File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 1 of 11 Table of Contents Pg(s) I. Benefits of using FCI s... 1 II. Installation... 2-5 III. AccQTrip for OLM & UCM Models... 5 IV. Adaptive trip Logic for 1547 & 1548 Models... 6-7 V. Battery... 7-8 VI. Indication... 8 VII. Resetting Options... 9-10 VIII.Field Testing... 10-11 I. Benefits of using FCI s 1. What is the benefit of fault indicators? Reliability improvement. Reliability indices can be improved by, either reducing the number of outages or reducing the length of time that it takes to bring customers back on line after a fault in the system. Fault indicators help reduce the outage duration because they narrow down the location of the fault, eliminating guesswork. The time and expense involved in the process of chasing the fault by re-fusing and reclosing is eliminated along with the electrical stress such activity places on the system.
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 2 of 3 II. Installation 1. Which Fisher Pierce FCI Model is recommended for my application? Overhead Underground 1548 1547 OLMTL, OLMVOL, OLMVL, OLMVF 1514 & 1515 1514 & 1515 TPMVF, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL 1541, 1542, 1543 1516 2. What features are available with overhead FCI models? Features Available FCI Series Adaptive Trip Yes 1548 Hi-Lo Trip Yes OLMTL, OLMVOL, OLMVL, OLMVF Current Reset Yes 1514 & 1515 Time Reset Yes 1548, 1514, 1515, OLMTL, OLMVOL Voltage Reset Yes OLMVL & OLMVF Manual Reset Yes ALL Single Phase Yes 1548, 1514, OLMTL Three-Phase (C.R) Yes 1515 LED Type Yes 1548, 1514, 1515, OLMTL, OLMVL, OLMVOL Strobe Light Yes 1548 Flag Type Yes 1548, 1514, 1515, OLMVF Radio Transmitter Yes 1548 & 1514
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 3 of 3 3. What features are available with underground FCI models? Features Available FCI Series Adaptive Trip Yes 1547 Hi-Lo Trip Yes TPMVF, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL Current Reset Yes 1547, 1514, 1515 Time Reset Yes 1547, 1541, 1542, 1543, 1514, 1515, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL Voltage Reset Yes 1516, TPMVL, TPMVF Manual Reset Yes ALL Directional Fault Yes 1514-45102 Single Phase Yes 1547, 1541, 1514, 1516, TPMVF, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL Three-Phase Yes 1515, 1543 Test Point Yes TPMVF, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL LED Type Yes 1547, 1541, 1542, 1543, 1514, 1515, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL Flag Type Yes 1547, 1514, 1515, 1516, TPMVF Audible Alarm Yes 1541, 1542, 1543 SCADA Contacts Fiber Optic Display Radio Transmitter Yes 1547, 1514, 1516 Yes 1547, 1541, 1542, 1543, 1514, 1515, TPMVL, TPMVOL, TPMTL, UCMTL Yes 1547, 1514, 1515
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 4 of 3 4. What wire size can the Fisher Pierce FCIs be used on? FCI Series Cable Dia. Range (Inches) Notes Overhead 1548 0.14 1.2 Unit is secure when ratcheting using loop only. OLM 0.4 2.22 Utilizes AccQClamp that will keep a constant trip current calibration (factory set) regardless of the conductor O.D. 1514 & 1515 0.5 1.62 0.5 2.18 0.5 2.31 Current reset rating of 1.2, 1.5, and 3A dependent upon cable diameter and mounting requirements. 1547 0.5 1.62 0.5 2.18 Underground Current reset level: with U-Lamination: 1.0A, w/o U-Lamination: 2.0A with U-Lamination: 1.5A, w/o U-Lamination: 3.0A TPM 0.4 2.22 Utilizes AccQClamp that will keep a constant trip current calibration (factory set) regardless of the cable O.D. 1514 & 1515 0.5 1.62 0.5 2.18 0.5 2.31 1541, 1542, 1543 0.63 1.58 1.58 2.36 2.36 3.55 1516 0.5 1.62 0.5 2.18 0.5 2.31 Current reset rating of 1.2, 1.5, and 3A dependent upon cable diameter and mounting requirements. 5. Can the time reset overhead units be used in Underground installations? Yes, Fisher Pierce FCIs OLM models with time reset can be used in overhead and underground installations. 6. In what type of scenarios the backfeed restrain logic should be selected when specifying and FCI? Backfeed tripping occurs when FCIs are tripped by high currents feeding the fault from a location that is downstream from the fault. A situation where backfeed tripping is likely to occur is on a three phase circuits with capacitor banks and motors. The capacitors connected to the
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 5 of 3 faulted phase will discharge through the fault. If the circuit impedance, including the fault, is low enough (z < 2 ohms) and if the capacitors were nearly charged to a peak voltage at the time of the fault, the FCI installed between the capacitors and the fault could be tripped. Another situation is when there are motors on the circuit and during a fault condition they will become a generator for a short period of time and could generate high current through the circuit, causing the installed FCI between the fault and the motor to experience a false trip. 7. What is the purpose of inrush restraint logic? The inrush restraint feature is intended to prevent tripping of FCIs by inrush current while retaining the ability to trip when the circuit is energized into a fault. III. AccQTrip for OLM & UCM Models 1. Are the Fisher Pierce FCIs models using the AccQTrip logic affected by the proximity of other lines? Fisher Pierce FCIs with AccQTrip exceed the ANSI/IEEE Standard 495-1986 for adjacent phase tripping at 4 inch on center (cable to cable). 