Development and application of a multi channel current integrator-cum-peak classifier for online monitoring of leakage current on RTV coated insulators

Room temperature vulcanising (RTV) silicone rubber coated porcelain insulators and nonceramic insulators have a good anti-pollution performance in the field due to their excellent leakage current suppression capability. However, because of ageing, the material characteristics deteriorate and thus lose the property of hydrophobicity of the coating material. Diagnostically, leakage current monitoring is an indicator, amongst others, for assessing the life of the coating and thus continuous monitoring of the leakage current for longer periods is called for, warranting the necessity for an online personal computer (PC)-based data acquisition system. The PC-based data acquisition system is called a multi-channel current integrator-cum-peak classifier (MCIC). This paper discusses the complete development of the MCIC system, in terms of hardware and software, and its successful application for conducting artificial ageing tests on RTV coated porcelain insulator samples, in the pollution ageing chamber.