A New Test Method for Zinc Oxide Arrester with Gap in Power Transmission Wires

At present, the zinc oxide arrester with gap is widely used on 220kV transmission wires, because preventive tests should be carried out on the conventional zinc oxide arrester without gap every year before the thunderstorm season, which will judge whether the arrester can work safely. It is not necessary to carry out preventive tests because of the absence of working voltage and transient overvoltage for the zinc oxide arrester with gap, and thus a lot of manpower and material resources will be saved. However, according to the investigation of the working condition of the zinc oxide arrester with gap, it is found that some of the arresters with gap have got damp and lose the hydrophobicity of the silicone rubber umbrella sleeve. In order to prevent the gap zinc oxide arrester from out of action, it is proved by theoretical analysis and practical test that it is feasible to study a new method which can be tested without dismounting the arrester.