Cable theft detection sensors

Hie guys. I am trying to design a cable(copper) anti theft system for both overhead and underground. I need help on what sensors i can use to detect if a cable is being stolen. Thank you

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e14phil over 7 years ago +3

I think I would have to go with the old fashioned route of, Flood Lights, Fences, CCTV. If not.. unmanned drones with tasers glued to them. That should work right? :-D
koudelad over 7 years ago +2

I have read an article in one Czech scientific magazine (in Czech language, i think it was published with sponsorship of an electricity producer and distributor CEZ ) many years ago. It included an interview…
gadget.iom over 7 years ago +2

If the voltage is high enough you could collaborate with this guy: https://www.element14.com/community/message/219344/l/re-is-there-a-sensor-that-can-be-used-for-detecting-a-dead-human-bo…

0 shabaz over 7 years ago

Hi Trevor,

I guess this is a school/college question, that has been discussed elsewhere on element14 very recently.
I don't have a link to it, but you can use the search box to hopefully find it - someone asked how to detect copper stolen from power lines.
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0 e14phil over 7 years ago

I think I would have to go with the old fashioned route of, Flood Lights, Fences, CCTV.

If not.. unmanned drones with tasers glued to them. That should work right? :-D
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0 koudelad over 7 years ago

I have read an article in one Czech scientific magazine (in Czech language, i think it was published with sponsorship of an electricity producer and distributor CEZ) many years ago. It included an interview with a man who steals grounding cables between power pillars - which he finds redundant. He even knew the physics behind the power distribution and claimed that these cables are not needed. One thing I clearly remember from that article was, that he run away as fast as possible when he came across a cable who had a core with optic fibers for data connection. In contrast with classic "metal only" cables, those with optics were immediately noticed when disconnected, because the data link was down. That time, the fines were somewhere around €20 000 for a stolen cable.

I would think about it, whether it's possible to use the cable for some kind of permanent data connection. Of course, this will also depend on terrain and other factors. It is hard to secure a cable where it runs hundreds of kilometers/miles without any checkpoint.
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0 gadget.iom over 7 years ago

If the voltage is high enough you could collaborate with this guy:
https://www.element14.com/community/message/219344/l/re-is-there-a-sensor-that-can-be-used-for-detecting-a-dead-human-bo…
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0 the-dubster over 7 years ago in reply to gadget.iom

THAT took a dark turn!
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0 abrain over 7 years ago

Hi Trevor, one option might be to use some split-core current clamps like thesethese to detect if the current falls to zero when the circuit is broken? I get the feeling you'd need more than a 5A range though?

A
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