2. Do we have fault indicators with lower trip levels? Why? Fault indicators are mostly concerned with low impedance / high current faults. So, there is seldom a need to have trip levels below the settings that we already offer. There are however special cases where customers are dealing with long feeders, where the fault levels at the end of the circuit may be below 400 Amps. We have a 200A trip level available for the UCMTL and OLMTL models. To order units with this lower trip setting the catalog number should include CS1211 at the end of the number (ie. UCMTL-LT-CS1211, OLMTL-LT- CS1211). 3. Do our fault indicators have inrush restraint? Inrush restraint is standard on all Fisher Pierce FCI models except for the time reset LED display models (TPM-TL, OLM-TL, and UCM-TL). Note: The TL models (time reset w/ LED display) are the simplest type of FCIs. They can be permanently installed, or be used in a portable manner as a fault-chasing tool when carried by the crews. The advantage of the TL or time reset models is that they do not need to be powered up or initialized before sensing a fault. 4. Do the Fisher Pierce FCIs with AccQTrip logic have backfeed restraint to prevent false operations due to backfeed from motors and/or capacitor banks? The Fisher Pierce TPMTL & OLMTL model FCIs (time reset w/ LED display) work effectively in these applications to avoid wrong operation due to backfeed, since these devices are neither current nor voltage sensitive.
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 6 of 3 IV. Adaptive Trip Logic for 1547 & 1548 Models 1. What is adaptive trip? The first fault indicators in the industry were developed using load current as a reference. As such, the trip levels were selected to be above the maximum load current in the circuit. Fisher Pierce came up with the idea and development of adaptive trip. The unique feature of the adaptive trip method is that the sudden increase of current is measured relative to current magnitude just prior to the increase. FCIs using this type of trip method will not respond to an absolute current magnitude. Instead, the FCI is designed to trip when the circuit current exhibits a sudden increase above the nominal current and followed by loss of current. The FCI adapts to normal load currents while responding to faults. The intent of this method is to eliminate the numerous FCI trip ratings necessary for systems having wide varieties of load currents and fault currents. Fisher Pierce typical rating for FCIs using this trip method is 100 amperes or 300 amperes above nominal current. Using 100 amperes rating as an example, the FCI will operate to trip when it senses a sudden increase of 100 amperes relative to nominal current and followed by loss of current. If the installed circuit has 100 amperes flowing prior to the increase, the FCI will trip when it senses a sudden increase of current to 150 amperes and followed by loss. If the installed circuit has 400 amperes flowing prior to the increase, the FCI will trip when it senses a sudden increase of current to 500 amperes and followed by loss. The second trip criteria, the loss of current, is intended to prevent FCI operation by heavy loads being connected onto the energized circuit. The consideration of loss of current time window described previously also applies to this trip method. The Fisher Pierce FCI s with adaptive trip technology are 1547 and 1548 models. For more details on Fisher Pierce adaptive trip FCIs refer to the Fisher Pierce Product Guide Catalog. 2. What is the difference between adaptive trip and Hi/Lo trip? Hi/Lo Trip fault indicators were developed using fault current as a reference. As such, the trip levels were selected to be below the minimum possible fault current in the circuit. Fault indicators are used to detect low-impedance / high-current faults. These faults are also detected by circuit breakers, interrupters, and fuses, all of which the FCI is designed to coordinate with. Typical feeders are rated 600 or 200 A, and the maximum load current is a fraction of the total feeder capability. 200 Amp circuits typically carry a maximum of 100 Amp continuously, while 600 Amp circuits typically carry a maximum of 400 A continuously. Fault currents in both cases are considerably higher than the actual maximum continuous. The trip setting on a fault indicator should be above the maximum load current on the circuit, and high enough to allow normal fluctuations of the load. The trip setting should also be lower than the minimum expected fault current. An exact trip setting for every application is not necessary. A trip setting of 400 Amp for 200 Amp circuits, or 800 Amp for 600 Amp circuits will typically provide enough sensitivity to indicate permanent faults accurately. The only condition is that the fault indicator needs to respond faster than the other protective devices in the system.
