The Present Status of Aluminum-Cell Lightning Arresters

This paper gives a brief survey of the conditions of operation of aluminum-cell arresters, without any description of the forms of the arresters. References are made to recent investigations of lightning phenomena and their possible effects on the design of protective apparatus used at present. The d-c. aluminum arrester is most economical and represents the highest possible grade of protection. In connection with the a-c. aluminum arrester the following points are discussed: dielectric spark lag, dissolution of film, charging resistance, oscillations, damping, degrees of surges due to natural operations and accidents, and insulations which withstand these surges. Charging resistance on aluminum arresters is chosen to make surges harmless, and the charging resistance gives great immunity from damage to the arrester itself by any accidental and temporary local condition in the arrester. In conclusion, the aluminum-cell arrester may justly be regarded as a standardized electrical device founded on solid fundamental principles.