Zero-sequence current variation characteristics of faulty and healthy distribution feeders with different fault resistances and earth capacities during the changing process of residual current compensation factors are analyzed. Firstly

the relational expression for zero- sequence current is given. Secondly

zero-sequence current variation curves of distribution feeders are presented for multi-parameter scenarios with residual current compensation factor varying in over-compensation

under-compensation and whole regions. The results show that once single-line-to-ground fault through resistance occurs

the zero-sequence current variation characteristic of faulty feeder is consistent with that of healthy feeder under the following conditions: (1)residual current compensation factor is less than zero but greater than the opposite number of the ratio of faulty feeder's ground capacitance to total ground capacitance of all feeders; (2)fault resistance is greater than the boundary value which is inversely proportional to the ground capacitance of the feeder while the residual current compensation factor is greater than zero. The analysis results provide an important theoretical basis to the remnant current increment method.