Comprehensive testing and commissioning procedures are paramount for OPGW (Optical Ground Wire) after installation. These procedures verify both its crucial electrical grounding function and its high-performance optical communication capabilities, ensuring system integrity and reliability before being put into service.

I. Electrical Testing and Commissioning:

• 1. Visual Inspection:

  • Purpose: To check for any visible mechanical damage to the OPGW cable, termination hardware, clamps, and grounding connections on towers and at substations.

  • Procedure: A thorough visual inspection by trained personnel, often using binoculars or drones for elevated sections.

• 2. Electrical Continuity and Resistance Testing:

  • Purpose: To confirm the continuous electrical path of the OPGW's metallic components from tower to tower and to ground. Verifies the integrity of splices and terminations.

  • Procedure: Using a low-resistance ohmmeter or multimeter to measure resistance along the OPGW path and to ground. Compare readings against design specifications.

• 3. Grounding System Resistance Testing:

  • Purpose: To verify that the OPGW is effectively grounded to the tower structures and the overall substation ground grid, ensuring proper lightning protection.

  • Procedure: Earth resistance (ground impedance) tests (e.g., fall-of-potential method) are performed on tower footings and substation ground grids to ensure they meet specified resistance values.

• 4. Corona and RIV (Radio Interference Voltage) Tests (for EHV/UHV applications):

  • Purpose: To detect any sources of corona discharge or radio interference that could affect the performance of the power line or communication signals.

  • Procedure: Specialized tests conducted under energized conditions to measure RIV levels.

• 5. Short-Circuit withstand verification (Design Review):

  • Purpose: Though not a field test, review of documentation and calculations to confirm the OPGW's metallic cross-section is adequate to safely carry and dissipate maximum fault currents without damage.

II. Optical Testing and Commissioning:

• 1. Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Testing:

  • Purpose: The most critical optical test. It provides a "fingerprint" of the fiber, measuring optical loss, locating splices, connectors, and any anomalies (bends, breaks, high-loss events) along the entire fiber length. It also measures the overall length of the fiber.

  • Procedure: Bi-directional OTDR tests (from both ends of each fiber) are performed at multiple wavelengths (e.g., 1310 nm and 1550 nm) for each individual fiber. Results are saved as baseline data.

• 2. Optical Power Meter (OPM) and Light Source Testing (Insertion Loss Test):

  • Purpose: To measure the total end-to-end attenuation (loss) of each fiber link, including all splices and connectors. This confirms the link meets the design's optical loss budget.

  • Procedure: A calibrated light source injects light at one end, and an OPM measures the received power at the other end. Loss is calculated in dB. Performed bi-directionally.

• 3. Visual Fault Locator (VFL) (Preliminary/Troubleshooting):

  • Purpose: A simple tool that injects visible red laser light into the fiber. Useful for quick continuity checks, identifying breaks in short distances, or locating misaligned connections.

  • Procedure: Light leakage indicates a problem.

• 4. Fiber End-Face Inspection:

  • Purpose: To ensure that fiber optic connector end-faces are clean and free from scratches or defects, which can cause significant optical loss.

  • Procedure: Using a fiber inspection microscope or probe. Cleaning is performed if necessary.

• 5. Chromatic Dispersion (CD) and Polarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) Testing (for high-speed, long-haul networks):

  • Purpose: For very high-speed (e.g., 10 Gbps and above) or very long-distance applications, these tests measure signal distortion that can limit bandwidth.

  • Procedure: Specialized equipment measures dispersion characteristics.

III. Documentation and Reporting:

• All test results (electrical and optical) are meticulously documented, compared against design specifications, and retained as critical "as-built" records. This data is invaluable for future maintenance, troubleshooting, and network management.

Our company provides not only the robust OPGW installation equipment but also comprehensive testing solutions and expertise, including advanced fiber optic test equipment and electrical measurement tools, ensuring that every OPGW installation meets the highest standards of performance and reliability.