The arrester disconnector often called the ground lead disconnector (GLD) is a small but critical element of a surge arrester. It is also a highly misunderstood component. I have authored ArresterFacts-005 "Arrester Disconnector" to help better understand this crucial arrester part. The irony of this device is that it should never activate (or operate) during the useful life of the arrester. However if the arrester is overloaded and fails, it would be very undesirable for it to not operate and disconnect. It takes about 5 minutes to manufacturer, it is touched one time after it is built when the arrester is mounted, then sits and waits for 30 years or more and then maybe, just maybe, it operates. When it operates it is over and done in 5-100ms. What a life!
An equally odd circumstance is the recent transportation issue that has arisen in the US where the disconnector now needs special Dangerous Goods Testing and packaging because of the black powder contained in the device. A paper I presented on this issue Titled "Emerging Transportation Issues" is available also by clicking on this link. |
Sediver Introduces the FlexArrest
At the 2007 IEEE T&D Show, Sediver introduced a new type of externally gapped MOV arrester. This new FlexArrest eliminates the issues of setting the gap of the arrester in the field. Click here for the complete brochure |
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The Crystal Valve Arrester Story
This month, I added an arrester history article to the ArresterHistory Page of ArresterWorks.com titled "The Crystal Valve Arrester Story." I have been planning to write this article for years. It is about a company that was thriving as a producer of arresters and other electrical equipment at the start of last century and obviously a big player in US Arrester history. The name of the company was Electric Supply Services Company (ESSCo). While researching this company, I uncovered a great deal about the engineer John Robert McFarlin that appears to have been the driving force behind the arrester part of the business. ESSCo disappeared in the middle of the century without a trace. The few remaining artifacts are all antiques by this time. Their legacy was very well written about in a wonderful brochure they produced in 1935 titled "43 Years" which was how long they had been in business by that time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did writing it.
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