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Home / Technical Articles / Eight Recommended Periodic Inspections of a Substation Transformer

Medium power transformer routine maintenance

The following periodic tests and inspections are recommended for routine maintenance of the medium power substation transformer.

8 Recommended Periodic Inspections of a Substation Transformer
8 Recommended Periodic Inspections of a Substation Transformer (photo credit: gridsense.com)
  1. Gauge readings
  2. Cooling fans
  3. Control wiring
  4. Paint finish
  5. Fluid dielectric test
  6. Bushing and surge arrester insulators
  7. Bushing terminals
  8. Gaskets

1. Gauge readings

One month after initial energization and annually thereafter

Gauge readings, ambient temperature, and kvA load should be measured and recorded. Any abnormal reading suggests that further diagnostic testing or inspection should be done. If pressure/vacuum gauge and/or fluid level gauge readings suggest a possible tank leak, perform a pressure test according to instructions (15 Pre-energization Tests and Checklist).

Tank leaks must be repaired immediately to prevent serious damage to the transformer and danger to life.

Transformer winding and liquid temperature measuring
Transformer winding and liquid temperature measuring (photo credit: acontact.com)

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2. Cooling fans (annual)

Check the cooling fans (if any) by setting the fan “auto/manual” control switch to the “manual” position. The fans should rotate at full speed within approximately five seconds. The fans should rotate smoothly with minimal vibration.

Transformer cooling fans
Transformer cooling fans (photo credit: vostermansusa.com)

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3. Control wiring (annual)

Control wiring should be checked to insure that wire insulation is in good condition. The control cabinet and associated conduit should be inspected to ensure that weather seals are intact.

Control power supply voltage should be checked and compared to the voltage stated on the wiring diagram.

Transformer control wiring box to check
Transformer control wiring box to check (photo credit: canammachinery.com)

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4. Paint finish (annual)

Inspect the paint finish for damage or weathering that exposes the primer coat or bare metal. Repair any paint damage that might be found.

Transformer paint damage to check
Transformer paint damage to check (photo credit: railgallery.wongm.com)

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5. Fluid dielectric test (annual)

Sample the insulating fluid as described below. The dielectric strength of the insulating fluid should measure at least 26 kV.

Sampling of Insulating Fluid //

Transformers are filled with insulating fluid, which provides electrical insulation within the transformer tank and transfers heat generated in the coils to the tank wall and radiators.

The fluid is either:

  • Conventional transformer oil (mineral oil),
  • Envirotemp® FR3 fluid, or
  • Silicone fluid.
Periodically check the transformer for proper fluid level by reading the fluid level gauge. Add fluid if necessary. When adding fluid, add only the same type fluid that is in the transformer.

It is also recommended that a fluid sample be drawn annually and tested for dielectric strength. Samples should be drawn from the bottom of the tank. Use proper sampling procedures to prevent erroneous test results. Dielectric strength should measure 26 kv minimum.

Dielectric strengther / transformer oil tester
Dielectric strengther / transformer oil tester (photo credit: oil-filtration-engineering.com)

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6. Bushing and surge arrester insulators (annual)

Bushing and surge arrester insulators should be clean. If the surfaces are excessively dirty, they should be cleaned while the transformer is not energized.

Arcing horns on transformer bushings - for lightning protection
Arcing horns on transformer bushings – for lightning protection (photo credit: Wikipedia)

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7. Bushing terminals

One month after initial energization and annually thereafter

If the transformer is energized and under load, measure bushing terminal temperatures using an infrared scanner. Excessive bushing terminal temperature indicates a loose or dirty connection. If the transformer is not energized, use a torque measuring device to make sure terminal connections are tight.

Infrared (IR) scan of a transformer bushings
Infrared (IR) scan of a transformer bushings (photo credit: npm-services.com)

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8. Check the gaskets

Visually check all gaskets for cracking or other signs of deterioration. Replace as necessary.

When replacing a gasket carefully clean mating surfaces to remove any rust, dirt, transformer fluid, old gasket material, or other contamination that might prevent a good seal. Use an appropriate gasket cement when installing new gaskets.

Do not reuse old gaskets. Six months after replacing a gasket, check and retighten if necessary.

Transformer seal gaskets to check for for cracking or other signs of deterioration
Transformer seal gaskets to check for for cracking or other signs of deterioration (photo credit: powermag.com)

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Reference // Instructions Installation, Operation, and Maintenance of Medium Power Substation Transformers – Howard Industries // Substation Transformer Division

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author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

18 Comments


  1. Alan Bone
    May 24, 2023

    Need an inspection of a substation transformer. Can you do this? Or tell me who can?


  2. Abdul
    Oct 16, 2021

    Please send to me softcopy


  3. khamis
    Oct 22, 2019

    i appreciate your efforts , many thanks for you.


  4. CN Nagakumar
    Sep 13, 2019

    Substation maintenance very simply explained. ✌


  5. Joshua W Gbuah
    Sep 12, 2019

    Thanks for your splendid explanation. I’m a substation guy and interested in detail information regarding control and protection systems for substation.

    Thanks again for all the good information and I look forward to receiving more.


  6. Mushiri Abdulrahman
    Sep 07, 2019

    Very educative information.Thank you


  7. Joseph William Saghana
    Apr 11, 2019

    I like this sharing it was really wonderful. but one question, what are the critical parts of power transformer of 33kVA and above?


  8. Ramakrishna Nama
    Feb 16, 2018

    Thanks for sharing such a wonderful information and it’s was really helpful.


  9. saeed
    Feb 16, 2018

    Thank for useful topic. I have a question about bushing. How can we check the bushing oil pressure?


  10. Aziz
    Feb 15, 2018

    Thanks a lot it helpful but for Extra High power transformer and shunt reactor is the same or there are more than 8 points above.


  11. hamidreza
    Aug 24, 2016

    Thanks for sharing such a nice informations. I have a question:
    What’s the standard and process of recoloring the power transformers?
    (how Changing the pervious color, fleece or sandblast the previous color to achieve the standard thickness of new color.)


  12. Freddy
    Dec 28, 2015

    Edvard , thank you very much for your information , periodic inspections are important to keep in mind the preventive maintenance of distribution transformers.
    I think when it comes to oil transformers , one of the most important points for a preventive maintenance is the periodic review of the oil.


  13. baij nath
    Dec 01, 2015

    plz send me 11/.440 kv transformer testing prosses


  14. DANIEL
    Oct 08, 2015

    Am any Electrical Engineer i will like to work with you


  15. Salman Kamal
    Sep 15, 2015

    Thank you for your valuable topic and illustration. I would always prefer for all testing wither transformers or switchgear or any kind of test a “check list”. This would useful in case if you forget some thing specially if you work on maintenance programs.


  16. Johan Combrink
    Sep 10, 2015

    All very well to have such important information available so that interested parties can read and
    make use of such info that which most probably they have or have not heard of before, please do take heed and do the necessary inspections you will never be sorry.


  17. Beeravelly Sampath Reddy
    Sep 07, 2015

    Dear Edvard Csanyi,

    Please send details testing and commissioning of the 220 KV GIS sytem with protection and control


  18. Alexis B. Rodriguez, P.E.
    Sep 02, 2015

    Edvard:

    This 8 Recommended Periodic Inspections of a Substation Transformer is a good summary.

    Thanks for all the good information,

    Alexis B. Rodriguez

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