Transmission Fault Detection & Early Warning System

Project Overview

This project implements a three-phase transmission monitoring system built around two physical transmission towers, phase-state sensing, and Arduino-based fault classification. Individual Phase A, B, and C paths can be opened, connected to a grounded common reference, or bridged to one another to create distinct fault conditions. The OLED and LED indicators show the detected condition in real time.

Arduino Uno R4 WiFi 3-Phase Fault Detection EFD System OLED Power Systems

System Capabilities

The project combines a physical transmission structure with phase-state monitoring, fault classification, visual status indication, and early-warning logic. The system monitors and communicates multiple transmission-line conditions in real time.

Goal

Design and validate a physical three-phase transmission monitoring system that can identify multiple fault conditions, communicate phase status clearly, and provide an Early Fault Detection warning before fault confirmation.

Multiple Fault Types

Go beyond a single broken-wire condition by distinguishing open, phase-to-ground, and phase-to-phase faults.

Clear System Status

Use an OLED plus separate normal/fault LED indicators so each phase state is easy to read.

Early Warning Layer

Add an EFD state that can be armed separately and issue warning information before fault confirmation.

Physical Transmission Structure

Create a physical, testable transmission-line structure that can be repeatedly operated and documented.

System Architecture

The physical tower structure supports three phase paths. The Arduino monitors each path, classifies configured fault states, and sends the result to the OLED and phase LED indicators.

Physical and Electronic Hardware

Arduino Uno R4 WiFi
Two built transmission towers
Three phase conductors: A, B, and C
Two breadboards for phase logic and display/EFD wiring
OLED I²C status display
Six LEDs for phase normal/fault indication
Fault posts for phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase test conditions
EFD sensor input and an arm/disarm pushbutton

Operating Flow

The Arduino reads the phase-path states.
Open, ground-fault, and phase-to-phase conditions are classified.
The OLED labels the detected condition for each phase.
Green/red LEDs show normal or fault status by phase.
EFD can be armed independently and latches an early-warning state.
A later configured fault is shown as a confirmed fault condition.

Phase sensing inputs	A0 = Phase A, A1 = Phase B, A2 = Phase C
Continuity / phase logic reads	D5 = Phase A, D6 = Phase B, D7 = Phase C
Phase status LEDs	D8/D9 = Phase A, D10/D11 = Phase B, D12/D13 = Phase C
OLED display	I²C connection using SDA and SCL
EFD input	A3 monitors the EFD sensor input
EFD arm / disarm button	D0 configured with INPUT_PULLUP
Ground-fault reference	Arduino GND/common reference used as the phase-to-ground return path

Build Process

The project was developed in stages so the physical structure, phase logic, user display, and Early Fault Detection behavior could each be tested before final documentation.

Construct the Transmission Structure

Two transmission towers were built on a foam base and interconnected with three overhead phase conductors.

Create the Phase Monitoring Paths

Each phase received a separate sensing path with an accessible connection point for repeated fault testing.

Add Visual Status Outputs

An OLED display and six phase LEDs were connected so normal and fault conditions could be shown immediately.

Add Fault-Post Test Connections

Configurable fault-injection connections enabled repeated phase-to-ground and phase-to-phase testing without rebuilding the system.

Implement Early Fault Detection

The EFD input and arm/disarm button were added as a separate warning layer from the phase-fault classification logic.

Program and Test the System

Arduino code was expanded and tested through normal operation, individual faults, combined faults, and EFD sequence behavior.

Fault Detection and EFD Logic

The system separates phase-fault classification from the EFD warning state so an early warning can be displayed before a configured fault condition is confirmed.

Open-Phase Logic

A broken or disconnected phase path is identified as an open condition for the affected phase.

Phase-to-Ground Logic

Connecting a phase to the grounded common reference produces the associated A-G, B-G, or C-G fault state.

Phase-to-Phase Logic

Bridging two phase posts creates a phase-to-phase condition such as A-B, B-C, or C-A.

