Ted's Top Ten Tips
For New Insulator Collectors

Written by W. H. (Ted) Ingram

The "Ten Tips" listed below are suggestions for new insulator collectors, based upon my own experiences. Some of them could have a whole page devoted to them, but rather than do that, I have attempted to be brief and give you just enough to convey the idea. The Case Study is factual, and serves to illustrate the importance of some of my advice.

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Case Study:

Several years ago I noticed a classified advertisement in my local newspaper about an insulator collection for sale. I contacted the seller on the , and made arrangements to see him and his collection. My goal was to buy the collection if it was a decent one, as I was a relatively new collector at the time, anxious to expand my own collection. The below are the salient details of my visit and observations:

• the collection consisted of about 75 cheap and common glass insulators, in clear and aqua colors;
• many of the insulators were so damaged that I would have thrown them away;
• most of the insulators had been purchased from antique shops;
• the seller knew no other insulator collectors, and was not aware that insulator collecting was an organized hobby with clubs, a Web page, reference books, terminology, identification systems, etc.;
• the seller was not aware that insulators came in colors other than what he had in his collection – the honey amber Dominion CD 154 that I brought with me was a marvel to him;
• his asking price for the collection was $500 which is what he said they had cost him, but the Price Guide value would have been about $50-100 if they had all been in good physical condition;
• there was nothing in his collection that I wanted – those that I didn’t already own were too damaged to be collectible.

My impression was that the seller needed to sell his collection because he and his wife had recently purchased a new house, and needed the money to finish the yard – landscaping, fences, etc. Although he was personable, I tactfully declined to buy the collection. About six weeks later I was again reading the classified ads, looking for insulators to buy. I saw an interesting ad and called the number in it. It turned out to be the same seller – I hadn’t recognized his number, and he still hadn’t sold his collection.

1) Get A Mentor

New collectors should try to find a more experienced collector, and then use that collector as a mentor. Most of us are flattered by someone asking questions about a subject that we know something about. Don’t be bashful about telephoning a collector and inviting yourself over after you’ve explained that you’re a new collector -- insulator collectors are some of the most friendly and generous people that you’ll ever meet. Preferably, your mentor should be a local collector so that the two of you can occasionally visit each other. The experienced collector can offer advice in the form of education, and advice about what pitfalls to avoid. When I was a new collector, I was fortunate to have several established collectors to buy insulators from at attractive prices, to volunteer general information and advice, and to answer questions.

Secondly, insulator collectors are almost always pleased to have someone take an interest in their hobby – few people do, including their ‘significant others’. Therefore do not be surprised if your potential mentor wants to show his/her collection to you – use the opportunity to ask questions and acquire knowledge about insulator collecting. Pick the brains of the collector, with the goal of learning as much about insulator collecting as he/she does. And remember that ‘no question is a stupid question’, and ‘if you ain’t asking, you ain’t learning’.

2) Buy the Reference Books

Insulator collecting is a highly organized and detailed hobby, with its own terminology, identification systems, price guides, history and practices. Therefore you must possess a certain amount of knowledge for you to know what it is that you’re collecting, to assist you in collecting, and to communicate knowledgeably with other collectors. To be able to do that, you have to acquire the reference books applicable to that portion of insulator collecting (glass or porcelain) that you’re interested in. You’ll find that after a short period they’ve become invaluable tools that have paid for themselves. Some common examples illustrate why you need the reference books:

• Another collector phones or emails you and says that he/she has a CD 102 for trade – the reference books will tell you that a CD number applies only to glass insulators, and what shape/design/style and size a CD 102 insulator is;
  
  
• You’re in an antique store and see an attractive insulator for $20 – the price guide will tell you if that price is reasonable or not;
  
  
• You see an attractive red colored insulator for sale on eBay – the reference books will tell you that there is no such thing as an authentic red insulator, so the eBay insulator is probably an altered one.

