CAUSES OF SHORT CIRCUITS

Degradation of insulating materials due to

1. Degradation in surface quality (pollution).
2. Excessive temperature.
3. Partial discharge in the vacuoles (micro pockets) inside the insulating materials.
4. Accidental reduction in electrical insulation (presence of animals, tree branches, tools left by carelessness on a bus bar, etc.).
5. Destruction due to external causes (hit by a shovel, etc.).
6. Over voltages causing a breakdown in equipment insulation (switching surges or lightning strike).