EFD State Handling

When EFD is armed, an EFD sensor event latches the early-warning state while phase monitoring continues independently.

Challenges and Engineering Decisions

Making Fault States Distinct

The logic had to distinguish open phases, phase-to-ground conditions, and phase-to-phase conditions without accidentally treating different connection states as the same fault.

Building a Testable Physical Structure

The towers and conductors needed to look like a transmission line while still allowing the phase paths and fault posts to be accessed repeatedly during testing.

Communicating Information Clearly

The OLED and LEDs were used together so the system could provide a readable text status and immediate phase-by-phase visual indication.

Separating Warning From Confirmation

EFD was designed as an early-warning layer that remains separate from confirmed phase-fault classification, which makes the state sequence easier to interpret.

Results and Evidence

The completed build was tested through a sequence of physical phase connections and system states.

Normal Operation: All three phase paths were continuously monitored and displayed as normal.

Open-Conductor Detection: Open Phase A, B, and C conditions were classified and displayed.

Phase-to-Ground Detection: A-G, B-G, and C-G fault conditions were classified and tested.

Phase-to-Phase Detection: An A-B phase-to-phase condition was classified and demonstrated.

Combined Fault States: The system classified and displayed multiple simultaneous fault conditions.

EFD Sequence: EFD armed, early-warning, and warning-to-confirmed-fault behavior were validated and recorded.

Build and Test Gallery

Physical build photos and recorded system states from normal operation, fault tests, EFD states, and serial-monitor evidence.

Full transmission fault detection and early warning system setup — **Full System Overview** Complete physical build with two towers, phase conductors, electronics, OLED status display, and LED indicators.

Wide overview of the full transmission monitoring project — **Full System View** Wide view showing the physical transmission structure and Arduino-based monitoring electronics together.

Close-up of the transmission tower and phase conductors — **Tower and Conductor Structure** Close-up of one built transmission tower and the three phase conductors.

OLED display showing all phases in normal operation — **Normal Operation** All three phase paths are continuous and identified as normal by the monitoring system.

Open Phase A fault displayed on the OLED — **Open Phase A Fault** The system identifies a disconnected Phase A path and updates the OLED and LED fault indication.

Combination fault showing Phase A open and Phase C ground fault — **Combined Fault Conditions** Example of simultaneous fault conditions: Phase A open and a Phase C-to-ground fault.

Phase-to-ground fault examples — **Phase-to-Ground Fault Detection** Individual phase-to-ground fault paths can be detected and labeled by phase.

A-B phase-to-phase fault example — **A-B Phase-to-Phase Fault** Bridging Phase A and Phase B produces a phase-to-phase fault indication.

OLED display showing Early Fault Detection armed — **EFD Armed** The EFD mode is armed while the three phase paths remain normal.

OLED display showing Early Fault Detection early warning — **EFD Early Warning** The EFD system provides an early warning before a configured line fault is confirmed.

Early warning progressing into confirmed open Phase A fault — **Warning-to-Fault Confirmation** After an EFD event, the system records the later confirmed open Phase A fault condition.

Serial Monitor event log — **Serial Monitor Evidence** Arduino log output showing EFD state changes, sensor transition, early warning, and abnormal event detection.

Engineering Documentation Under Development

The physical system has been completed and tested. Formal engineering documentation is being developed to capture the wiring architecture and final Arduino implementation.

In Progress

Formal Schematic

A complete schematic is being prepared for the phase-sensing paths, fault posts, OLED, status LEDs, EFD input, pushbutton, and Arduino connections.

In Progress

Source Code Release

The final Arduino source code is being prepared for release with organized comments and supporting documentation for phase monitoring, fault logic, display output, and EFD state handling.

Next Improvements

Future improvements could include cleaner wire routing and more secure phase and fault-test connections, clearer labels at the test points, a more rigid tower base, and expanded fault-event logging.

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