WitchFire offers a low‑cost, solar‑blind UV sensor that detects corona discharge by capturing shortwave UV emissions (200‑280 nm) that are invisible to the human eye. The detector is immune to both reflected and direct sunlight, allowing reliable outdoor operation even on bright days, and provides simple visual and audible alerts to pinpoint discharge sources.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
High‑voltage power infrastructure can develop corona discharge, which damages equipment and can trigger wildfires. Detecting corona reliably in the field is difficult because traditional corona cameras rely on expensive shortwave‑UV imaging systems and cannot operate in daylight due to ambient sunlight interference.
Solution
WitchFire offers a handheld sensor that detects the faint shortwave ultraviolet (200‑280 nm) emissions produced by corona discharge. The detector is tuned to the solar‑blind UV band, which is essentially absent from natural sunlight at ground level, making the device immune to both reflected and direct sunlight. When corona is present, the sensor triggers a green visual indicator and an audible alarm whose pulse rate reflects discharge intensity and distance. The simple user interface allows operators to locate discharge sources on the ground, from elevated platforms, or via inspection drones without the need for complex imaging optics. By eliminating the high‑gain image intensifier and specialized band‑pass filters required by conventional cameras, the system provides a cost‑effective alternative for routine field inspections.
Target Audience
Primary customers are utility transmission and distribution operators, high‑voltage equipment maintenance teams, and inspection service providers that require affordable, daylight‑capable corona detection for routine safety checks.
Features
- Operates exclusively in the 200‑280 nm solar‑blind UV band, ensuring immunity to ambient daylight
- Integrated visual (green LED) and audible (beeper) alerts that convey discharge strength and proximity
- Portable, battery‑powered handheld form factor suitable for ground, aerial, or drone‑mounted use
- Low‑cost sensor architecture that replaces expensive image‑intensifier cameras and high‑precision filters
- Simple one‑button operation with no need for trained optical technicians
- Compatible with standard binoculars or optical zoom equipment for visual confirmation of discharge locations