Test Points - Datacell

Remote Test Point Monitoring for Cathodic Protection

Cathodic protection test points are the eyes of your CP system. Installed at regular intervals along pipelines, at critical crossings, and near other buried infrastructure, these measurement locations allow you to verify that adequate protection is reaching every part of your asset.

Traditionally, monitoring test points meant sending technicians into the field to manually measure pipe-to-soil potentials. For pipeline operators with hundreds or thousands of test points spread across vast distances, this represents an enormous ongoing cost in labour, vehicle expenses, and time.

DataCell and DataScape transform test point monitoring from a manual, periodic task into an automated, continuous process.

Why Continuous Test Point Monitoring Matters

A cathodic protection system can fail or degrade at any time. Rectifier faults, bond failures, coating damage, changes in soil conditions, or interference from nearby infrastructure can all reduce protection levels between scheduled inspections.

Without continuous monitoring, these problems go undetected until the next site visit, which might be weeks or months away. During that time, your pipeline or structure is exposed to accelerated corrosion.

Remote test point monitoring with DataCell provides structure-to-soil potential measurements around the clock. When protection levels drop below your defined thresholds, DataScape sends an immediate alert so you can investigate and respond before damage occurs.

What You Can Monitor at Test Points

DataCell units installed at CP test points can measure a range of parameters critical to corrosion protection:

Pipe-to-soil potential (DC) — The fundamental measurement confirming cathodic protection is working, typically referenced against a copper-sulfate electrode
ON and OFF potentials — Measure both energised and instant-off potentials for accurate assessment of true polarisation levels
AC voltage — Detect induced AC from nearby power lines, which can cause AC corrosion even on cathodically protected pipelines
Current density — Monitor coupon test stations to assess actual current flow to the structure
Bond currents — Verify drainage bonds and isolation joints are functioning correctly
Native potentials — Establish baseline measurements at new installations or unprotected sections

The DataCell TP is specifically designed for test point applications, featuring high-impedance inputs for accurate potential measurement, multiple channels for simultaneous readings, and battery life exceeding 10 years under normal operating conditions.

Eliminate Manual Surveys

For pipeline operators, the cost savings from automated test point monitoring are substantial. Consider a pipeline with 200 test points requiring quarterly inspections. That represents 800 site visits per year, each consuming technician time, vehicle costs, and creating safety exposure.

With DataCell monitoring, those 800 manual readings become automated. Your technicians receive continuous data at their desks and only travel to sites that actually need attention. Survey reports that once took days to compile are generated automatically by DataScape.

Close interval surveys (CIS) become far more practical when you can remotely synchronise current interruption across your network without dispatching personnel to every rectifier location.

Compliance Made Simple

Australian Standard AS 2832 and international standards like NACE SP0169 require regular monitoring of cathodic protection systems. DataScape automatically logs all measurements with timestamps, creating a complete audit trail for compliance reporting.

When regulators or auditors request evidence of CP system performance, you have years of continuous data available at the click of a button, not just quarterly snapshots from manual inspections.

Built for the Field

Test points are often located in challenging environments: roadsides, rail corridors, remote easements, flood-prone areas, or confined spaces. DataCell hardware is designed for these conditions, with rugged enclosures rated for outdoor installation and battery power that eliminates the need for mains connections.

Cellular connectivity via the 4G network ensures reliable data transmission from most locations across Australia. For truly remote sites, satellite options are available.

Get Started

Whether you operate a cross-country gas transmission pipeline or a network of urban water mains, DataCell test point monitoring gives you the visibility you need to maintain effective cathodic protection.