LV FPI: Customer Case Study
Case Study: Electricity North West Trials Bowdens’ LV FPIs
Electricity North West (ENWL), one of the UK’s leading Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), partnered with Bowdens to trial our advanced Low Voltage Fault Passage Indicators (LV FPIs). Their goal: to improve fault location speed, reduce unnecessary excavation, and minimise customer disruption across networks.
The Challenge
Traditional LV fault location methods can be slow, labour-intensive, and disruptive, especially on complex circuits with multiple branches and high-density cabling. ENWL needed a smarter way to locate faults with accuracy, reduce downtime, and avoid unnecessary penalties.
The Solution: Bowdens’ LV FPIs
Bowdens supplied ENWL with a set of our LV FPIs, which were deployed across three live fault sites. The system integrates six sensors connected to a tablet called the ‘Concentrator’, which displays peak fault currents and enables engineers to map fault paths in near real-time.
Our FPIs were paired with Kelvatek Modular Rezaps and the Rezap app, creating a highly effective, remotely monitored fault detection setup.
Real-World Results
Job 1 – Dalton Road (Morecambe)
Fault type: Phase-to-Phase
Circuit length: 540m
Previous methods failed to locate the fault in a dense HV/LV area.
Result: The LV FPIs enabled pinpoint accuracy, reducing excavation risk and limiting the outage to just 12 minutes.
Job 2 – Robin Hey
Fault type: Phase-to-Earth short
Circuit length: 762m
Prior teams struggled to locate the fault with sniffers and fault masters.
Result: LV FPIs identified the fault within 15 minutes, avoiding significant reinstatement costs and estimated £2,059/hour in lost IIS revenue.
Job 3 – Silk Mill (Galgate)
Fault type: Phase-to-Earth
Circuit length: 1,210m
A fault affecting 188 customers, including a nursing home.
Result: FPIs reduced the fault search area by 670m (55%), allowing for faster repairs, traffic management setup, and generator deployment.
Prevented extended outages and further CML/IIS penalties.
The Impact
Bowdens’ LV FPIs gave ENWL’s engineering teams the ability to:
- Isolate faults quickly and confidently
- Minimise disruptive digging
- Reduce customer downtime
- Avoid unnecessary financial penalties
Why Bowdens?
Bowdens’ LV FPIs are engineered in-house and offer:
- Seamless integration with link boxes and rezap systems
- Reliable performance in high-density networks
- Clear fault direction and fast data interpretation
If you're looking to enhance your LV fault detection, reduce penalties and excavations, get in touch for a product demo or to learn more.
You can find our contact details below.
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