Influence of cable insulating material on the impulse withstand voltage of a single-phase compact distribution line structure

Results of experiments performed with positive and negative standard lightning impulse voltages to determine breakdown voltage values and pinhole location on XLPE- and HDPE-covered cables used in compact distribution lines in Brazil are presented. It is shown that HDPE-covered cables present a better lightning performance in terms of the resulting impulse withstand voltage. Also, damages on HDPE covered cables due to breakdown processes occur in a wider range along the cable length compared to the ones observed on XLPE covered cables.