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Rural
Electrification, May 2000
New
Tools Do Double Duty
by
John Lowrey
To
raise productivity, linemen need to take advantage of new line-testing
tools. Many also increase the margin of safety needed in a profession
that doesn't give many second chances.
New
demands are also placed on electric cooperatives to increase power
quality and reduce outages. Linemen are often asked to investigate
stray-voltage complaints, blinking light problems or other service
problems that require power quality detective tools.
Non-visible
insulator failures may cause some of the most frustrating problems
for linemen trying to investigate blinking light complaints. In
addition to blinking lights, non-visible insulator failures cause
radio/TV interference, OCR operations and blown fuses. They also
pose a threat to line crews doing maintenance work. Stanton uses
Hi-Test's Insulator Tester to find suspect insulators.
He
says, "A lot of the insulator problems you can't see from
the ground, or even up close. The Insulator Tester is more of
a specialized tool that we send out when we have circuits that
are having nuisance blinking problems."
Hi-Test
also makes a surge arrester tester for arresters ranging from
three to 18 kV. Hot-line ropes from 3/8 to 1-1/2 inches test for
dielectric integrity easily at the time and place where they are
used with the Hi-Test Rope Tester. HD Electric recently bought
Hi-Test, but still markets these and other Hi-Test tools under
the Hi-Test name.
Under
HD Electric's own brand name are several relatively inexpensive
testing tools, including a transformer and capacitor tester and
a voltage detector.
The
HD Electric TILT II Transformer Tester performs a quick and easy
check for short circuits in transformers and the connections made
to them, testing the primary and secondary sides of both single
and three-phase transformer installations. In the shop, the TILT
II can be used to screen incoming and outgoing transformers. Capacitors
and capacitor banks can be checked out with the Quick-Check Transformer
and Capacitor Tester.
"It's
almost pocket-size and very easy to use," says Jim Lindell,
HD Electric's corporate marketer. "Prior to energizing a
transformer, hook two leads up and it will test all of the combinations
from the primary to secondary. It has an audible beeper and LED
indicators that will flash green if it's okay. Or it will flash
red for a short." It saves money in blown fuses and accurately
diagnoses transformer problems in the field. It also tests all
wiring down to the meter.
HD
Electric also makes the TAG-200MR Multi-Range Voltage Detector.
It is a direct-contact voltage detector for distribution voltages
from two to 69kV. It gives both audible and visual alarms.
Copyright
© 2000 HD Electric Company
Go
to the IT-4 Insulator Tester product page
Go
to the HiSat Arrester/Leakage Tester product page
Go
to the TILT II Transformer Tester product page
Go
to the Quick-Check Transformer & Capacitor Tester product
page
Go
to the TAG Voltage Detector product page
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