Cable faults
Fault location on control and coaxial cables in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
A broken control line does not black out a district – only the plant that hangs on it: the pumping station, the gate, the alarm chain. CFT measures on disconnected control and coaxial cables which core is affected and where the fault lies, traces the route and marks the point. Reach us on +49 (0) 173 6842932 or at office@cft-de.de.
What we do on site
Measurement takes place on the disconnected link: which core is affected, how far away does the fault lie? Together with the traced route, the distance becomes a marked point. You receive damage report and reflectogram; reconnection and repair are done by your maintenance crew.
Key facts at a glance
| Methods | Insulation and continuity measurement, Time domain reflectometry (TDR), Route tracing of the link |
|---|---|
| Application range | Control and signal cables in industrial plants, pumping stations and infrastructure; coaxial links for antenna, video and data systems |
| Duration | Two hours to one day, depending on the number of faults |
| Result format | Damage report as a PDF, Reflectogram |
| Service area | Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg from our Erding base – CFT Group Deutschland GmbH, Lange Zeile 27, D-85435 Erding |
For you as a business
Control cables are rarely documented and often older than anyone who gets asked about them. Whoever relays on suspicion after a break pays for route, trench and downtime – whoever measures pays for one excavation at the marked spot. The reflectogram in the report also records how the link answers: a baseline for the next fault on the same cable.
How the job runs
- You report the link; it is disconnected at both ends – who disconnects is agreed before the appointment.
- Continuity and insulation measurements determine the affected core and the fault type (break, short, partial damage).
- Time domain reflectometry gives the distance to the fault.
- Route tracing turns the distance into a point at the surface – marked and photographed.
- You receive damage report and reflectogram as a PDF.
Equipment and methods
Control and coaxial cables answer the time domain measurement clearly: breaks and shorts show up as sharp marks in the reflectogram. The craft lies in the link itself – branches, joints and transitions produce echoes of their own that must be told apart from the fault. That is why route tracing is part of the job: only a known route turns a metre mark into a digging spot.
What you receive
The marked fault position on the route and the damage report as a PDF including the reflectogram: affected core, fault type, distance, route. Your maintenance crew knows where to open and what to replace.
Costs and effort
We charge by deployment time from Erding. It goes fastest when both cable ends are accessible and disconnected on arrival – then the measurement starts instead of the search for the switch cabinet key.
Frequently asked questions
Does the plant have to be out of service for the measurement?
The measured link, yes – it must be disconnected at both ends. Whether that stops the whole plant or just one circuit depends on your wiring; we agree the scope before the appointment.
Does the measurement work on very long links?
Yes. Time domain reflectometry reaches over kilometres; what matters is not the length but a known build-up of the link. Branches and transitions are gone through with you before the measurement.
What about fibre optics?
We do not measure glass fibre – that is what the network operators’ OTDR technology is for. Our methods apply to metallic cores: control, signal and coaxial cables.
Can the route be documented while you are at it?
Yes. Once the route has been traced, as-built capture takes it straight into your as-built plan on request – then the next search is none.
Describe the findings.
The more precisely you describe the findings, the more directly we can go to work. Plans, readings and photos help us settle the method in advance.
What happens next
- We read your message and match the case to a method.
- We come back to you – usually with a question that shortens the appointment.
- We confirm the appointment and what it costs before anyone sets off.
Rather talk?
+49 (0) 173 6842932
Describe your case.
Fastest by telephone – then we settle straight away which method fits and what you should prepare.
Or write to office@cft-de.de.