Phase lock-in reflectometry for detection and characterization of wiring system faults

This paper describes the preliminary stage in the development of a Phase Lock-in Reflectometry (PLR) technique for detecting, locating and characterizing faults in electrical wiring systems. Results from the more-traditional techniques, e.g. Time-Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (FDR) for detection and location of wiring-system faults are presented and compared with results from the PLR technique. The potential of PLR for characterizing wiring-system faults is briefly discussed. A methodology for combining wiring system models with experimental results to improve the characterization of faults as well as to improve the fundamental understanding of failure mechanisms is also presented.