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 7 of 3 3. Is Adaptive Trip better than Hi/Lo Trip? The end result for the utility is the same in that both types of indicators eliminate tripping due to overload conditions. The main advantage of the adaptive trip indicators is that one indicator may be used for both 200 and 600 Amps circuits. Whereas, the Hi/Lo Trip indicators tend to be less expensive. V. Battery 1. What FCI options are available that do not use batteries? There are two alternatives: 1. The flag indicators (TPMVF and OLMVF) do not utilize batteries and offer the same logic as the LED models. 2. Fisher Pierce 1547, 1514/15 models with Flag indicators do not use batteries and are line powered. 2. What type of batteries do we use in our FCI s and can they be replaceable? What is the operating life? Refer to table below: FCI Series Indication Flash Hours Battery Rating Overhead 1548 Single LED Flag 5 Red LED Strobe Radio with LED 1000 1000 400 120 800 Series 1548 models utilize replaceable (flag model non-replaceable) 3.6 volt, 3 amp-hour Lithium cell battery. Temporary Fault: 1 Amber (Temp. Fault) 4 Red (Perm. Fault) 1500 400 OLM LED 1200 LED models utilize built-in (nonreplaceable) 3.6 volt, 2.4 amp-hour Lithium cell battery 1514 & 1515 LED Integral Radio/LED 800 300 Non-replaceable 3.5 volt, 1.5 amp-hour Lithium cell battery
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 8 of 3 Underground 1547 LED 800 Non-replaceable 3.5 volt, 1.5 amp-hour TPM LED 1200 LED models utilize built-in (nonreplaceable) 3.6 volt, 2.4 amp-hour Lithium cell battery 1514 & 1515 LED Integral Radio/LED 800 300 Non-replaceable 3.5 volt, 1.5 amp-hour Lithium cell battery 1541, 1542, 1543 LED Audible 800 160 Non-replaceable 3.5 volt, 1.5 amp-hour Lithium cell battery 3. What are the major differences between the battery used in Fisher Pierce FCIs (Lithium Thyonil Chloride) and a normal lithium oxide battery? Lithium thyonil chloride batteries have a wider operating temperature range (-55 C to +85 C) than lithium oxide batteries, which will help to prolong their life. 4. Would it be desirable for the fault indicators to have a light indicating low battery? A low battery light would be desirable; however it adds an unnecessary expense that will reduce the battery life under adverse conditions and may not accurately enough provide advance notice of a battery problem. As a more cost-effective solution, the Fisher Pierce Flag indicator models (TPM-VF or OLM-VF) employ the AccQTrip logic circuitry that allows the FCI to operate without the use of batteries. VI. Indication 1. What is a voltage-reset indicator? This is an indicator that goes from a tripped status to a normal status when voltage on the line is restored. They are typically used on lightly loaded circuits where sufficient current is not available to operate a current reset FCI. Fisher Pierce voltage-reset indicators (TPM-VL, TPM-VF, OLM-VL, OLM-VF models) will trip when an over-current condition followed by a loss of voltage is detected. These indicators reset when voltage is restored or after s time lapse from trip time. 2. Are the Fisher Pierce FCIs models which have LED flashing lights, readily visible for night or day locate without having to get out of the vehicle? Fisher Pierce FCI s with LED lights are visible day or night. Overhead 1548 FCI model has an indicator option to include 5 ultra-bright LEDs for increase visibility display. We also offer a remote-mounted display for URD application FCIs.
