i. There are various designs and construction methods for surge monitors between manufacturers but no standard testing procedures. ii. Site tests on surge monitors often fail because end users do not understand the different designs and apply improper testing methods like using normal AC voltage instead of impulse currents. iii. To properly test a surge monitor, the test procedures recommended by the original manufacturer should be followed rather than mixing procedures from different manufacturers.

1. SITE TESTS ON SURGE MONITOR
Abstract: Like name (surge monitor or surge indicator) the
manufacturing process and construction of surge monitor also differs
among various manufactures in the world.
Due to advanced technology improvement and needs many
manufacturers may went for different designs and constructional
features but why they deviated on test procedures with each other?
Why there is no standard construction or design followed? Why there
is no standard testing procedure derived for it?
That’s the main content which was discussed clearly in this paper.
Introduction:
Surge monitor is to monitor the surge arrester healthiness, <33kV
system the surge monitor is not necessary and you can use
disconnector instead of it for indicating the surge arrester failures.
The main common application of surge monitor is to monitor the
surge arrester healthiness and to observe and record number of surges
diverted. It is necessary to monitor the surge arrester regularly to
protect your system and avoid surge arrester failures.

2. Design and construction of surge monitor:
Every manufactures in the world has their own design and
constructional features but the application seems to be same. Why
there are much deviation and functional difference in design of surge
monitor? Let’s discuss about various designs followed and
established,
i. Using metal oxide blocks (Znic oxide blocks – non- linear
resistor) in parallel with leakage current measuring circuit and
counter operating circuit (tank circuit).
ii. Using normal coil winding like CT's for measuring leakage
current and parallelly connecting counter circuit to monitor the
number of surge diverted.
iii. The surge monitors which is linked with SCADA system
through auxiliary relays.
Like this there are many more designs and constructions of surge
counter.
Site tests on surge monitor:
Here comes the big problem - Many of end users don't know how
surge monitor is constructed due to various types of designs and how
to test the surge monitor or indicator?
Even in revised IEC 60099-4: 2014 edition they included about tests
to be conducted on disconnector clearly but why surge monitor tests
was not described?
As I have seen lot of customer complaints that they are saying surge
monitor is not operating during site tests so it is not acceptable and it
got failed.

3. I did small research on it with various customers and their site test
procedures to trace out exact problem on surge monitor site tests.
Following are the points which have been observed and noted,
i. First case – End users are just applying 230 volts AC supply
and checking whether the surge counter and leakage current
meter is operating or not.
ii. Second case – End users even tried to give less voltage
impulses and saying it is not operating.
iii. Third case – Comparing the surge monitor test procedures
with other manufacturers.
Herewith I want to put some questions for them,
1. It is a surge counter; you have to apply impulse current or
voltage to check the operation of surge monitor. How it is
possible by giving normal 230Volts single phase system voltage
and expecting the surge monitor to operate?
2. For checking the leakage current monitor the above method is
fine, but how counter will operate on normal system voltage?
The test procedure of surge monitors also differs on manufactures.
I want to mention clearly that there is no derived standard
specification or procedure to test surge counter or monitor on site.
Please test the surge monitor as per the tests recommended by the
manufactures where you have purchased.
Purchasing the surge monitor from 'X' manufacturers and following
the test procedures from 'Y' manufacturers will not work.

4. Common test procedures recommended:
After doing lot of tests on various surge monitors, following are the
test procedures which reflected well on all types of surge monitors,
1. Connect the new surge monitor by replacing the old surge
monitor which was already connected in series with surge
arrester in off load condition.
Now charge the system with new one and check whether the
leakage current indication is similar to old surge monitor and
wait for a day or week to see surge counter counting operation.
You can try this with connecting it to SCADA system also.
2. If anybody has mobile current surge generators, you can apply
minimum 100Amps and maximum 10kA or 20kA of 8/20uS
current impulse to surge monitor and you can check whether it
is operating or not?
3. End users can perform and witness the test in manufacturing end
for better understanding on their technologies.
Conclusion:
Herewith my conclusion - don’t perform any site tests on surge
monitors without consulting the concern manufacturers and there are
no such standards or specifications to perform site test on surge
monitors. In future IEC/IEEE committee may introduce standard
testing producers and design of surge monitor.