Most high voltage insulators are designed with a lower flashover voltage than puncture voltage so they flash over before they puncture to avoid damage.
Types of high voltage insulators.
However for high voltage transmission lines strain insulator consists of an assembly of suspension insulators as shown in figure.
Advantages of suspension insulators.
Dirt pollution salt and particularly water on the surface of a high voltage insulator can create a conductive path across it causing leakage currents and flashovers.
Each unit of disc is designed for a low voltage say 11 kv.
In order to relieve the line of excessive tension strain insulators are used.
It requires less maintenance as compared to other insulator types.
Mostly suspension insulator is made of glass or porcelain insulating.
Pin type insulator can be one part two parts or three parts type depending upon application voltage.
The pin insulator has a simple construction.
This type of insulator is used in the high voltage overhead distribution line.
The suspension insulator is called as disc insulator.
The discs of strain insulators are used in the.
The cost of pin type insulator increases rapidly as the working voltage is increased.
Hence depending upon the working voltage desired number of discs can be connected in series to form an insulator string suitable for particular voltage.
Therefore in this types of insulators in transmission lines insulator is not economical beyond 33 kv.
For high voltages 33 kv it is a usual practice to use suspension type insulators shown in fig.