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Submitted By -Date: 10 Dec 1998
Nov 26 1997 Arrester Failure
I had the job of replacing 2 blown 18 kv pothead arresters on a 14 kv underground dip.I had no problems until I installed the 2nd arrester. Procedure is to make the ground side up then energize the top of the arrester for about 30 seconds with a hot stick, then finish making up your connection. In the process of tightening up the topside, the arrester faulted. It blew out the side while my hand and wrench were still touching it. I immediatley dropped to the bottom of the bucket, at that time the first arrester failed also. I suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns on my head, face, and neck as well as permanent ringing in my right ear. It could have been worse,but I was wearing my rubbber sleeves and gloves, hard hat and safety glasses. This was a Joselyn polymer arrester that faulted because moisture somehow got inside a "weatherproof" product. I found out a week later that Joselyn knew about the moisture problem and was currently working on another way to package it different so moisture would not be able to get inside. Go figure. It's been a year and nothing has changed except the way I install arresters. And that is I now make-up a 3 foot jumper with a hot-tap on one end, the other end already made up to the arrester and I use a hot-stick to energize the arrester, then get the hell away. Once energized, I never get any closer the end of my stick. I work for Texas Utilities in Fort Worth.
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