Detection & Location of Electrical Faults
Faults happen. We help you find them – fast.
Quick, accurate fault detection that reduces downtime, improves safety, and helps you act with confidence.
Find Faults Faster with Intelligent Diagnostics
Real-time insight and precise fault location
Electrical faults can stop operations — and every minute counts. Viper’s advanced diagnostics pinpoint issues quickly, reducing repair times, improving safety, and keeping critical systems online. Powered by Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR) and smart analytics, our solutions give operators clarity and confidence when it matters most.
Advanced diagnostic method
Solution Overview & Technology Explained
Viper’s SSTDR (Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry) technology is at the heart of our fault detection solutions. By sending a low-energy, spread-spectrum signal along a cable, SSTDR detects reflections caused by faults and calculates their exact location—even while the system is live and operational.
This advanced diagnostic method is integrated within our CableGuardian solution for rail networks, combining continuous insulation monitoring with precise fault location. The result is unparalleled visibility: not only can operators monitor the health of their cables over time, but they can also pinpoint the exact spot of a fault, enabling rapid intervention.
Transforming Fault Management
Proven in rail and ready for more
In the rail sector, CableGuardian has transformed fault management by enabling operators to detect and locate faults remotely, without trackside testing. This reduces downtime, improves safety for maintenance teams, and keeps passenger services running reliably.
The same benefits extend far beyond rail. Industries such as aerospace, nuclear power, renewables, and marine—where downtime is costly and safety critical—can also benefit from fault detection and location. Whether the challenge is identifying a subsea short circuit, a cable break in an aircraft system, or degradation in a nuclear facility, Viper’s technology provides operators with the insight they need to act quickly and confidently.
Access System Health
Assess. Locate. Protect.
Electrical faults may be inevitable—but extended downtime doesn’t have to be. Viper’s solutions allow operators to assess system health continuously and detect and locate faults with precision.
Combined with Viper’s analytics for preventative insights, these capabilities deliver a holistic approach to electrical integrity management—helping industries worldwide reduce costs, enhance safety, and extend asset life.
Ready to find faults before they disrupt your operations?
Speak to our experts to see how SSTDR-powered diagnostics deliver fast, accurate fault location and support safer, more efficient maintenance.
Our Products
Products for the detection & location of faults
View Viper’s range of intelligent solutions.
Case Study
Pinpointing cable faults in minutes, not days
Following repeated signalling power alarms, CableGuardian with SSTDR capability enabled engineers to pinpoint a developing fault to a specific cable section within minutes. This accuracy eliminated the need for prolonged on-track testing, reduced workforce exposure, and enabled targeted repairs that restored full service quickly. The case highlights how rapid location dramatically cuts disruption.
FAQs
Understand how intelligent diagnostics detect and locate electrical faults quickly to minimise downtime and improve safety.
How does Viper locate electrical faults accurately?
Using Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry (SSTDR), faults are detected and located by analysing signal reflections along cables.
Can faults be detected while systems are live?
Yes. SSTDR operates on energised systems, enabling fault detection without shutdown or service interruption.
What types of faults can be identified?
Short circuits, open circuits, impedance changes, and intermittent or transient faults can all be detected.
How does fault location reduce downtime?
Pinpoint accuracy allows maintenance teams to target the exact fault location, reducing investigation time and repair effort.
Is this technology limited to one sector?
No. While proven in rail, the same fault detection principles apply to aerospace, nuclear, marine, and industrial systems.