the circuit  42 . The collector current is controlled through a calibration circuit  46  comprising an external resistance in the form of a potentiometer R 4  connected across the transistor amplifier circuit as shown in  FIG. 3 . The electrical circuit  42  is powered by a battery V 1 . The battery V 1  powers a measurement circuit  48  for measuring transistor collector current. The measurement circuit  48  comprises a resistor R 2  connected to the collector and which is connected in series with the display  34  and the battery V 1 . 
         [0030]    The electrical circuit  42  is adapted to measure the applied voltage at the electrode  24 . In one embodiment the collector current through the resistor R 2  drives the display  38 . Alternatively, the output voltage across the resistor R 2  can be sent to an analog to digital converter and fed to a microcontroller to display the high voltage in digital form. 
         [0031]    The output voltage across the resistor R 2  varies from 50 mV at an applied 100V, such as a capacitive test point, to 2.4V at an applied 69 kV, for 69 kV RMS high voltage line. The resistance of the potentiometer R 4  is adjusted to obtain the output voltage for the applied voltage from 100V to 69 kV. The value of the potentiometer is selected according to the desired voltage range. For example, a 50 k ohm potentiometer is used for voltages between 25 kV and 69 kV. The 500 k ohm potentiometer is used for voltages between 5 kV to 25 kV and a 7000 k ohm potentiometer is used for voltages less than 5 kV. 
         [0032]    As described, applied voltage from the single phase power line develops leakage current which biases the transistor Q 1 . The corresponding current which is flowing in the collector of the transistor Q 1  corresponds to the high voltage being applied to the circuit  42  and is represented by the output voltage across the resistor R 2  or shown on the display  38 . Thus, the measurement device  10  provides an approximation of the high voltage measurement on the high voltage line being detected. This results in a simple voltage detection circuit for voltage measurement and allows voltages from 100V to 69 kV to be measured. 
         [0033]    Thus, by using the measurement device  10 , a voltage detection method is possible that gives approximate voltage magnitude with a tolerance of plus or minus 20% with a high voltage power line, or the like. The measurement circuit is calibrated for the various voltage levels. This provides for simple voltage detection at any rating of voltage line. 
         [0034]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are many possible modifications to be made to the specific forms of the features and components of the disclosed embodiments while keeping within the spirit of the concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, no limitations to the specific forms of the embodiments disclosed herein should be read into the claims unless expressly recited in the claims. Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.