Prevention of Covered Conductor Burndown on Distribution Circuits-Arcing Protection Devices

The mechanism of covered conductor burndown is discussed in light of experience by the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company (PP&L) on 12-kV distribution circuits. A summary of laboratory test results is given to allow extension of this work to other distribution circuits. Details and early field experience are included on the Arcing Protection Device (APD), selected in an earlier study [1] as the superior burndown prevention technique.