Patent ID: 7072163

Claim:
A method for determining a maximum current flow in the electric power line conductor ( 1 ) under faulted circuit conditions, the method comprising: (a) in the field environment, applying a specific frequency activation signal and code key from an exciter positioned proximate to a faulted circuit monitoring apparatus located on the power line conductor; (b) activating said faulted circuit monitoring apparatus by way of said specific frequency activation signal and code key; (c) at the exciter, detecting a data signal from the faulted circuit monitoring apparatus, the data produced by modulating a specific frequency faulted circuit monitor in response to a measured current parameter; (d) at the exciter, receiving the faulted circuit data from the data signal; (e) associating the faulted circuit current magnitude with the conductor phase information for the particular faulted circuit monitor unit; and (f) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) for all power line phase conductors on an electric power line.