Discussion on “comparative tests of lightning protection devices on the Taylor's Falls transmission system”, and “studies in lightning performance, season 1907.” New York, May 19, 1908

H. W. Buck: The valuable data presented to-night include the most comprehensive and systematic record of lightning disturbances which has been presented to this Institute. In the old days of electrical transmission most of the trouble we had to cope with was due to the station apparatus itself, as the insulation of the lines was relatively high. As line voltages have risen with the progress of the art, the insulation of station apparatus has risen in proportion. Presumably lightning stresses have remained constant, so that at the present time we have insulation in our stations which perhaps on the high-voltage transmissions is high enough to withstand the original lightning surges, and the troubles seem to be shifting out upon the line itself. I think that this is the most noticeable feature of this paper. During the storms spoken of in the paper, many insulators were shattered, poles were shattered, and some cross-arms burned, and so on, and yet only one transformer bushing was damaged within the station.