Practical testing of commercial lightning-arresters

Introductory. The question as to what tests for commercial lightning-arresters might be properly incorporated in the standardization rules of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers has lately been considered by the Standardization Committee. The committee finally decided not to adopt any lightning tests in the new edition of the rules adopted June 21, 1907. However, the sub-committee on lightning-arresters hopes to get a full consideration of the subject for the benefit of a later Standardization Committee. The present paper, together with another paper on the same subject by Mr. E. E. F. Creighton, is prepared at the request of the sub-committee to serve as a basis for discussion. As no lightning-arrester tests have ever been included in the standardization rules the initial treatment should now receive especially careful attention.