Electrical arc detection for electric meter socket connections

1. A method for electrical arc detection in an electrical connection between an electric meter and a socket, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processor of the electric meter, a vibration signal from a vibration sensor, wherein the vibration signal is generated based on a mechanical vibration source external to the electric meter;

receiving, by the processor, an arc detection signal from an arc detector;

correlating in time, by the processor, the vibration signal with the arc detection signal; and

determining, by the processor, that an electrical arc is detected based on the correlating of the vibration signal with the arc detection signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that the electrical arc is detected comprises determining that a correlation of the vibration signal with the arc detection signal is sustained for a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibration signal includes a first vibration signal,

wherein the first vibration signal is a low frequency vibration signal caused by a mechanical source external to the electric meter.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the arc detection signal is correlated to a portion of the first vibration signal having an amplitude exceeding a value necessary for the first vibration signal to sustain the electrical arc.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vibration signal includes a second vibration signal,

wherein the second vibration signal has a frequency different than a frequency of a power line signal.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the second vibration signal is caused by initiation and extinguishment of the electrical arc at zero crossings of the power line signal.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the arc detection signal is correlated to the second vibration signal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the vibration signal comprises a first vibration signal and a second vibration signal,

the first vibration signal is a low frequency vibration signal caused by the mechanical vibration source external to the electric meter;

the second vibration signal has a frequency different than a frequency of a power line signal caused by initiation and extinguishment of the electrical arc at zero crossings of the power line signal; and

the arc detection signal is correlated to a portion of the first vibration signal having an amplitude exceeding a value necessary for the first vibration signal to sustain the electrical arc and to the second vibration signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating, by the processor, a notification that the electrical arc is detected; and

transmitting the notification to a utility provider.

10. An electric meter, comprising:

an arc detector configured to detect radio frequency (RF) emissions generated by an electrical arc;

a vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations;

a communications module configured to transmit and receive communication signals;

a memory configured to store executable instructions and data; and

a processor in communication with the arc detector, the vibration sensor, the communications module, and the memory, the processor configured to:

receive a vibration signal from the vibration sensor wherein the vibration signal is generated based on a mechanical vibration source external to the electric meter;

receive an arc detection signal from the arc detector;

correlate in time the vibration signal with the arc detection signal; and

determine that the electrical arc is detected based on correlating the vibration signal with the arc detection signal.

11. The electric meter of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the electrical arc is detected by determining that a correlation of the vibration signal with the arc detection signal is sustained for a predetermined period of time.

12. The electric meter of claim 10 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect a first vibration signal, wherein the first vibration signal is a low frequency vibration signal caused by a mechanical source external to the electric meter.

13. The electric meter of claim 12 , wherein the processor is further configured to correlate the arc detection signal to a portion of the first vibration signal having an amplitude exceeding a value necessary for the first vibration signal to sustain the electrical arc.

14. The electric meter of claim 10 , wherein the vibration sensor is configured to detect a second vibration signal, wherein the second vibration signal has a frequency different than a frequency of a power line signal.

15. The electric meter of claim 14 , wherein the second vibration signal is caused by initiation and extinguishment of the electrical arc at zero crossings of the power line signal.

16. The electric meter of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further configured to correlate the arc detection signal to the second vibration signal.

17. The electric meter of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to correlate the arc detection signal to a portion of a first vibration signal having an amplitude exceeding a value necessary for the first vibration signal to sustain the electrical arc and to a second vibration signal,

wherein the first vibration signal is a low frequency vibration signal caused by the mechanical vibration source external to the electric meter, and

the second vibration signal has a frequency different than a frequency of a power line signal caused by initiation and extinguishment of the electrical arc at zero crossings of the power line signal.

18. The electric meter of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate a notification that the electrical arc is detected; and

transmit the notification to a utility provider.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for making one or more processors execute a method for electrical arc detection in an electrical connection between an electric meter and a socket, the processor executable instructions comprising instructions for performing operations including:

receiving a vibration signal from a vibration sensor;

receiving an arc detection signal from an arc detector;

correlating in time the vibration signal with the arc detection signal; and

determining that an electrical arc is detected based on the correlating of the vibration signal with the arc detection signal,

wherein the vibration signal comprises:

a low frequency vibration signal caused by a mechanical source external to the electric meter, and

a frequency different than a frequency of a power line signal caused by initiation and extinguishment of the electrical arc at zero crossings of the power line signal.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 19 , further comprising instruction for performing operations including:

determining that the electrical arc is detected comprises determining that a correlation of the vibration signal with the arc detection signal is sustained for a predetermined period of time.