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 9 of 3 VII. Resetting Options 1. What is a time-reset fault indicator? This is an indicator that goes from a tripped status to a normal status after specified period of time. Fisher Pierce time-reset indicators will trip whenever a current above the trip level is detected. Once the reset time delay has elapsed, the FCI will return to normal state. The reset time, measured from time of fault, is selected to be longer than the time required for the service crew to patrol the circuit and locate the fault. Time-reset fault indicators have typical reset time of s. Fisher Pierce offers FCI s with various time-reset options depending on the models (2,, 2 hour, 1 hour, or 1 minute). 2. Some of our customers prefer longer reset times, can we specify/order FCIs with a time delay reset other than 4-hour? Refer to table below: FCI Series Reset Time Delay Overhead 1548 2 60 seconds OLM 12 hour* 1514 & 1515 2 60 seconds 10-30 seconds Underground 1547 2 60 seconds TPM 12 hour* 1514 & 1515 2 60 seconds 10-30 seconds 1541, 1542, 1543 2 hour 1 hour
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 10 of 3 *Available 12-hour reset time for all our LED type units. To order units with this extended reset time the catalog number should include CS1155 at the end of the part number. 3. Do we have a unit available with lower minimum reset voltage than 5 kv? We have a 2.4 kv minimum voltage rest for the Test Point Fault Indicators (TPMVL & TPMVF). To order units with this minimum voltage reset the cat number should include CS1128 at the end of the number. Fisher Pierce 1516 Series Voltage-Reset FCI models for URD application have factory preset Reset Voltage of 120V (102V min) or 277V (235V min). 4. Do we have a fault indicator with current reset and manual reset feature? Fisher Pierce 1548, 1547, and 1514/15 models have manual reset and current reset options. Fisher Pierce TPM, OLM, UCM models are Time and Voltage reset. They can also be reset manually. VIII. Field Testing 1. How do I use the FTT (Fault Indicator Test Tool)? The FTT test tool is used with Fisher Pierce TPM, UCM and OLM fault indicators (Reference Field Test Instructions: IS-0918). Use the FTT with the Time Reset Fault indicators as follows: 1. Remove the Keeper Bar from the FTT. 2. To simulate an over-current condition, SWIPE the FTT over the Fisher Pierce marking on the indicator once. The indicator will start flashing after a couple of seconds. 3. To reset the indicator HOLD the FTT to the front right hand side bottom corner of the indicator for a couple of seconds. The indicator will stop flashing. 4. Replace the Keeper Bar on the FTT after use. Use the FTT with the Voltage Reset Fault Indicators as follows: 1. Remove the Keeper Bar from the FTT. 2. To be able to use the FTT on a voltage-reset unit, FIRST initialize the indicator by installing it on the line. 3. To reset the indicator HOLD the FTT to the front right hand side bottom corner of the indicator for a couple of seconds. The indicator will reset. 2. How do I test/reset 1547 and 1514/15 FCI models? Manual Trip and Reset procedure: 1. To Trip or Reset the unit, a reset tool (AT2186) must be drawn or swiped across the side of the indicator from Right to Left, at the point where two red wires or single jacket black wire connect the indicator to the sensor. 2. After 2 or 3 attempts if the unit does not reset, rotate the reset tool 180 degree and repeat the motion from Right to Left.
File: FAQ-FCI-Updated-12-21-12 Page: 11 of 3 To reset a 1514/1515/1547 Flag Display FCI, the unit must first be electrically tripped. NOTE: For Flag Display models, this procedure will only release or reset the Flag indicator, it cannot move the indicator to the trip position. 3. How do I test/reset 1548 FCI models? Demonstrating Trip and Reset with Flag or LED display: 1. To simulate trip and reset, use magnetic reset tool (AT2186-10 or FTT). 2. Swipe the reset tool across the unit at the TRIP/RESET label, located at the bottom of the unit. NOTE: To trip Strobe indicator unit swipe the reset tool across the unit at the TRIP/RESET label and wait six seconds for the unit to trip. Demonstrating Temporary fault indication LED display: 1. To simulate trip and reset, use magnetic reset tool (AT2186-10 or FTT). 2. Hold a magnet at the TRIP/RESET label for three seconds and then remove in order to induce a temporary fault LED demonstration. 4. How do I test/reset 1541/42/43 FCI models? Demonstrating Trip and Reset: 1. To simulate trip/reset, use magnetic reset tool (FTT). 2. Swipe the reset tool across the unit at the TRIP label (to trip) or RESET label (to reset), located on the side of the main unit.