3) Buy Wisely

Regard your collection as an asset that will appreciate in value over time. Whether insulators will appreciate in value and be investments is debatable, and I’m not suggesting that will happen – I honestly don’t know. But you should acquire insulators with the view that you may want to sell or trade them in the future, and hopefully recover most of your acquisition costs if you do. Therefore buy the best insulators that your budget can afford, particularly with respect to their physical condition. Most insulator are not ‘mint’ and we all have to have some damaged insulators in our collections (e.g. I have yet to see a CD 196 insulator for sale/trade that was in good physical condition). But establish a standard of acceptable physical condition for your collection and budget, and then stick with it. Many collectors will buy damaged insulators and then ‘upgrade’ them in the future when the opportunity arises. If you do the same, pay a price for that first insulator that is commensurate with the damages.

With the recent parcel rate increases by the American and Canadian post offices, shipping costs are becoming a significant portion of insulator acquisition costs. Because insulator collectors reside all over North America, with a few overseas, insulator acquisition frequently requires that they be sent by mail or commercial courier. When you’re buying or trading for insulators that have to be shipped to you, keep in mind that the first one in a parcel is the most expensive to ship, and the last one is the cheapest. This is because of the way that the parcel rates are structured – the last weight increment is the cheapest. While this may sound like common knowledge, I still come across collectors who buy one or two cheap insulators at a time, and then have the postage to send them equal or surpass their value. This is important, because the convention is that the buyer pays for the shipping costs. I recently quoted a collector $4.48 for postage costs to send the one small insulator that he was interested in. But to send him a parcel of four insulators, the postage costs were only $7.82 – obviously ‘more is better’ to lower average shipping costs.

Therefore if you’re acquiring insulators where you have to pay the shipping costs, buy a sufficient quantity to minimize your average shipping costs. To do that, try to patronize those sellers that are selling at least a couple of insulators that you want to acquire – try to get the biggest bang for your shipping dollar. Avoid buying from sellers that only have one insulator of interest to you. Of course, there will be times when that is not always possible because other considerations will over-ride the economics. An example might be that you’ve finally found a scarce insulator that has been difficult to acquire in the past, and it could be a long time before it becomes available again.

4) Specialize

The current price guide for North American glass insulators cites over 9,000 different insulators – different because of the different combinations of CD numbers, colors, primary embossings, and specific embossings. Granted, the differences between some are subtle (e.g. the difference between two specific embossings might only be one having periods after abbreviations, and the other one doesn’t). But if we include the differences that the price guide doesn’t address, such as the different variations in the color ‘aqua’, then the number becomes larger. And then if we include foreign glass insulators, porcelain insulators, and insulator related items (radio strains, guy wire strains, dead-end spools, knobs, etc.) we’ve got a huge number that is not yet known.

My point here is that no collector has the time and money to acquire all insulators, and the space to display or store them. Therefore I suggest that after you’ve acquired enough information about insulators to know roughly what there is out there to collect, start to consider specializing. There are many ways to specialize, so I won’t get into them in this brief article – just establish some collecting criteria once you know what appeals to you the most. Not all collectors specialize – many just acquire insulators that appeal to them, and there’s nothing wrong with that – instead of a collection that has a theme, their collections are eclectic. But the advantage of specializing is that it functions as a screening process for insulators that are outside of your collecting criteria. There is no shortage of insulators to acquire, and it’s tempting to acquire many of them -- but if they are not within your specialty, resist temptation and use your money or traders to acquire those that are.

5) Stay in Touch

It is important that you communicate with other insulator collectors. I have met a few insulator collectors who have been collecting in isolation, and it’s been a frustrating experience for both of us. From my perspective, they have no knowledge about the hobby -- supply sources, contacts, new developments, current prices, and terminology. The above Case Study is about such a collector. The advantages of communicating with other collectors are the following:

• Contacts for selling, buying and/or trading to enhance your collection;
• Keeping abreast of current market prices;
• Expanding your knowledge of the hobby and learning of new developments;
• Moral support in your hobby/interest;
• Once you’ve become an established and knowledgeable collector, the hobby can benefit from your contributions.

