Surge Arresters

Electrical Apparatus

VariGAP Type AZL Heavy Duty

Distribution Class Gapped MOV Arrester

235-40

GENERAL
The Cooper Power Systems VariGAP
Type AZL heavy duty distribution
class gapped MOV arrester (Figure 1)
in ratings of 3 through 36 kV, incorporates the latest in metal oxide varistor
(MOV) and resistance graded gap
technology. With this unique combination of technologies, Cooper Power
Systems has advanced the performance characteristics of distribution
class arresters beyond previously
attainable limits.

CONSTRUCTION
The VariGAP Type AZL arrester is a
combination of both metal oxide and
gapped arrester technologies.
Construction consists of metal oxide
varistors in series with a nonlinear
resistance graded gap structure. The
mating of these two service-proven
technologies results in a sharing of
voltage during steady state conditions, minimizing voltage stress on
both components. The VariGAP Type
AZL arrester is also designed with a
60 Hz sparkover in excess of 1.5
times duty cycle rating. These two
features ensure a temporary overvoltage (TOV) capability 50% higher than
that available with gapless metal
oxide arresters.
The VariGAP Type AZL design is
available with or without an isolator
and can be supplied with a variety of
mounting brackets to satisfy a wide
range of applications.

OPERATION
The operation of the VariGAP Type
AZL arrester differs from conventional
gapless metal oxide arresters. When
current surges occur, the gaps spark
over, leaving only the metal oxide
varistors in the circuit. This results in
lower sparkover and discharge voltages than are possible with silicon
carbide arresters, and lower discharge voltages than are possible
with gapless metal oxide arresters.
The superior protective characteristics of the VariGAP Type AZL arresters
provide excellent protection for distribution transformers with lower
impulse withstand capabilities. Its
superior reliability makes it an ideal
choice for areas with high isokeraunic

Figure 1.
VariGAP Type AZL Heavy Duty Distribution Class Gapped MOV Arrester.

levels. The VariGAP Type AZL distribution class arrester can be used in
place of gapless metal oxide riser
pole arresters because of its superior
protective characteristics.

PRODUCTION TESTS
A complete production test program
ensures a quality product. Each
VariGAP metal oxide varistor receives
a series of electrical tests. Quality is
further assured by a series of
destructive tests performed on every
batch of varistors. Listed are the tests
that are performed on the varistors:
100% Physical Inspection
100% Discharge Voltage Test
100% V1mA/cm2
100% Leakage Current at 80% of
V1mA/cm2 Voltage

March 1996 Supersedes 8/94 1996 Cooper Power Systems, Inc.

Printed in U.S.A.

Batch High-current, Shortduration Test

Batch Thermal Stability Test
Batch Disk Aging Test
Each VariGAP Type AZL arrester
must pass the following production
tests:
100% Physical Inspection
100% Vacuum over Fluid Seal Test
100% Leakage Current Test
100% RIV Test
100% Sparkover Level Test

STANDARDS
The VariGAP Type AZL arrester complies with the latest revision of
ANSI/IEEE C62.11 IEEE Standard for
Metal Oxide Surge Arresters of AC
Power Circuits.

Features and Detailed Description

GENERAL APPLICATION
RECOMMENDATIONS

INSULATING TERMINAL CAP

Polymer cap provides superior
wildlife protection.

,,,
MOV DISKS
Highly nonlinear metal
oxide varistors provide
exceptional surge protection.

,,,

HIGH STRENGTH
WET PROCESS
GLAZED PORCELAIN
Withstands thermal
and mechanical
shocks; excellent
washing characteristics; provides high
creepage distance
above and below the
hanger bracket.

RESISTANCE
GRADED GAPS
Provide consistent
sparkover characteristics
even for rapidly rising
surge waves.

ALUMINUM SPACER
Provides additional
length for extended
creepage porcelain.

