--- title: Innovative Groundless Grid Sensor | MICATU description: Engineered for utility professionals, MICATU’s Groundless Optical Sensor delivers precise, real-time voltage and current data without requiring a ground connection — improving safety, reducing maintenance, and enabling smarter grid operations. --- This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## The MICATU Advanced Sensor Platform # Advanced Current and Voltage Sensing — Unbound The MICATU Advanced Sensor Platform makes a technological leap forward with the addition of contact-free, Groundless Voltage and Current Sensing. [![Explore the MICATU Platform](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/8510281/823f3371-4f1d-418c-94fc-8a8c668e94e2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/8510281/823f3371-4f1d-418c-94fc-8a8c668e94e2) [![](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/icon-youtube.png)](https://google.com) [![](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/icon-linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/micatu/) # MICATU's Groundless Sensors The MICATU Groundless Current and Voltage Sensors are contact-free solutions for accurate current and voltage measurement, even when an external ground is unavailable or unfeasible. Platform with the certus*EDGE* Edge Processing Unit (EPU) or the m410B Advanced Signal Processor to aggregate real-time, seamless delivery from any MICATU Advanced Sensor models. Designed for direct installation in air-insulated, pad mount equipment or within enclosures, MICATU Groundless Sensors provide a more reliable measurement across multiple voltage classes. With contact-free, optical sensing technology, MICATU Groundless Sensors can be deployed directly on a busbar or underground cable without the need for additional insulators. And the highly precise data is available on any connected SCADA network, thanks to the plug-n-play m410B Advanced Signal Processor. When used in a feeder compartment, MICATU Groundless Sensors do not require an external ground. It uses the compartment itself for ground reference. #### [The MICATU Groundless Sensor Story](https://www.giantfocal.com/) Purposefully designed for specialty applications, Groundless Sensors represent a transformative solution that propels the electric utility industry into a new era of reliability, efficiency, and safety. With their advanced features and benefits, these sensors empower utilities to proactively manage their electrical infrastructure, reduce downtime, optimize performance, and enhance worker safety. Ideal for use in applications where directly mounting the sensor either to pad-mount equipment, to cabinets, or within enclosures, depending upon model these sensors use industry-standard bolt-circles or directly mount to the busbar via side tabs, nylon bolts, and nylon wingnuts. Designed in collaboration with a utility partner when they needed a future-forward replacement for neon-filament voltage indicators, the ONC125 exclusively available from MICATU elegantly solved all of their requirements. The new unit needed to be reliable, work with 4kV Unit-Substation feeders, and ideally could be installed without taking the unit offline. In short, it had to work well with the most demanding grid in the country. Building on their wealth of experience in optical sensing, the MICATU team delivered something extraordinary. Not only did the ONC125 provide exceptional accuracy in a 2-pound, non-conductive housing, the entire solution could be installed without making contact with the current itself — or even without access to an external ground! With its modular design and capacity to handle multiple voltage classes, this utility was able to deploy the ONC125 sensors rapidly. Their teams were able to reliably determine voltage without even accessing the compartment, thanks to the sensor’s integration with the m410B Optical Signal Processor. **"Although originally envisioned for one specific use case, we quickly realized how transformative a contact-free, groundless voltage sensor is. And the opportunity this opens up for the integrated grid… well, it’s a game changer."