Operation of Lightning Arresters on Abnormal Power Frequency Voltages

Lightning arresters have historically been restricted in usage to operating voltages which are equal to or less than the arrester rated voltage as determined by the standard duty cycle test. This results in application limits which are unnecessarily conservative when considering the modern current-limiting gap station arrester.1 The current-limiting gap arrester has inherent overvoltage capability, and, through specific tests, it is possible to evolve application rules which allow use of these specific arresters on transient power frequency voltages above the standard arrester voltage rating.