You can be part of the insulator collecting community by any one of the following:

• if you live in an area where there is an organized insulator collecting club, join it;
• join the National Insulator Association (NIA) and receive its periodical;
• subscribe to the Crown Jewels of the Wire magazine;
• if the distances and expenses aren’t too great, attend the conventions and swap meets;
• if you have Internet access, subscribe to Insulator Collectors on the Net (ICON) – it’s free, convenient and informative.

6) Catalog Your Collection

When I was a new collector there were several occasions when I purchased insulators from antique shops and flea markets, only to find out later that they were duplicates of what I already owned – I couldn’t remember what I already had in my collection. I then made a computerized inventory of my collection, and took a hard copy of it whenever I knew that I would be insulator shopping. I won’t go into a lot of details, because there is an excellent article written by Bill Meier about cataloging your insulator collection. If you don’t have a personal computer, you can still catalog your collection the old fashioned way – I recommend using a columnar pad purchased from a stationary store.

I strongly recommend an inventory if your collection is 100 or more insulators. My own inventory consists of one spreadsheet for each of my 14 ‘sub-collections’, the total of all of them being about insulators. At a glance, I can determine if I already own a certain insulator when I see a similar one for sale, and if I do, whether I need an upgrade for it or not. I also compare the total acquisition costs of my collection to the total Price Guide values to determine if my total acquisition costs are reasonable or not.

Besides allowing you to know what your collection consists of, an inventory is also advisable for insurance purposes. As an example, if your collection eventually grew to be worth $5,000 (very easy to do) and you then had a house fire or vandalism, the inventory would be invaluable in helping you file an insurance claim. For that reason, you should keep a recent copy of your inventory with your other valuable papers in your safety deposit box.

7) Stay Within Your Budget

Like so many other items and activities, the sky’s the limit with respect to the amount of money that can be spent on insulators – prices range from free to thousands of dollars. Therefore it is important that you establish financial limits that are reasonable for your disposable income, and then stay within those guidelines. Ask yourself if your insulator collecting costs are in addition to, or in place of your other recreational expenses. If the costs are in addition to your current hobby and recreational expenses, can you afford insulators?

I am aware of a few collectors that became so enthusiastic about insulator collecting that they forgot about financial common sense, and eventually suffered the consequences. You don’t have to be rich to be an insulator collector – most insulators are priced below $20, and it is possible to build a very respectable collection on a limited budget over time. Trading with other collectors, and buying from flea markets, garage sales and second hand stores will also reduce your cash outlay. Remember that insulator collecting is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby, and not the cause of financial stress.

8) Beware of Antique Stores

Most antique stores/shops have a few insulators for sale, and a lot of insulators are actually ‘antiques’ by virtue of being over 100 years old (although many antique dealers have a much more liberal definition of that term). In my area, it is not uncommon to find a $0.50 insulator with a $10.00 or more price tag on it – and it is frequently so damaged that I would throw it away. To be fair to those antique dealers, they have overhead costs that they have to recover, whereas the suggested prices in the price guides are for transactions between collectors who do not have the same costs.

Antique dealers know very little about insulators, nor can they be expected to – their inventory is too vast for them to concentrate on every type of antique. Therefore antique dealers know a little bit about a lot of antiques, but their depth of knowledge about any one of them is very superficial. So beware of misinformation from them – I once had an antique dealer tell me that a Dominion CD 154 was made in because the embossing said ‘DOMINION - 42’. Because insulators are not a big money maker for them, antique dealers don’t spend the time to learn more about them – it just wouldn’t be cost effective. For that reason, occasional bargains can be found in antique stores if you know your insulators and prices well enough – the antique dealer’s price is low relative to that suggested by the price guide.

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9) Get Approval From Your Significant Other

This tip was suggested by my wife, and after thinking about it, it’s excellent advice. If you have a ‘significant other’ in your life, it’s important that approval for your insulator collecting be given by that person. And the more serious you are about insulator collecting and the more resources that you give to it, the more important that approval becomes. When I initially informed my wife that I was going to collect insulators, she thought that I was joking. And then she started to resent my hobby because of the amount of time that I was devoting to it, and not to activities that the two of us could be doing together. We ended up having many ‘discussions’ about my hobby. And I had to buy a second personal computer for her to use because I was monopolizing our first one, doing insulator related things with it.

Insulator collecting requires time, money and space – not just to acquire and display your insulators, but for related items and activities as well (e.g. reference books, attending swap meets). Therefore make sure that your significant other is in agreement with your hobby -- involve him/her if they’re willing to participate. But don’t let insulator collecting become a source of friction between the two of you – it’s supposed to be a stress reducing hobby!

10) Use a Personal Computer

I have a hard time visualizing insulator collecting prior to personal computers – I know that it was done, but it must have been very time consuming, expensive and laborious. If you don’t already own a personal computer, then insulator collecting is another reason to get one. And if you already have a personal computer, which you probably do if you’re reading this, then use it as tool to assist you with your collection.

I have already mentioned Bill Meier's article about using a computer to catalog your collection. Another major computer use is communication with other collectors. Prior to getting capability, my long distance costs were frequently in excess of $100 per month because of calls to other collectors. Now I rarely call anyone long distance, and then only if I’m calling a person that doesn’t have an address. I buy, sell and trade insulators by and the Internet. I subscribe to the ICON news/chat line, and periodically visit the Glass and Porcelain Insulator Web Site and its links to see what’s new in the hobby. Other insulator related uses for my computer are correspondence, making parcel shipping labels, record keeping and digital photography.

Last updated Thursday, February 4,

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A high voltage glass insulator is an element designed to support and insulate high voltage electrical conductors in electrical energy distribution and transportation systems. It is composed of a tempered glass disc that can have different shapes depending on its function and specific application, to which a metal cap and pin are attached that allow the insulators to be joined forming insulator strings. These insulators are essential to maintain the integrity of the electrical system and prevent short circuits or electrical shocks.

• It is designed to withstand high voltages.
• It can have different shapes depending on its function.
• It is essential for the integrity of the electrical system.

Each insulator model is defined by a series of parameters defined by the manufacturer and can be seen in the catalogue or on the drawings of each insulator, and which must comply at least with the minimum or maximum values ​​required by the different applicable standards The main parameters include the mechanical (mechanical breaking load), the dimensional (coupling standard, diameter, creepage distance and pitch), the geometric (shape of the insulator profile) and the electrical ones (electric withstand voltages for puncture, dry and wet power frequency, and lightning impulse withstand voltages). For each power line project, the required chain parameters must be properly calculated, and the most appropriate insulators must be chosen for each case.

• Mechanical parameters
• Electrical parameters
• Dimensional and geometric parameters

Proper installation and maintenance of high-voltage glass insulators are essential to ensure their optimal operation and prolong their lifespan. The installation process typically involves securely fastening the insulators to support structures using appropriate hardware and tools for the specific environment. Additionally, in highly polluted environments, regular inspection procedures should be followed to detect excessive contamination, and corrective measures should be taken as necessary to prevent premature failures.

• Secure fastening to support structures.
• Regular inspection to detect excessive contamination.
• Proper maintenance to prolong lifespan.

High-voltage glass insulators are primarily made of high-quality tempered glass, which is capable of withstanding significant mechanical and thermal stresses, while also enduring high levels of electrical tension without damage.

In addition to glass, complementary materials such as cast iron, forged steel, cement, and stainless steel are used for the fastening fittings. These materials are designed to withstand adverse environmental conditions and ensure the stability and durability of the insulator throughout its lifespan.

For very high contamination environments, the SILGLASS® solution adds a thin layer of room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone to the glass surface of the insulator, which imparts hydrophobic properties, adding performance benefits against contamination.

• High-quality tempered glass.
• Metallic materials for the fittings.
• Cement as a fastening element for the components.
• RTV silicone coating for SILGLASS® insulators.

