Gray and yellow Sentient Energy logo.
  • Solutions
    • Solutions

      Find out how we can help solve your grid challenges.

      Learn More
      activity

      Fault Detection & Location

      Interruption & Disturbance Analysis

      signal

      System & Asset Monitoring

      danger

      Data Source to ADMS Applications

      chart

      Wildfire Risk Mitigation

      trending-up

      Grid Edge Control™

      shield

      Grid Analytics System

      Yellow lightning bolt icon.

      Proactive Outage Mitigation

  • Products
    • Products

      Discover Sentient Energy’s revolutionary intelligent sensors and applications.

      Learn More
      Screenshot of graphs showing load current.

      Grid Analytics System™

      Learn More

      Screenshot of a graph showing current over time.

      Ample Analytics Platform

      Learn More

      MM3 Sensor.

      MM3 Overhead Line Sensor

      Learn More

      ZM1 grid monitor.

      ZM1™️️️ Low Amperage Overhead Line Sensor

      Learn More

      UM3 line monitor.

      UM3+ Underground Line Sensor

      Learn More

      ENGO device on top of a screenshot showing GEMS.

      ENGO® and GEMS® Grid Edge Voltage Control

      Learn More

      sentient-energy-UM1 image for launch

      UM1™ Underground Line Sensor

      Learn More

      sentient-energy-top sites precursor anomalies

      MM3ai System

      Learn More

      Products

      Learn more about our intelligent sensors, software applications, and grid edge technologies.

      Learn More
      Screenshot of graphs showing load current.

      Grid Analytics System™

      MM3 Sensor.

      MM3 Overhead Line Sensor

      UM3 line monitor.

      UM3+ Underground Line Sensor

      UM1™ Underground Line Sensor

      Screenshot of a graph showing current over time.

      Ample Analytics Platform

      ZM1 grid monitor.

      ZM1™️️️ Low Amperage Overhead Line Sensor

      ENGO device on top of a screenshot showing GEMS.

      ENGO® and GEMS® Grid Edge Voltage Control

      MM3ai System

  • Customers
    • Customer Success

      Read about Sentient Energy’s proven client successes, dive into key metrics, and discover how Sentient Energy can help you solve your grid challenges.

      Learn More

      FPL Automatic Phase Identification

      PG&E Quantifying SAIDI Reduction

      Manitoba Hydro Utilizing Line Sensors for Substation Monitoring

      Feeder Fault Isolation & Restoration

  • Resources
    • Resources

      Explore information on Sentient Energy grid edge solutions, products, use cases, and customer successes. Find valuable insights on distribution grid technology best practices and hear from peers and experts on industry topics that matter.

      Learn More

      Use Case Briefs

      Case Studies

      From the Experts

      Public Power

      White Papers

      Product Datasheets

      Webinars and Videos

      Customer Support Portal

  • About
    • About

      Learn more about who we are, what we’re focused on, and the leadership team that supports us.

      Learn More

      Leadership

      News

      Events

      Press

      Careers

  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Solutions
    • Solutions

      Find out how we can help solve your grid challenges.

      Learn More
      activity

      Fault Detection & Location

      Interruption & Disturbance Analysis

      signal

      System & Asset Monitoring

      danger

      Data Source to ADMS Applications

      chart

      Wildfire Risk Mitigation

      trending-up

      Grid Edge Control™

      shield

      Grid Analytics System

      Yellow lightning bolt icon.

      Proactive Outage Mitigation

  • Products
    • Products

      Discover Sentient Energy’s revolutionary intelligent sensors and applications.

      Learn More
      Screenshot of graphs showing load current.

      Grid Analytics System™

      Learn More

      Screenshot of a graph showing current over time.

      Ample Analytics Platform

      Learn More

      MM3 Sensor.

      MM3 Overhead Line Sensor

      Learn More

      ZM1 grid monitor.

      ZM1™️️️ Low Amperage Overhead Line Sensor

      Learn More

      UM3 line monitor.

      UM3+ Underground Line Sensor

      Learn More

      ENGO device on top of a screenshot showing GEMS.

      ENGO® and GEMS® Grid Edge Voltage Control

      Learn More

      sentient-energy-UM1 image for launch

      UM1™ Underground Line Sensor

      Learn More

      sentient-energy-top sites precursor anomalies

      MM3ai System

      Learn More

      Products

      Learn more about our intelligent sensors, software applications, and grid edge technologies.

