RE: power line insulators

[brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>]

At 17:54 6/13/97 -0700, you wrote:
> ... My suspicion is that rainstorms cause buzzing and
> steaming of insulators, but that any wet pathway is instantly vaporized,
> so the average leakage current is low.
> ...
> William Beaty 

The Elec Eng Handbook talks about wet flashover, the danger of
puncturing the glaze, the desirability of skirts ("petticoats")
on suspension insulators in dusty conditions followed by fogs.
 I see that extra ridges are to be found under the skirts in 
some designs where driving rain would not normally penetrate.

Regards
brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK