Hubbell Power Systems Blog

Not sure what the proper bushing replacements are for your in-service bushings? Hubbell | PCORE® Electric can provide a custom cross-reference guide to help!

Repairing a bushing is less expensive than purchasing a new bushing and you are able to maintain all of the original dimensions.

A typical bushing repair is a regasket of the bushing or a recore and regasket of the bushing. When a bushing leaks; however, tests well, a regasket will be performed in which the sealing components are replaced. When a bushing tests poor, a recore and regasket will be performed. During the recore of a bushing the bushing core will be replaced with a new PCORE® POC type core. Repaired bushings ship with the same warranty as a new bushing.

Save time and money spent lowering the oil level in the transformer, when replacing higher current bushings, by specifying the PCORE® Electric Company, Inc. Quick-Link bushing.

In 1999, PCORE launched the first Quick-Link bushings that allowed electric utilities to save costs by significantly reducing transformer outage time. The design was further expanded to 115kV and 138kV in 2017. PCORE’s Paper-Resin-Capacitor (PRC) and Paper-Oil-Capacitor (POC) Quick-Link bushings have the following benefits:

The PCORE® SET-Terminal is designed for use with field dielectric test equipment for more accurate, faster, and safer field power factor measurement of apparatus insulation at a substantial savings.

PCORE Electric launched the SET-Terminal in 2011 as an addition to their test terminal line. The SET-Terminal provided improvements from the traditional porcelain test terminal that has been used by utilities since the 1950’s.  

Benefits of the SET-Terminal include:

• A faster testing process.
• Safer testing for test technicians.
• Less expensive testing because of less labor hours and equipment down time.

Porcelain is a key component used in the construction of electrical components throughout the electrical grid, including high voltage bushings. It is non-hydroscopic and will not enable mold to develop in high humidity environments. In addition, porcelain a non-organic material so it will not deteriorate over the life of the product.

The PCORE oil-free PRC® bushing was recently developed to provide an option to customers who are looking to reduce oil-filled equipment in substations. The oil-free solution provides a more environmentally friendly bushing with the same great benefits.

Protecting your substation from natural disasters is critical. We recommend periodic inspections and dielectric testing of your power apparatus bushings to ensure that they are prepared in the event of a natural disaster. Routine testing allows you to extend the service life of your equipment while lessening the risk of equipment failure, lost revenue and costly repair or replacement. However, hiring a testing service can be costly and time consuming.

Managing your bushing equipment can get to be expensive - even with a life expectancy of 40+ years. Here are three easy ways to save as you evaluate your substation equipment.

With energy demand continuously increasing, adding further stress and wear on already aging power generation assets, energy providers are faced with finding reliable cost effective solutions to keep their equipment running while also being able to extend their useful life. Here are 3 Benefits to Test Terminals.

There are two options for defective bushings: (1) Replace with new bushings or (2) Repair existing bushings. Repairing a defective bushing is often more appealing financially and timewise. Typical bushing repairs include a regasket bushing or recore bushing to the original.