HEAVY STEEL COIL

SPRING
Maintains high pressure
on disks for effective
contact surfaces; protects from mechanical
shock.
COPPER STRAP
Provides a low resistance shunt for surge
current discharge.

SOLDERLESS
CONNECTORS
Accommodates
No. 10 solid
through No. 2/0
stranded line and
ground leads.

Figure 2.
Cutaway illustration of VariGAP Type AZL Arrester.

IDENTIFICATION
INFORMATION
Convenient reference
for arrester type,
MCOV, voltage rating
and year and quarter
of manufacture.
ISOLATOR
GROUND LEAD
DISCONNECTOR
Provides positive
isolation and visual
identification if
arrester becomes
damaged internally.

The rating of an arrester is the power

frequency line-to-ground voltage at
which the arrester is designed to
pass an operating duty-cycle test.
Table 1 provides a general application guide for the selection of the
proper arrester rating for a given system voltage and system grounding
configuration.
Cooper Power Systems application
engineers are available to make recommendations. The following information is normally required:
1.System maximum operating
voltage.
2.System grounding conditions.
A. For four-wire circuits, grounding
conditions depend upon
whether the system is multigrounded, whether it has a neutral impedance and whether
common primary and secondary
neutrals are used.
B. For three-wire circuits, grounding
conditions depend upon
whether the system is solidly
grounded at the source, grounded through neutral impedance at
the source transformers or
ungrounded.
Where unusual conditions exist
(high ground resistance, high capacitive load, arc-welding equipment,
etc.) the following supplementary
information is necessary:
1.The unusual condition.
2.Type of construction, phase
spacing, length of line, conductor
size.
3.BIL of equipment and line
insulation.
4.Phase-sequence components of
impedances on the load side of
the distribution substation.
The impedance of the transformer
and the impedance and grounding of
supply to the substation all affect the
voltage during faults.

235-40
TEMPORARY
OVERVOLTAGE
(TOV) CAPABILITY

TABLE 1
Commonly Applied Voltage Ratings of the VariGAP Type AZL Arrester
System Voltage
(kV rms)

Recommended Arrester Rating*

(kV rms)

Nominal

Maximum

2.4
4.16Y/2.4
4.16
4.8
6.9
8.32Y/4.8
12.0Y/6.93
12.47Y/7.2
13.2Y/7.62
13.8Y/7.97
13.8
20.78Y/12.0
22.86Y/13.2
23
24.94Y/14.4
27.6Y/15.93
34.5Y/19.92
46Y/26.6

2.54
4.4Y/2.54
4.4
5.08
7.26
8.8Y/5.08
12.7Y/7.33
13.2Y/7.62
13.97Y/8.07
14.52Y/8.38
14.52
22Y/12.7
24.2Y/13.87
24.34
26.4Y/15.24
29.3Y/16.89
36.5Y/21.08
48.3Y/28

Four-Wire Wye Three-Wire Wye

Multi-Grounded Solidly Grounded
Neutral
Neutral

6
9
9
10
10

15
18

18
21
27
36

9
12
15
15
15

21
24

27
30
36

Delta and
Ungrounded
Wye

PERFORMANCE TEST
CHARACTERISTICS

3
6
6
6
9

18

30

The VariGAP Type AZL arrester consistently withstands the following

design tests as described by
ANSI/IEEE C62.11:
Duty Cycle:
20 current surges of 10 kA crest
8/20 s waveshape followed by 2
current surges of 40 kA crest
8/20 s waveshape.
High-current, Short-duration
Discharge:
2 current surges of 100 kA crest
4/10 s waveshape.
Low-current, Long-duration
Discharge:
20 current surges of 250 A crest
2000 s rectangle wave duration.

*Per IEEE Std. C62.22 [lower ratings may be used if fault durations are not expected to exceed
the temporary overvoltage (TOV) capability of the arrester.]

2.2

1.8

The Temporary Overvoltage (TOV)

capability of the VariGAP Type AZL
arrester is shown in Figure 3.

