EXCOUNT-III is a complete remote real-time surge arrester monitoring, diagnostics and analysis system. It permits the registration of the total number of discharges, the surge amplitude and wave-steepness, the date and time of occurrence, the total leakage current as well as the resistive leakage current through the surge arrester. In addition, the equipment can be used to define the residual voltage across the arrester for the actual surge, which in turn can be used to better estimate overvoltages in the station for a more detailed insulation co-ordination evaluation.
EXCOUNT-III supports the protocol IEC 61850, Ed. 2, and communicates remotely via the fibre optic cable to permit the user to add signals into an existing data collection system (SCADA). Moreover, enabling remote retrieval of data EXCOUNT-III eliminates the need for substation visits solely to monitor surge arrester condition, while also enabling the highest possible personnel safety standard by not having to approach an energized arrester to perform online diagnostic measurements.