      Learn More
      Screenshot of graphs showing load current.

      Grid Analytics System™

      MM3 Sensor.

      MM3 Overhead Line Sensor

      UM3 line monitor.

      UM3+ Underground Line Sensor

      UM1™ Underground Line Sensor

      Screenshot of a graph showing current over time.

      Ample Analytics Platform

      ZM1 grid monitor.

      ZM1™️️️ Low Amperage Overhead Line Sensor

      ENGO device on top of a screenshot showing GEMS.

      ENGO® and GEMS® Grid Edge Voltage Control

      MM3ai System

  • Customers
    • Customer Success

      Read about Sentient Energy’s proven client successes, dive into key metrics, and discover how Sentient Energy can help you solve your grid challenges.

      Learn More

      FPL Automatic Phase Identification

      PG&E Quantifying SAIDI Reduction

      Manitoba Hydro Utilizing Line Sensors for Substation Monitoring

      Feeder Fault Isolation & Restoration

  • Resources
    • Resources

      Explore information on Sentient Energy grid edge solutions, products, use cases, and customer successes. Find valuable insights on distribution grid technology best practices and hear from peers and experts on industry topics that matter.

      Learn More

      Use Case Briefs

      Case Studies

      From the Experts

      Public Power

      White Papers

      Product Datasheets

      Webinars and Videos

      Customer Support Portal

  • About
    • About

      Learn more about who we are, what we’re focused on, and the leadership team that supports us.

      Learn More

      Leadership

      News

      Events

      Press

      Careers

  • Blog
  • Contact
Search
Close

Home › Resources › Evaluator Guide for Line Sensors

From the experts

Evaluator Guide for Line Sensors

Download PDF

Line sensors for overhead and underground electric distribution circuits are a proven technology. Powerful sensing and long-range communications enable increased visibility of distribution system data for grid operators. But solutions vary, so when evaluating line sensing solutions be sure to consider the following criteria.

Evaluation Criteria Questions to Consider
1. Fault Detection Technology Are current thresholds sufficient for fault detection, or are additional remotely
configurable algorithms such as di/dt or % change important?
2. Accuracy What accuracy is needed for both load data and fault magnitude? Fault
magnitude may be used for “Distance to Fault” calculations.
3. Fault Magnitude Range Sensors vary greatly on fault magnitude range. What is your upper limit required
for fault magnitude range?
4. GPS Location and Timing GPS is an important capability for verifying location and time stamping for
sequence of events. Are these requirements?
5. Sampling Rate Sampling rates for waveforms vary from 20/cycle to 256/cycle. What resolution
of waveform data is adequate for your fault analysis?
6. Disturbance Capture Can sensors can report disturbances in addition to faults with outages?
Disturbances can identify precursors to faults.
7. Load Unbalance Analysis Most sensor systems report load data. Can the system also identify and
quantify phase unbalance on 3-phase feeders?
8. LED Visibility The visibility of LEDs indicating faults can vary greatly.What LED visibility is
required for your distances and lighting conditions?
9. Wireless Communications Which wireless technologies are supported (cellular, mesh)? Are separate
gateways and RTUs needed in addition to sensors?
10. Power Requirements Is the system fully line-powered (at what amperage?), or does it require AC
power and use of batteries?
11. Conductor and Equipment Types Overhead: what is maximum conductor size and voltage? Underground: can you
install in livefront and deadfront cabinets?
12. Environmental Ruggedness Has the system been qualified to operate in harsh environments in terms of
temperature, humidity, salt spray, ingress etc.?
13. Field Proven Solution Has the solution been deployed successfully in the field? What size (number of
sensors) are the largest deployments?
14. Product Roadmap Does the solution provider have a long-term product development plan including updates and enhancements?

To learn more about best practices and use cases for line sensing visit sentientstage.wpengine.com or email info@sentient-energy.com.

White and yellow Sentient Energy logo.
  • Products
  • Solutions
  • Public Power
  • Products
  • Solutions
  • Public Power
  • Customer Success
  • About
  • Blog
  • Customer Success
  • About
  • Blog
Contact Us
Twitter Linkedin

We help utilities deliver safe, reliable, and efficient power.

Copyright © 2023 Sentient Energy, Inc. All rights reserved

Privacy Policy | California Supply | Code of Conduct | Discrimination & Harassment Policy | Terms of Use