Microcontroller Device for Conductor Identification Using Acoustic Signal

Abstract

When repairing and replacing electrical wiring in enterprises, the main difficulty is the lack or poor quality of documentation, plans for conductors laying. Distinguishing wires (cables) and their cores by the color of the shells or using tags attached to the ends is difficult if the shells have the same color and there are no tags. Devices and technical solutions used to identify wires and cables do not allow recognizing conductors without breaking the electrical circuit, removing insulation, and de-energizing the network. Searching for the right conductor is a time-consuming operation. (Research purpose) The research purpose is developing a new microcontroller device for identifying wires using an acoustic signal. (Materials and methods) Literature sources has been searched for devices for conductors identifying. (Results and discussion) The article proposes a method that involves feeding an acoustic signal to a wire at one point and capturing it at another, in order to recognize the desired wire. The article presents results of comparison of the developed microcontroller device for identifying conductors using an acoustic signal with known devices and methods for conductors recognizing. (Conclusions) The article reveals the shortcomings of existing methods and means of identifying wires and cables. Authors performed a theoretical calculation of the sound pressure in the conductor at a given distance. The article presents the calculation of speed of acoustic waves in conductors with different types of insulation. Authors designed a microcontroller device for identifying conductors using an acoustic signal and tested it. It was determined that the device increases the safety of work, reduces the cost of operating internal wiring and identification time; eliminates the violation of wire insulation, the need to disable electrical receivers. The convergence of theoretical calculations and experimental data was shown.