Controlling conductor motion with interphase spacers in regions of contamination

Overhead lines with severe conductor motion activity that are located in areas with harshly-contaminated conditions compound the problem for utilities. One of the most effective solutions to severe conductor motion requires the use of insulating devices installed between phases and/or between a phase and an overhead ground wire. In these instances, it is imperative that the addition of the insulating devices not create another point of weakened system performance resulting from contamination flashover. The application of interphase spacers to resolve these issues, an approach taken by some utilities, is discussed in this article.