isolationövervakningsenhet

An isolation monitoring unit, or isolationövervakningsenhet in Swedish, is a device used to detect and alert about unintended electrical connections to earth in IT systems, also known as unearthed or floating systems. These systems are commonly found in medical electrical equipment and in industrial applications where continuous operation is critical. The primary purpose of an isolation monitoring unit is to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment by preventing dangerous fault currents from flowing to ground.

The unit works by continuously measuring the insulation resistance between the unearthed conductors of the power system and the protective earth. If this resistance falls below a predefined threshold, indicating a developing fault or a first fault condition, the isolation monitoring unit triggers an alarm. This alarm can be visual, audible, or transmitted to a central monitoring system. Early detection of insulation faults allows for prompt maintenance, preventing a second fault that could lead to a short circuit, fire, or electric shock. Isolation monitoring units are crucial for maintaining the integrity and safety of IT power systems.