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Clinton FL-8A Portable Cable Fault Detector

fl-8a fault detector product open
fl8a fault detector upright with handle
Clinton FL-8A Portable Cable Fault Detector - Image 3

Fast, on-site fault location for long and expensive cable assemblies

The Clinton Instrument FL-8A is a rugged, battery-operated cable fault locator built for demanding field environments. Designed for long multi-conductor cables used in offshore, marine, drilling and ROV applications, the FL-8A quickly pinpoints faults such as opens, metallic shorts and high-voltage shorts, helping you recover usable cable, minimise downtime, and avoid unnecessary replacement costs.

Fault types detected 

The system identifies and locates: 

  • Opens: Loss of continuity in a conductor. 
  • Metallic shorts: Conductors (or conductor/shield) in physical contact. 
  • High-voltage shorts: Insulation breakdown between conductors without direct contact. 

Other fault locators and spark testers are available in the range – see table below for more information. 

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Key features

  • Battery-operated portable fault locator
  • Fully automated testing
  • Colour touch-screen interface
  • Designed for harsh environments
  • Locates opens, metallic shorts and HV shorts quickly and accurately

Easy testing 

To test a cable the operator connects the FL-8A test probes to each end of the of the cable, enters the cable length and selects shorts or opens to start testing. The unit calculates the distance of the faulty from the test probe and displays the fault location in metres and provides a suggested trim area. The fault can then be cut out or repaired and the remaining good cable salvaged and put back into service. The FL-8A is built into a compact 19.5Kg sturdy wheeled case for ease of use and convenience. 

Why choose the FL-8A? 

  • Rapid, automated fault finding with minimal operator input.
  • Accurate distance-to-fault results from both ends of the cable, displayed in feet or metres.
  • Recover more cable and reduce waste, cutting out only the damaged section and re-using the rest.
  • Portable and field-ready in harsh industrial and offshore environments.
  • Strong ROI for high-value, long-length cable assemblies.
  • Supported locally by Control Metrix’s measurement specialists for seamless installation, calibration, and support

Support from Control Metrix 

As the exclusive distributor for Clinton Instrument Company in the UK and Ireland, Control Metrix provides full product specification support, application guidance, and after-sales service for FL-8A systems. If you’re working with long-length or high-value cable assemblies and need rapid, reliable fault location on site, we’ll help you select and deploy the right solution. 

Talk to us 

Want to know whether the FL-8A is right for your cable type or environment?
Contact our team to discuss your application, request pricing, or arrange a demo. 

Typical Applications

The FL-8A is ideal for long-length, multi-conductor and specialty cable assemblies where on-site fault location is essential, including: 

  • Offshore well development and production cables
  • Marine and subsea cables
  • Land drilling operations
  • ROV tether and control/video cables
  • Any high-value cable applications exposed to mechanical, thermal or electrical stress

How it works 

The FL-8A is designed for quick setup and simple, guided testing:

  1. Connect test probes to each end of the damaged cable.
  2. Enter total cable length on the colour touch screen.
  3. Select “Shorts” or “Opens” to start the automated test.
  4. The FL-8A calculates the fault distance from each end, displays the results clearly, and provides a suggested trim zone to remove or repair.

Technical Specification

Voltage Test Range 0–8 kV DC 
Output current 6 mA max
Accuracy Better than 1% of total cable length*
Display  6″ backlit colour TFT touch screen 
Cable loop resistance – metallic short  50 milliohms minimum 
Cable loop resistance – HV short  300 milliohms minimum
Test leads  3 m (10 ft)
Dimensions (W × D × H)  561 × 463 × 264 mm (22.0″ × 18.2″ × 10.4″) 
Weight  19.5 kg (43Ib) 
Battery power  Ni-MH 24 V, 5 Ah, rechargeable 
Recharge power  100–240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 2 A

*Accuracy dependent on correct cable footage and product uniformity. 

Other Spark Tester Models

Model Type Voltage Test Range Test Frequency Application
HF-15B High-frequency sine wave spark tester 500-15kV RMS 1.0-3.5kHz Smaller cable and high-speed lines
AC-30B Main frequency AC spark tester 1kV-30kV 50-60Hz Larger wires & multi-conductor cables
DC-50B Main frequency DC spark tester 1kV-50kV DC – Larger wires & multi-conductor cables
DC-1B
DC-10B
DC-20B		 Digital CD spark tester 50-1kV DC
500-10kV DC
500-20kV DC		 –
–
–		 Very high-speed application, multiple conductors, heavy loads or foam type insulation
IT-30B Impulse spark tester 3kV-30kV negative peak – Alternative to wet dielectric test. For wire specification that have not adopted HF spark test such as MIL-C-13777E, MIL-W-16878D, and some NEMA specifications.
STM-10GF
STM-20GF		 Multi-electrode
DC spark tester		 1kV-10kV DC
1kV-20kV DC		 –
–		 Multi-electrode DC spark tester for multiple conductors, can connect up to 7 test modules
FL-20A
FL-8A		 Cable Fault Locators 0-20kV DC
0-8kV DC		 –
–		 Device to locate a short or open in a finished multi-conductor cable.
TSTB Wireless Spark Tester 0-10 kV DC – Spark tester integrated into a twinner/double turn buncher meant to detect faults prior to takeup located within the rotating bows.
HV-35 Handheld Spark Test Probe 2-35kV
Negative Peak		 60 Impulses Per Second Handheld device to pinpoint the exact defect location during rewind.
Various Accessories Download pdf for electrodes & accessories

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