Insulators have a BIL rating, that is the measure of the insulators ability to?

Insulators have a BIL rating, that is the measure of the insulators ability to?

• A. Withstand a temporary high voltage surge
• B. Withstand continuous voltage
• C. Store energy
• D. Withstand mechanical shock

Answer: (A)

Basic Insulation Level shows how well an insulator can survive a brief, high-voltage spike—like a lightning or switching surge—without breaking down. It’s about transient overvoltages, not the voltage it can carry continuously, nor about storing energy or withstanding physical shocks. So an insulator with a higher BIL is designed to endure larger, short-duration surges without flashover.

Basic Insulation Level shows how well an insulator can survive a brief, high-voltage spike—like a lightning or switching surge—without breaking down. It’s about transient overvoltages, not the voltage it can carry continuously, nor about storing energy or withstanding physical shocks. So an insulator with a higher BIL is designed to endure larger, short-duration surges without flashover.