Following each of these tests, the

arresters remain thermally stable as
verified by:
Continually decreasing power values during a thirty minute power
monitoring period.
No evidence of physical or electrical deterioration.
The 60 Hz sparkover and 10 kA
(8/20 s) discharge voltages
measured after each test changed
by less than 10% from the initial
values.

Per Unit MCOV

1.6
Per Unit Arrester Rating

1.4

1.2

1
0.1

10

100

1000

10 4

10 5

TIME (Seconds)
Figure 3.
Temporary overvoltage curve. No prior duty 60 C ambient.

VariGAP Type AZL Heavy Duty

Distribution Class Gapped MOV Arrester

PROTECTIVE
CHARACTERISTICS
The protective characteristics of the
VariGAP Type AZL arresters are
shown in Table 2.
TABLE 2
Protective Characteristics
Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)

MCOV
(kV rms)

3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

2.55
5.10
7.65
8.40
10.20
12.70
15.30
17.00
19.50
22.00
24.40
29.00

Minimum
Front-of-wave
60 Hz
Protective
Sparkover
Level*
(kV crest2)
(kV crest)
7.0
14.0
16.5
16.5
21.0
25.0
31.0
34.0
39.0
45.0
50.0
60.0

Maximum Discharge Voltage (kV crest)

8/20 s Current Wave

8/13
15/25
21/26
21/29
29/38
37/42
44/51
51/57
58/68
64/77
71/85
85/99

1.5 kA

3 kA

8.6
16.6
17.2
19.4
25.8
28.4
34.4
37.9
45.6
51.5
56.8
66.3

9.2
17.8
18.4
20.8
27.6
30.5
36.8
40.6
48.9
55.3
60.9
71.1

5 kA
9.8
18.9
19.6
22.1
29.4
32.4
39.2
43.2
52.0
58.8
64.8
75.6

10 kA

20 kA

40 kA

10.9
21.0
21.7
24.5
32.6
35.9
43.4
47.8
57.6
65.1
71.8
83.7

12.7
24.6
25.5
28.8
38.3
42.2
51.0
56.2
67.7
76.6
84.4
98.4

16.0
30.8
31.9
36.0
47.8
52.7
63.8
70.3
84.6
95.6
105.4
123.0

*Number 1/Number 2
Number 1 This is the value of the sparkover of the gap assembly based on a wave rising 100 kV per 12 kV of arrester rating.
Number 2 Based on 10 kA current impulse that results in a discharge voltage cresting in 0.5 s.

INSULATION
CHARACTERISTICS
The insulation characteristics of the
VariGAP Type AZL arresters are
shown in Table 3.
TABLE 3
Insulation Characteristics
Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)
3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

Creepage
(in.)
2.8
6.6
10.4
10.4
13.2
13.2
17.9
17.9
21.7
21.7
26.4
26.4

(cm)
7.1
16.8
26.4
26.4
33.5
33.5
45.5
45.5
55.1
55.1
67.1
67.1

Strike
(in.)
2.0
4.5
7.0
7.0
8.9
8.9
12.0
12.0
14.4
14.4
17.5
17.5

(cm)
5.1
11.4
17.8
17.8
22.6
22.6
30.5
30.5
36.6
36.6
44.5
44.5

Insulation Withstand Voltages

1.2/50 s
1 min.
10 sec.
Impulse
Dry
Wet
(kV crest)
(kV rms)
(kV rms)
45
60
75
75
95
95
125
125
150
150
200
200

15
21
27
27
35
35
42
42
70
70
95
95

13
20
24
24
30
30
36
36
60
60
80
80

235-40
DIMENSIONS AND
CLEARANCES
The dimensions and clearances of
the VariGAP Type AZL arresters are
shown in Figure 4.

A
Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)

(in.)

