The effect of high temperature conductors on composite suspension insulator performance

Use of high temperature conductors is being considered by more and more electric utilities as a means to increase transmission line capacity. This has raised questions regarding the effect of these increased temperatures on the performance of all components attached to the conductor, including the insulators. This paper presents the results of laboratory studies of several suspension insulator assemblies to determine the temperatures reached at various locations on the conductor attachment hardware and on the end fittings of composite insulators. Once these temperatures were determined for the targeted conductor temperatures, their effect on the mechanical performance of the insulators was measured.