Factors Affecting Loadbreak Elbow Connector Switching Speeds

A test program to assess the factors affecting loadbreak elbow switching speeds was initiated after several field failures suggested that inadequate switching speeds are increasingly common, especially with higher voltage elbows. It was found that tool type greatly affects switching speeds, that loadbreak elbow condition affects the range of speeds attained with any tool, and that lineman chacteristics only minimally influence speeds. To date, none of the above factors are included in the ANSI/IEEE-386 test Standard. The results of these tests underscore the importance of incorporating additional parameters into switching test clauses in future revisions of the Standard.