Different types of insulators with hydrophobic properties have now become commercially available, including composite insulators, hybrid insulators and silicone greased ceramic insulators.

Reliable operation of transmission and distribution systems depends on correct selection of insulators. But proper dimensioning can be a challenge since it requires knowing both site contamination and insulator withstand to specific types of contaminants.

Line post type high voltage insulators have been used to support and insulate overhead electric lines for over 70 years.

Powerlink Queensland is an Australian government owned network service provider whose extensive transmission network operates at 110 kV, 132 kV, 275 kV and 330 kV.

This article, from a paper presented at a past INMR WORLD CONGRESS by R.A. Bernstorf, then Principal Engineer, Insulators at Hubbell Power Systems (now retired) offered an overview of key considerations when it comes to loading and application of braced line post assemblies.

As service environments become cleaner, more wildlife and in particular birds return and play a proportionately greater role in what can adversely affect overhead networks. In particular, flashover outages attributed to birds, often included under the category of ‘unexplained outages’, have been a growing problem.