Contamination, such as the accumulation of salts, dust, or other natural or artificial elements, combined with moisture on the surface of glass insulators, can significantly affect their performance and effectiveness. This contamination can lead to a decrease in the dielectric strength of the insulator chain, increasing the risk of electrical arcs and shocks. On the other hand, excessive contamination without taking mitigation measures can potentially accelerate the aging of insulators due to corrosion.

• Decrease in the insulation capacity of the chains.
• Increased risk of electric arcs.
• Potential accelerated aging of insulators.

To mitigate the effects of pollution, several measures can be taken. First of all, the type of contamination that affects the line must be studied (sources, characteristics of the contaminant, etc.) and the severity of the pollution at the location must be determined. You must choose the appropriate insulator profile for each environment (standard, anti-pollution, aerodynamic…), design the chains with sufficient specific creepage distance. Also install adequate protection against corrosion (sacrificial zinc ring, standard or reinforced galvanization). And in extreme cases, minimize leakage current by applying RTV silicone creating a hydrophobic layer to the insulators.

• Analysis and study of contamination
• Proper selection of the profile of the insulators and the creepage line of the chains
• Protection against corrosion
• RTV silicone application

High voltage glass insulators are subject to specific standards or technical specifications that regulate their design, manufacturing and testing. These regulations may vary by country but are usually guided by the standards established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). These standards provide detailed guidelines on the quality requirements that insulators must meet to ensure their suitability and reliability in high voltage applications.

• Standards for design, manufacturing, and testing.
• International standards such as IEC and ANSI.
• Quality requirements.

In addition to glass insulators, there are porcelain insulators and polymer insulators.

Glass insulators, like porcelain ones, are cap and pin insulators or chain insulators that are coupled together to form insulator strings, whereas polymer insulators are single-piece elements.

The most important advantages of glass insulators over porcelain and composite or polymeric insulators are the following:

• Ease of visual inspection: A glass insulator, when it has a defect or is perforated, shatters completely, making it easily detectable with the naked eye from the ground without the need for expensive inspection systems. Even if an insulator shatters, both the mechanical and electrical properties of the insulator string remain almost intact (LGI guarantees a residual strength of the “insulator whose insulating part has shattered” of at least 80%, and the loss of leakage distance in the entire string is relatively small), so urgent action is usually not necessary. The insulator can be replaced later during the next scheduled maintenance operation. In any case, the annual rate of spontaneously shattered insulators is statistically very low with experienced and high-quality glass manufacturers, with less than 1 insulator shattered per 10,000 insulators in service.
• Greater durability: Glass insulators do not degrade and have a longer lifespan compared to others, especially polymer insulators. The lifespan of a glass insulator exceeds 50 years, often exceeding the expected lifespan of the electrical transmission line.
• High mechanical and electrical strength: Glass insulators are known for their higher mechanical and dielectric strength.
• Environmental advantages: Its longer lifespan, the fact that glass is a 100% recyclable material, and its manufacturing process having a lower environmental impact make glass insulators more sustainable than others.
  • Greater ease of inspection
  • Greater durability
  • High mechanical and electrical strength
  • Environmental advantages

The use of high voltage glass insulators can provide several environmental benefits compared to other types of insulators. For example, and unlike polymeric insulators, the expected useful life of a glass insulator is greater than 50 years, which usually exceeds the useful life of the line itself; This means that throughout the life of the line it is not necessary to renew the insulation, reducing the number of insulators that need to be manufactured and saving those associated resources.

On the other hand, glass is a recyclable material, which means that glass insulators at the end of their useful life can be recycled and reused instead of being disposed of in landfills. Additionally, glass insulators require fewer natural resources to manufacture compared to other materials such as porcelain, contributing to the conservation of natural resources and reducing the environmental impact associated with the production of electrical insulators.

• Longer lifespan than that of the line.
• Recyclable material.
• Lower consumption of natural resources.
• Reduction of environmental impact