POWER STOPPAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 79, 2 March 1929, Page 8

POWER STOPPAGES.

LOCATION OF TROUBLE. ATTRIBUTED TO DUST, Tiny particles of dust which hay® accumulated on the insulators of the electric power lines feeding the Mana-watu-Oroua Power Board's area of reticulation are held to be responsible for the series of brief stoppages which have recently interrupted the supply. The trouble which has developed in the Mangahao system, especially near Paikakariki and Marton, is not a new problem,” the chief engineer, Mr W. A. Waters, informed a “Standard ’ representative to-day. “Twelve years ago the same trouble occurred north of Auckland on a 22,000 volt line. The cause is due to an accumulation of dust on the insulators, which in the night air become damp. This allows the power to ‘flash over’ then:, producing a short circuit. Where the lines are within a few miles of the coast, salt spray is a very influential factor in making the position worse, and this was indicated in the recent trouble at Marton, where the dust on the insulators had a decidedly salty taste.” When “the flash over” occurred'on a string of suspension insulators carrying a 110,000 volt line, added air Waters, usually quite a number of, the disc insulators in the string were shattered by the power are. Those' who happened to witness the spectacle J without knowing the precise nature of the occurrence were likely to become alarmed at the phenomenon, which was productive of a noise like,a thunderbolt or the report of a heavy gun, owing to the huge amount of'power' which Waikaremoana and Mangaliao fed into the power arc. Unless the, string of insulators was mechanically! damaged, no danger existed, for the automatic switches came into operation before a second elapsed, ami cut 1 off the power. “We have received many reports: that our insulators on 11,000 volt lines! are showing a luminous discharge, owing to the dry weather dust,” stated Mr Waters, “but the factor of safety is so great that no idea of trouble on the Manawatu-Oroua Power Board’s system can be entertained. All that is hoped for is fivt minutes of rain to wash* the dust fron the main line insulators, and the trouble which has manifested itself will vanish. “However,” concluded Mr Waters! “the trouble may reach its maximunj period of intensity during the first few minutes of rain with its consei quent effect on the insulators. Thu was my experience with a similaj trouble twelve years ago.” WANGANUI AFFECTED. | * d Per Press Association. f WANGANUI, March 1.1 All power in the city and the dii trict was off from 1 a.m. to 3 a.uj to-day, and frequent interruption occurred during the day. At 7* p.no another interruption occurred, aft although the city steam stand-f plant was brought into operation they were no street lights, and all subifl ban services were off, and ±he trail were disorganised. Current was suj plied for city shops (late shoppin; night), factories, and the newspaper, but in most homes g* or candles had to be used.y