An Analysis and Simulation of Failure in Dower Connectors

Power connector, as one kind of fittings, is used to connect power equipment to conductor, conductor to wire or wire to wire in power lines. Owing to its simple structure, easy installation and low cost, bolt-type power connector-parallel groove clamp is widely used in overhead power transmission and distribution line. However, owing to high current load and harsh environment in China, there are still some problems in application of this kind of connector. So, some failure connectors replaced from clomestic overhead power lines are collected. The main reasons the failure are given out through investigation into residual contact force, connection resistance, substrate quality, makeup, condition of contact interface and installation, manufacture technique etc. Then, the current test on parallel groove clamps is carried out and finite element method is used to simulate its failure process.