Astute HV Monitoring®

Astute® HV Monitoring: Proactive High-Voltage Monitoring Solutions

Failures in high-voltage (HV) switchgear and cabling can result in costly repairs, replacements, and fines. However, most of these failures can be predicted by monitoring key early warning signs like partial discharge (PD).

Astute® HV Monitoring from EA Technology provides advanced HV monitoring for real-time detection of potential issues in your high-voltage systems. This proactive approach alerts you to emerging problems, allowing you to take action before they lead to equipment failure or costly downtime.

Award-winning HV Monitoring technology

In 2018, the Astute® HV Monitoring solution won the prestigious innovation award from the Institute of Asset Management, beating strong competition from organisations like National Grid and ISA CTEEP. This recognition highlights EA Technology’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for high-voltage monitoring and asset protection.

Explore more about our partial discharge monitoring systems.

Take Control with HV Monitoring Solutions

With Astute® HV Monitoring, you remain in control of your high-voltage system. Our monitoring technology pinpoints any emerging issues and assesses their severity, enabling you to make informed decisions. Whether you need to continue monitoring, schedule repairs during routine maintenance, or isolate specific parts of your system for urgent attention, Astute® HV gives you the flexibility to choose the best course of action.

In cases of severe faults, the system provides early warnings, giving you the necessary time to follow proper procedures and notify all relevant stakeholders.

For more proactive high-voltage management solutions, visit our high-voltage monitoring solutions.

Cost-Effective HV Monitoring

The cost of a single catastrophic outage can far exceed the investment in several years’ worth of Astute® HV Monitoring. By identifying issues early, you can mitigate the risks of:

• Lost productivity;
• Replacement of damaged switchgear, cables and other components;
• Unplanned labour – overtime, weekend pay;
• Outage fines (especially in public power supply);
• Reputational damage
• In terms of due diligence, Astute® HV is priceless.

Investing in HV monitoring provides peace of mind by protecting your assets and maintaining service continuity.

Simple Installation of HV Monitoring Systems

Installation of monitoring equipment requires no downtime whatsoever. Most of our monitoring devices simply clip around existing cabling or fit inside switchgear boxes.

Continual or regular HV monitoring – with reporting

The Astute® HV Monitoring system is typically configured for continuous monitoring with automated alerts. However, in less critical situations, we offer monthly or weekly reporting options. Since partial discharge deterioration often develops over several months, this flexibility allows you to act in a timely manner without unnecessary intervention.

Regular performance updates help you track trends and spot irregularities early, keeping your high-voltage systems safe and reliable.

Learn more about how Astute® HV Monitoring can enhance your maintenance strategy by visiting our high-voltage monitoring solutions page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is Astute HV Monitoring?
A: Astute HV Monitoring is a permanent, continuous-monitoring system that watches high-voltage (HV) switchgear and cables for signs of partial discharge (PD) — early warning indicators of insulation deterioration — so potential issues can be detected before catastrophic failure occurs. 

Q: Why is continuous PD monitoring important?
A: Because many HV failures don’t happen suddenly — they develop over time as insulation degrades. Continuous PD monitoring gives early warning of deterioration, allowing maintenance or remedial action before outages, equipment damage, or safety risks occur. 

Q: Does installing Astute require a shutdown of the HV system?
A: No. The installation is non-intrusive — most sensors simply clip around existing cables or fit inside switchgear boxes — so monitoring can begin without disrupting operations. 

Q: What kinds of HV assets can it monitor?
A: The system can monitor both switchgear (indoor or outdoor) and cable networks — including underground or overhead cables — as well as terminations, joints, and other HV components, depending on configuration. 

Q: What kinds of PD detection methods does Astute use?
A: Astute’s sensors and nodes monitor various PD indicators: for example, Transient Earth Voltage (TEV), ultrasonic signals, high-frequency current transformer (HFCT) signals; data is processed to detect, locate and trend PD activity over time.

Q: How is the data reported and used?
A: The system supports continuous monitoring with real-time alerts. Alternatively, for less critical applications, weekly or monthly reporting is possible. When abnormal PD activity is detected, the data helps pinpoint the affected asset, assess severity, and support decision-making (repair now vs schedule later). 

Q: What are the main benefits of using Astute HV Monitoring?
A: Among the benefits:

• Early detection of insulation degradation to prevent unplanned outages.
  
  
• Avoidance of costly emergency repairs or replacements.
  
  
• Safer operations by reducing the need for ad hoc inspections or maintenance under load.
  
  
• Better asset-management planning — enabling maintenance to be scheduled proactively instead of reactively.