TRANSMISSION AND

DISTRIBUTION
U N I T-4
I N S U L ATOR S
T E S T I N G O F I NS U L ATOR S

TESTING OF INSULATORS:
The insulator should have good mechanical and dielectric strengths to
withstand the load and operating or flashover voltages, respectively.
However, it should be free from pores or voids, which may damage the
insulators.
For this, the following three tests are performed.

1. Flash over tests

2. Performance tests
3. Routine tests

FLASHOVER TESTS:
Three types of flashover tests are to be conducted before the insulator can be said to have passed the
flashover test.
1. Power frequency dry flashover test
2. Power frequency wet flashover test
3. Impulse frequency flashover test
POWER FREQUENCY DRY FLASHOVER TEST:
. In this test, voltage is applied between the electrodes of the
insulator mounted in the manner in which it is to be used.
. Gradually the applied voltage is increased until the
Surrounding air breaks down.
. This voltage is known as flashover voltage, and must be
Greater than that of the minimum specified voltage.
. The insulator must be capable of withstanding the minimum
Specified voltage for one minute.

POWER FREQUENCY WET FLASHOVER TEST:

In this test, again the insulator is mounted in the same
manner as that of dry flashover test and the voltage is
applied gradually, in addition to that, the insulator is
sprayed with water at an angle 45 in such a manner that
its precipitation should not be more than 5.08 mm/min.
The insulator must be capable of withstanding minimum
voltage for 30 sec.
IMPULSE FREQUENCY FLASHOVER TEST:
In this test, a generator develops a very high voltage
at a frequency of several hundred kilohertz.
This voltage is applied to the insulator and
spark-over voltage is noted.
The ratio of impulse spark-over voltage to spark-over
voltage at power frequency is called impulse ratio.

PERFORMANCE TEST:
Before giving the satisfactory performance of the insulators, the following tests are to be conducted.
1. Puncture voltage test
2. Mechanical strength test
3. Electro-mechanical test
4. Porosity test
PUNCTURE VOLTAGE TEST:
. The purpose of this test is to determine the
puncture voltage.
. In this test, the insulator is suspended in
insulating oil.
. The voltage is applied and increased gradually
until the puncture takes place.
. The voltage at which the puncture starts is called
puncture voltage.
. This voltage for suspension type insulator is
30% higher than that of the dry flashover voltage.

MECHANICAL STRENGTH TEST:

This test is conducted to determine the ultimate
mechanical strength of pin type insulator.
The insulator is mounted on a steel pin and 250%
of working load is applied for one minute.
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL TEST:
This is conducted only for suspension type insulators.
In this test, a tensile stress, which is equal to 250% of
working tensile strength is applied for one minute.
After this, the insulator is tested for 75% of dry spark-over
voltage.
POROSITY TEST:
This test is conducted to determine the degree of porosity.
In this, a freshly fired insulator sample is taken and broken
into pieces and immersed in a 1% alcohol solution of fuchsine
dye under pressure 150 kg/cm2.
After one hour, the pieces are removed from the testing pot
and are observed for the penetration of the dye.
This gives the degree of porosity indication.

ROUTINE TEST:
Before the finally recommended insulator is used in the field, it is required to satisfy the following
routine test.
1. High voltage test
2. Proof load test
3. Corrosion test
HIGH VOLTAGE TEST:
. In this test, the pin insulators are inverted and
are placed in water up to the neck.
. The spindle hole is also filled with water, and
high voltage is applied for 5 min.
. After the completion of the test, the insulator
should remain undamaged.

PROOF LOAD TEST:

In this test, all types of testing insulators are assembled
and a tensile load of 20% in excess of the working load is
applied for one minute.
After completion of this test, no damage should occur to
the insulator.

CORROSION TEST:
In this case, the insulator with its fittings is suspended in a copper sulphate (CuSO 4)
solution at 15.2C for one minute.
Then, the insulator is removed, wiped, cleaned and put again in CuSO 4 solution.
This procedure is repeated four times, which results in zero metal deposits over the
insulator.