Service Experience with Lightning Arresters Under Contaminated Conditions

The Working Group on Lightning Arrester Contamination Performance and Durability of the Overvoltage Protective Devices Subcommittee of the IEEE Surge Protective Devices Committee has prepared a final report summarizing the replies to a questionnaire on arrester serviceability under contaminated conditions. The questionnaire was distributed in 1966 by members of the working group to electric utility companies throughout the United States. An evaluation of the responses is presented in this paper, and several significant observations are made and conclusions reached. A variety of contaminants which might affect arresters is described in addition to the extent to which preventative practices and procedures are utilized to minimize the effects of contamination on arresters. A distinction is made between station or intermediate class arresters and distribution class arresters concerning the possible processes contributing to failure from contamination.