Introduction: Development of Low Voltage (LV) Link Box with remote monitoring facilities.

Objectives: Link boxes are used to provide interconnection between LV distribution networks during maintenance or under fault conditions. They can also act as the boundary between distribution networks and Independent Network Operators (IDNOs). Their functionality is normally limited to the manual operation of the individual phase connections.

The development of smart grids on networks to facilitate large penetrations of micro-generation or other low carbon demand technologies will require an increased network monitoring capability. Measuring the voltage at, and current passing through, link boxes will provide some of the required information. The equipment should also be able to monitor; unbalance, power factor and harmonics.

The monitoring could be used to identify the integrity of a fused interconnection in the link box and is a step towards the provision of remotely controlled LV switches in these link boxes.