3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

9.19
11.67
14.77
14.77
17.25
17.25
20.97
20.97
24.07
24.07
27.79
27.79

0.20

Minimum
Recommended
Clearances*

Dimensions
B

Phase-to-Ground

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

23.3
29.6
37.5
37.5
43.8
43.8
53.3
53.3
61.1
61.1
70.6
70.6

5.20
5.20
5.82
5.82
6.44
6.44
7.06
7.06
7.68
7.68
8.30
8.30

13.2
13.2
14.8
14.8
16.4
16.4
17.9
17.9
19.5
19.5
21.1
21.1

(in.)
3.4
4.4
5.6
5.6
6.4
7.1
9.6
9.6
11.1
11.1
11.1
13.1

2.68
TO
4.00

Phase-to-Phase

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

8.6
11.2
14.2
14.2
16.3
18.0
24.4
24.4
28.2
28.2
28.2
33.3

5.2
6.5
8.0
8.0
8.7
9.7
12.2
12.2
14.2
14.2
14.2
17.2

13.2
16.5
20.3
20.3
22.1
24.6
31.0
31.0
36.1
36.1
36.1
43.7

3.06
DIA.

4.00
TO
5.00

2.56
1.69
B

2.34
3.87

Figure 4.
Dimensions for AZL501B and AZL519B series.
*All clearances are measured from centerline of arrester per IEEE C62.22.
Dimensions

A
Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)
3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

Minimum Recommended
Clearances*

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

9.19
11.67
14.77
14.77
17.25
17.25
20.97
20.97
24.07
24.07
27.79
27.79

23.3
29.6
37.5
37.5
43.8
43.8
53.3
53.3
61.1
61.1
70.6
70.6

5.20
5.20
5.82
5.82
6.44
6.44
7.06
7.06
7.68
7.68
8.30
8.30

13.2
13.2
14.8
14.8
16.4
16.4
17.9
17.9
19.5
19.5
21.1
21.1

6.04
8.52
11.00
11.00
12.86
12.86
15.96
15.96
18.44
21.22
24.32
24.32

D
(cm)
15.3
21.6
27.9
27.9
32.7
32.7
40.5
40.5
46.8
53.9
61.8
61.8

Phase-toGround

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

10.77
13.25
15.73
15.73
17.59
17.59
20.69
20.69
23.17
32.20
35.30
35.30

27.4
33.7
40.0
40.0
44.7
44.7
52.6
52.6
58.9
81.8
89.7
89.7

4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.12
4.38
4.38
4.38

10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
10.5
11.1
11.1
11.1

(in.)
3.4
4.5
5.6
5.6
6.4
7.1
9.6
9.6
11.1
11.1
11.1
13.1

(cm)
8.6
11.4
14.2
14.2
16.3
18.0
24.4
24.4
28.2
28.2
28.2
33.3

Phase-toPhase
(in.)
5.2
6.5
8.0
8.0
8.7
9.7
12.2
12.2
14.2
14.2
14.2
17.2

Figure 5.
Dimensions for AZL531A and AZL531B series.

(cm)
13.2
16.5
20.3
20.3
22.1
24.6
31.0
31.0
36.1
36.1
36.1
43.7
0.20

NOTE: Columns B, C, & D are calculated with the bracket located at the top of the bellyband region.
NOTE: Mounting Lug Spacing for 3 through 24 kV is 2.5 (6.4 cm) and for 27 through 36 kV is 9.25 (23.5 cm).
*All clearances are measured from centerline of arrester per IEEE C62.22.
C

3.06
DIA.

D
2.75"
REF.

TOP VIEW

SIDE VIEW
5

VariGAP Type AZL Heavy Duty

Distribution Class Gapped MOV Arrester

Minimum Recommended Clearances*

Enclosure Application
Phase-toGround

Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)

(in.)

