Abstract: The arcdischarge fault detecting and locating device for the switch gear were expounded, in which the design of various units of several function modules was included. By combined use of the fault current detection method, the arc light probe technique, the arc light imageforming principle and the virtual instrument platform technology, the device can detect the arcdischarge fault occurred in the switchgear and locate the fault; and the detection results can reflect the occurring and developing process of the arcdischarge fault inside switchgear, which provides the basis for subsequent arcdischarge fault analysis.

Key words: switchgear, arc detection, fault current detection, arc data collection