Protective gas prevents electrical flashover

High voltage can result in an electric short circuit made through the air, even without direct contact. Gas-insulated switch panels prevent this undesired effect. Using vacuum pumps that are very often manufactured by BUSCH, they are evacuated before being filled with insulating gas.

Air does conduct electricity, albeit poorly. At 115 VAC, that only results in a harmless little spark – at a light switch, for example. For medium and high voltage lines with several thousand volts, however, electrical flashover is a serious risk. So it’s good to follow the advice about never getting too close to power lines near train tracks or high-voltage grids.

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