Abstract: A device for measuring current and/or voltage in a high voltage wire can be provided in a folding insulator. The mechanically folding insulator device can include a plurality of insulated sections. Pairs of insulated sections are coupled together by a link which allows for mechanical folding of said insulator device. The insulated sections of the folding insulator device have a cavity formed therein which contains an optical fiber surrounded by an insulative material.

Abstract: A device for measuring current and/or voltage in a high voltage wire can be provided in a folding insulator. The mechanically folding insulator device can include a plurality of insulated sections. Pairs of insulated sections are coupled together by a link which allows for mechanical folding of said insulator device. The insulated sections of the folding insulator device have a cavity formed therein which contains an optical fiber surrounded by an insulative material.

Abstract: A time division multiplexed optical voltage measuring system includes an optical voltage sensing system module including, (i) a plurality of optical sensors where each sensor is responsive to an input interrogation light wave, and (ii) one or more optical outputs affected by sensed electric field thereat. The optical voltage sensing system module includes an optical circuit arrangement having (i) an input for receiving a module specific pulsed light wave derived from a primary pulsed light wave from a remote light source, and (ii) arranged such that each of the plurality of optical sensors receives an interrogation pulsed light wave. The optical circuit arrangement of the optical voltage sensing system module further includes at least one optical wave combiner for combining like-kind of outputs from all of the plurality of optical sensors. The optical circuit is arranged such that the pulsed light waves from the outputs of different optical sensors arrive at the optical wave combiner at differing times.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of detecting and locating current imbalances such as ground faults in multiwire systems using the Faraday effect. As an example, for 2-wire or 3-wire (1 ground wire) electrical systems, light is transmitted along an optical path which is exposed to magnetic fields produced by currents flowing in the hot and neutral wires. The rotations produced by these two magnetic fields cancel each other, therefore light on the optical path does not read the effect of either. However, when a ground fault occurs, the optical path is exposed to a net Faraday effect rotation due to the current imbalance thereby exposing the ground fault.