** #### Safe Because the MICATU Advanced Sensor is contact-free and works outside the current, installation and operation present no violent failure or electrocution risks. #### Accurate MICATU Advanced Sensors maintain +/- 0.5% accuracy across the entire measurement range, regardless of applied voltage or current. #### Advanced The ABS housing is watertight and keeps the entire sensor free of conductive materials. The all-optical design keeps the sensor isolated from the system, ensuring high reliability and long life. #### Easy Install The MICATU Advanced Sensor is non-contact and can be easily installed directly on the busbar via sidetabs, nylon bolts, and nylon wingnuts. Fiber optic cables connect the sensors to the certusEDGE EPU or m410B Advanced Signal Processor. ## Our Products MICATU Advanced Sensors are non-contact and utilize a 100% "all optical" measurement platform for unparalleled accuracy and precision of current and voltage readings, across multiple voltage classes. Sensor models are specifically designed for installation directly on busbar and/or feeder cables or on pad-mount equipment. All signals from the sensor are connected via optical fiber connections to a "plug & play" certusEDGE EPU or m410 OSP, that is fully ruggedized and scalable. ![RNC125-3](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/RNC125-3.png) Non-Contact Medium Voltage Sensor ## ONC125 - **Voltage: **4kV to 27kV - **Weight:** 0.9 kg (2 lbs) [Download Product Brochure](https://www.micatu.com/groundless-sensor#widget_1608747160874) #### Product Specs ###### MICATU ONC125 Sensor Insulator body rating 27kV Optical Cable Length 10ft/(3m) Voltage: 4kV to 27kV Accuracy Class: 0.5% Weight: 0.9kg (2 lbs.) Transients: 10dB (10x steady state condition) minimum Harmonics: Measurements to 50th Voltage Harmonic ###### Environmental Operational: -22ºF to 185ºF (-30ºC to 85ºC) Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% ###### Certifications Available upon request. ![MICATU OSI225 Optical Sensor](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/Micatu%20OSI225%20trans.png) Standoff Insulating Combination Current and Voltage Sensor ## OSI225 - **Voltage: **4kV to 27kV - **Nominal Current:** 10A to 3000A - **Weight:** 5.4 kg (12 lbs.) [Download Product Brochure](https://www.micatu.com/groundless-sensor#module_168928462876810) #### Product Specs ###### MICATU OSI225 Sensor Insulator body rating 27kV Optical Cable Length Cartridge to Voltage Insulator 10ft/(3m), Cartridge to Current Ring 10ft (3m) Accuracy Class: 0.5% BIL: 125kV Full-Wave Lightning Impulse Voltage: 4kV to 27kV Amperes: 10A to 1000A Transients: 10dB (10x steady state condition) minimum Harmonics: Voltage to the 50th; Current to the 11th Weight: 5.4 kg (12 lbs.) Current Ring: I.D 3.225", 4X 1/2-13 mounting nuts top & bottom Nominal current measurement range: 10 - 3000A Current accuracy: ±1A to 100A; ±0.5% 100 - 3000A Fault current measurement: Up to 10kA Fault current tolerance: 165kA peak ###### Environmental Operational: -22ºF to 185ºF (-30ºC to 85ºC) Relative Humidity: 5% to 95% ###### Certifications Available upon request. ## Visibility that Saves Time and Money ![20190417_093732](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/20190417_093732.jpg) "MICATU’s technology allowed us to gain important distribution feeder data at a pace we’ve never been able to achieve. This deployment not only improves our visibility of the grid but saved us valuable time and money." ###### Electrical Utility Manager of Projects and Programs ## Additional Products ![OVERHEAD SENSOR sm-img](https://www.micatu.com/hs-fs/hubfs/OVERHEAD%20SENSOR%20sm-img.jpg?width=380&height=353&name=OVERHEAD%20SENSOR%20sm-img.jpg) #### [Overhead Sensors](https://www.micatu.com/overhead-sensors?hsLang=en) MICATU Overhead Sensors can be installed on overhead lines to precisely measure voltage, current, temperature, power factor, phase angle, total harmonic distortion to a greater level of accuracy than traditional sensors. [Learn More ![](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/arrow-right.png)](https://www.micatu.com/overhead-sensors?hsLang=en) ![UNDERGROUND SENSOR sm-img](https://www.micatu.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UNDERGROUND%20SENSOR%20sm-img.jpg?width=380&height=353&name=UNDERGROUND%20SENSOR%20sm-img.jpg) #### [Underground Sensors](https://www.micatu.com/underground-sensors?hsLang=en) MICATU Underground Sensors install quickly and easily into any standard load-break elbow, serving as a highly accurate and low-cost solution for monitoring distributed grids. [Learn More ![](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/arrow-right.png)](https://www.micatu.com/underground-sensors?hsLang=en) ![MICATU-DERM-WP-myPad_black_tilt_right](https://www.micatu.com/hubfs/MICATU-DERM-WP-myPad_black_tilt_right.png) Download Your Whitepaper ### The Data Behind the DERMS The exponential growth of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) connecting to the grid edge have forever changed the grid's landscape. Learn how advanced grid edge awareness helps utilities overcome the power quality issues induced by renewable power source. [Download now](https://www.micatu.com/data-behind-the-derms?hsLang=en) ### Contact Us Looking to transform the way you collect data from the grid? Our experts will help you upgrade your measurement technology for the grid of the future. [Contact Micatu](https://www.micatu.com/contact/?hsLang=en) ![](https://enterpriseinsightinspiration.com/813878.png)