(cm)

3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

2.45
3.15
3.30
3.55
4.10
4.55
5.05
5.55
6.30
7.05
7.55
9.10

6.2
8.0
8.4
9.0
10.4
11.6
12.8
14.1
16.0
17.9
19.2
23.1

Dimensions

Outdoor Application

Phase-toPhase

Phase-toGround

Phase-toPhase

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

(in.)

(cm)

4.25
5.20
5.60
5.85
6.40
7.10
7.60
8.10
9.35
10.10
10.60
13.15

10.8
13.2
14.2
14.9
16.3
18.0
19.3
20.6
23.8
25.7
26.9
33.4

2.50
3.35
3.45
3.65
4.55
4.85
5.55
5.80
6.85
7.55
8.35
9.65

6.4
8.5
8.8
9.3
11.6
12.3
14.1
14.7
17.4
19.2
21.2
24.5

4.30
5.40
5.75
5.95
6.85
7.40
8.10
8.35
9.90
10.60
11.40
13.70

10.9
13.7
14.6
15.1
17.4
18.8
20.6
21.2
25.1
27.0
29.0
34.8

8.38
10.86
13.96
13.96
16.44
16.44
20.16
20.16
23.26
23.26
26.98
26.98

21.3
27.6
35.5
35.5
41.8
41.8
51.2
51.2
59.1
59.1
68.5
68.5

4.39
4.39
5.01
5.01
5.63
5.63
6.25
6.25
6.87
6.87
7.49
7.49

11.2
11.2
12.7
12.7
14.3
14.3
15.9
15.9
17.4
17.4
19.0
19.0

Figure 6.
Dimensions for AZL519C series.

0.20
1.24

*All clearances are measured from centerline of arrester and are based upon the protective
characteristics of the arrester.
3.06
DIA.

CAUTION: The values shown in Figures 4,

5 and 6 are the minimum clearances
recommended by Cooper Power Systems. These
clearances may be revised to meet local or system
requirements for spacing or energized equipment.
However, safe operating procedures must always
be followed.

2.34
3.87

TABLE 4
Ordering Information
Catalog Numbers: VariGAP Type AZL Arrester
Arrester
Rating
(kV rms)
3
6
9
10
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
36

With NEMA
Crossarm
Bracket

Without NEMA
Crossarm
Bracket

AZL501B3R
AZL501B6R
AZL501B9R
AZL501B10R
AZL501B12R
AZL501B15R
AZL501B18R
AZL501B21R
AZL501B24R
AZL501B27R
AZL501B30R
AZL501B36R

AZL519B3R
AZL519B6R
AZL519B9R
AZL519B10R
AZL519B12R
AZL519B15R
AZL519B18R
AZL519B21R
AZL519B24R
AZL519B27R
AZL519B30R
AZL519B36R

ORDERING INFORMATION
To order a Cooper Power Systems
VariGAP Type AZL arrester, determine the voltage rating for the intended application using Table 1.

AZL531A3R
AZL531A6R
AZL531A9R
AZL531A10R
AZL531A12R
AZL531A15R
AZL531A18R
AZL531A21R
AZL531A24R
AZL531A27R
AZL531A30R
AZL531A36R

Transformer
Mounting
Bracket

Cubicle Mounted
(Without
Isolator)

AZL531B3R
AZL531B6R
AZL531B9R
AZL531B10R
AZL531B12R
AZL531B15R
AZL531B18R
AZL531B21R
AZL531B24R
AZL531B27R
AZL531B30R
AZL531B36R

AZL519C3R
AZL519C6R
AZL519C9R
AZL519C10R
AZL519C12R
AZL519C15R
AZL519C18R
AZL519C21R
AZL519C24R
AZL519C27R
AZL519C30R
AZL519C36R

Specify the appropriate catalog

number from Table 4. Contact the
Cooper Power Systems sales
engineer in your location for
applications not listed.

VariGAP is a registered trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc.

Isolator is a trademark of Cooper Industries, Inc.
6

Transformer
Bracket and
Line Lead

P.O. Box 1640

Waukesha, WI 53187