Testing of Lightning Arrestors

Introduction
 A lightning arrester is a device used on electrical power
systems and telecommunications systems to protect the
insulation and conductors of the system from the damaging
effects of lightning.

 A lightning arrester may be a spark gap or may have a block of a

semiconducting material such as zinc oxide.
Insulation Resistance Measurement

 Test procedure:
This measurement is to be
first carried out on
individual stacks and then
on complete arrester
Thermo Vision Scanning of LA
Objective: helps in identifying defects

If a LA is defective, more current will pass through the arrester,

then the temperature inside arrester will increase and this can be
detected by thermo vision scanning.
Thermo Vision Scanning of LA

Thermo Vision Scanning is carried out during maximum

voltage condition of the switchyard.
 Leakage Current Measurement
Acceptable limits
 New LA:
1) Up to 30μA - Normal

 in- service LA
1) Up to 150 μA - Normal
2) 150 – 350 μA - Take stack wise IR values
and replace the faulty stack of LA
3) Beyond 350 μA - Replace complete LA
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