Arc detection for telephone DC power distribution systems

Arcing faults may occur in DC power distribution systems in telephone offices. Fuses and circuit breakers are not intended to protect against arcing faults. Therefore, the detection of arcing faults is a prime concern to help prevent fire ignition and the resulting damage caused by fire and its by-products. This paper describes a method to help detect arcing faults in telephone offices. It includes the work determining arc signatures and noise spectra in working, nonarcing, DC power distribution systems. Also, field and laboratory experiments investigating the performance of an experimental prototype arc detection system are described. Possible applications of an arc detection system are included.< >