Protective Pty Ltd is the 2022 WA Innovator of the Year Awards' Rio Tinto Emerging Innovation Category winner for their Broken Neutral Protection Device.
Protective is developing technology to protect occupants in homes and buildings from electric shock caused by faults in the electricity supply, which can be deadly when touching metal parts of the home.
Protective’s Broken Neutral Protection Device is an electronic safety device to detect and prevent electrical accidents caused by the incoming supply cabling in properties.
The device is patented, designed to be installed in the switchboard and to switch off the power when earthed metal parts of the house, such as water taps, become live.
The Broken Neutral Protection Device uses current measurements on the wires in the switchboard, along with an advanced algorithm and Radio Frequency (RF) technology to determine the voltage on earthed metal parts of the property and determine when the supply needs to be shut off for safety.
The device then switches off the power supply and can be configured to contact the network operator to rectify the fault.
Broken neutrals are a significant issue around Australia, with about 36% of electric shock and electrical accidents reported being caused by broken neutral or incoming line faults.
The Western Australia Innovator of the Year program has showcased innovative and entrepreneurial individuals, businesses and creative minds since 2006.
