SUB-HARMONIC ARC FAULT DETECTION METHOD

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for detecting a sustained arc in an electrical system. Over a time period, current and voltage data for a load signal are collected, from which spectral information is extracted. The spectral information has a frequency component and an amplitude component. The load signal is processed to remove a line frequency signature from the spectral information. One or more sub-harmonic frequency bands are extracted from the load signal and analyzed to determine the presence of an arc signature therein. The sub-harmonic frequency bands may be centered on frequencies corresponding to an integer number of half line cycle periods. Analysis of the sub-harmonic frequency bands can include detecting the peak amplitudes of the rectified sub-harmonic frequency bands to obtain an indicator signal and determining if the indicator signal exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the sustained arc.