AVO INTERNATIONAL

BRINGING RELIABILITY TO AMPS • VOLTS • OHMS

BIDDLE®
Model PFL-4000
• DC Tester, Burner, Surge
Generator in one portable
unit

• Integrated coupling for

multiple test techniques:
Time Domain Reflectometry
Arc Reflection
Surge Pulse Reflection

• High Energy output: 1500

Joules
Shown with
optional DART® • Rugged and portable
Cable Analyzer
and wheel kit.

Portable Power Fault Locator

DESCRIPTION
The BIDDLE® PFL-4000 Portable
Power Fault Locator System
integrates the basic tools of cable
fault locating into one compact
package: DC Tester, Burner, Surge
Generator and arc reflection
coupling. Adding the DART® Cable
Analysis System completes the
package by unlocking modern
prelocation technologies:
• Time Domain Reflectometry
• Digital Arc Reflection
• Patented Differential Arc
Reflection
• Surge Pulse Reflection (Current
Impulse & Voltage Decay)
The PFL-4000 may be compact, but
it delivers full performance. The
high energy output delivers a
powerful surge of 1500 Joules at 16
kV, providing necessary energy to
condition and break down faults
(without the need for cable burn-
ing) in cable, joints, termination
and long cable circuits. The system
also provides a 20 kV dc tester with
a 60 mA burn feature for testing and
conditioning cable faults. Arc
reflection and surge pulse reflection
coupling modules are integrated
into the PFL-4000 chassis.
APPLICATIONS • Circuit breakers for input power
The PFL-4000 is the ideal solution overload protection
for a wide variety of Underground • External interlock provision
Residential Distribution (URD) cable
applications. High discharge energy
ensures maximum performance on
short, medium or long URD loop
circuits.
Configured with the DART® Cable
Fault Analyzer, the system isolates
faulted cable sections between
transformers with one surge and
measures distance to the fault.
FEATURES AND BENEFITS
• Multiple techniques reduce fault
location time and maintenance
costs.
• Rugged construction designed to
endure years of hard use.
• Cable Fault pre-location extends
Optional DART® Cable Analyzer
cable life by minimizing stress to
mounts into an instrument lid assem-
aged cable (when combined with a
bly.
DART® Cable Analysis system).
• High energy allows testing of long
cable lengths and allows easier
pinpointing of difficult faults.
• Easy to use instrument interface
reduce training time and maximizes
investment.
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES
• Insulated high-voltage output
cable.
• Zero start voltage interlock.
• Automatic discharge and ground-
Optional Wheel Kit conveniently con-
ing upon instrument shut down.
verts the PFL-4000 to a transportable
• Redundant ground connections
unit.

BULLETIN PFL-4000 10/99 AVO INTERNATIONAL IS REGISTERED TO ISO 9001 STANDARD

BIDDLE PFL-4000

SPECIFICATIONS Energy:
Voltage Output: Capacitance: 12 uF
Available Modes: Surge Mode: 0 to 16 kV @ 12 uF Stored Energy: 1500 Joules at 16 kV
Mode Select switch set to Arc Surge Interval: 2 to 10 seconds,
Reflection: variable (Full output voltage is not Coupling:
Arc Reflection Test (ART) or Time available at 2 second time interval.) Arc Reflection Filter/Surge Pulse
Domain Reflectometry (TDR). DC Mode: 0 to 20 kV Coupler: Internally integrated
Note: Requires cable analyzer. Duty Cycle: continuous
Mode Select switch set to Surge: Polarity: Negative with respect to Metering:
Surge tracing or Surge Pulse Method ground. Kilovolmeter: 0 to 20 kV
Note: Surge pulse method requires Milliammeter: 0 to 60 mA
cable analyzer. Current Output:
Mode Select switch set to DC: DC Mode: 60 mA burn Environment:
DC burn or dc proof test Duty Cycle: continuous Operating temperature range:
-4 to 120° F (-20 to +50° C)
Storage temperature range:
-22 to +131° F (-30 to 55° C)
1800 Elevation: 6500 ft (2000 m) max.
1600 Derate voltage at higher altitude.
Energy in Joules

1400 Humidity: 95% RH non-condensing

1200 Climate: Operation in direct rain or
snow prohibited.
1000
800 General:
600 Dimensions: 34 H x 16 W x 16 D in.
(364 x 406 x 406 mm)
400 Weight: 180 lbs. (81.8 kg)
200 Add 25 lbs. (11.3 kg) if supplied with
0 DART® Cable Analyzer.
Add 35 lbs. (15.9 kg) if wheel kit is
1000

3000

5000

7000

9000

11000

13000

15000

supplied.
Input Voltage:
Specify one of the following:
Applied Voltage 115/120 V ac, 50/60 Hz
220/240 V ac, 50/60 Hz
Accessories Supplied:
Stored Energy •One 25 ft (7.6 m) high voltage,
shielded output cable with vise-grip
clamp.
18000 •One 7.5 ft (2.29 m) 3-wire, No. 16
16000 AWG, power input cord with
standard cap (IEC 320).
14000 •Two 25 ft (7.6 m) No. 8 AWG,
Applied Voltage

12000 flexible ground cables with vise-grip

grounding clamps.
10000 •One 4 ft (1.2 m) No. 8 AWG, flexible
ground cable.
8000
•One ground rod.
6000 •One interlock shorting plug.
4000
2000
0
2500

10000

17500

25000

32500

Cable Length in Feet

Effect of Cable Length on Applied Surge Voltage (Cable capacitance equal

to 100 pF per foot)

These instruments are manufactured in the United States. The Company reserves the right to change the specification
or design without prior notice. AVO and BIDDLE are Registered Trade Marks of AVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED.
 BIDDLE PFL-4000

ORDERING INFORMATION
Item Cat. No.

PFL-4000 Portable Power Fault Locator WITHOUT DART® Cable Analysis System ................. 657400-XXR
Integrated Modules: Surge Generator
DC Tester/Burner
Arc Reflection Filter
Surge Pulse Coupler

PFL-4000 Portable Power Fault Locator WITH DART® Cable Analysis System ........................ 657400-XXRY3
Integrated Modules: Surge Generator
DC Tester/Burner
Arc Reflection Filter
Surge Pulse Coupler
DART® Cable Analysis System (654000-4KY3)
Note: Refer to DART® Cable Analysis System literature for analyzer specifications.

Ordering Codes: XX = Enter 00 for 115/120 V ac, 50/60 Hz Input Voltage.

Enter 47 for 220/240 V ac, 50/60 Hz Input Voltage.
Y = Enter M for Transreflective monochrome LCD module.
Enter C for Active matrix color display module.
Optional Accessories
CBL125 Cable Assembly (Stand-alone reels) ................................................................................ CBL125
Push bar and mounting frame with 14 in. (35.6 cm), pneumatic tires ....................................... 35297
BIDDLE PFL-4000
UNITED STATES
4651 S. WESTMORELAND ROAD
DALLAS, TX 75237-1017 USA
PHONE: (800) 723-AVO-1 (723-2861)
FAX: (214) 333-3533
CANADA
110 MILNER AVENUE, UNIT 1
SCARBOROUGH, ON M1S 3R2
CANADA
PHONE: (800) 567-0-AVO (567-
0286)
FAX: (416) 298-7214
EXPORT
AVO INTERNATIONAL
4651 S. WESTMORELAND ROAD
DALLAS, TX 75237-1017 USA
PHONE: (214) 331-7363 © 1999 AVO INTERNATIONAL PRINTED IN USA
FAX: (214) 337-3038 MIL/3.5M/198 AVO-1099 BULLETIN PFL-4000