How can a low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agent improve the insulation performance of distribution cabinets?
Publish Time: 2025-09-29
In modern industrial and mining enterprises and public utilities, distribution cabinets serve as the core hub of the power system, and their operating status is directly related to the safety and stability of the entire power supply network. However, over long-term operation, dust, oil, moisture, salt, and other contaminants inevitably accumulate within distribution cabinets. These "invisible killers" not only affect heat dissipation but also seriously weaken the insulation performance of electrical equipment, creating serious risks of short circuits, leakage, and even fire. The emergence of low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents addresses this problem by providing an efficient and safe, non-stop maintenance solution. One of their core benefits is to significantly improve the insulation performance of distribution cabinets.1. Pollution is the root cause of insulation degradationDistribution cabinets typically operate in a relatively closed but not completely sealed environment. Airborne dust, metal debris, chemical gases, oil mist, and ambient moisture gradually deposit on the surfaces of live components such as busbars, circuit breakers, contactors, terminal blocks, and insulators. Many of these contaminants are conductive or hygroscopic. For example, dust may contain metal particles or carbides. Oil carbonizes at high temperatures to form a conductive film, while salt readily absorbs moisture from the air to form an electrolyte. When these contaminants form continuous or semi-continuous conductive pathways on the insulation surface, they significantly reduce the material's surface resistance, increasing leakage current. In humid weather or when equipment experiences temperature fluctuations during operation, this can also cause partial discharge, flashover, or even phase short circuits, seriously threatening equipment safety.2. Mechanism of Action of Low-Voltage Electrical Insulation Cleaning AgentsLow-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents are high-purity, fast-drying cleaning solvents designed specifically for live equipment. They are typically based on non-conductive hydrocarbons or fluorides, supplemented with high-efficiency surfactants and corrosion inhibitors. Their key to improving insulation performance lies in "eliminating the source of contamination." During use, the cleaning agent is evenly sprayed onto the surface of live equipment using a specialized spray gun. The cleaning agent quickly dissolves oil, disperses dust particles, removes fiber impurities, and displaces moisture and salt adsorbed on the insulation surface. Due to its extremely low surface tension and excellent penetrating properties, the cleaning agent can penetrate deep into difficult-to-clean areas, such as crevices and the undersides of contacts, achieving comprehensive decontamination. More importantly, high-quality low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents leave no residue after evaporation, preventing new insulation weaknesses on the equipment surface. After cleaning, the insulation material previously covered with contaminants is restored to its original clean state, significantly improving its surface resistivity and effectively blocking potential leakage paths, thereby improving the overall insulation performance of the equipment.3. Multiple Benefits of Improving InsulationUsing a low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agent to remove contaminants restores and strengthens the insulation performance of the distribution cabinet, resulting in multiple operational benefits. First, the most direct effect is a significant reduction in leakage current, which reduces energy loss and improves power supply efficiency. Second, it eliminates or reduces partial discharge, preventing the continued aging of insulation materials due to corona, thereby extending the service life of the equipment. Furthermore, the cleaned equipment's heat dissipation performance is improved. Because the insulating effect of dust and oil is eliminated, the busbars and components can dissipate heat more effectively, preventing accelerated insulation degradation or malfunctioning of protective devices due to overheating. For precision electronic equipment like PLC control cabinets and inverters, cleaning not only improves insulation but also prevents signal interference and component overheating caused by dust accumulation, ensuring stable control system operation.4. Safe and Efficient Non-Stop Maintenance SolutionsThe greatest advantage of low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents lies in their non-stop operation. Traditional cleaning requires a power outage, disrupting production and posing a risk of switching off circuit breakers. However, when properly used, a qualified low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agent boasts a breakdown voltage far higher than the operating voltage of the distribution cabinet, ensuring a safe and reliable live cleaning process. With professional training and protective measures, cleaning can be completed while equipment is operating normally, significantly improving maintenance efficiency. This makes it particularly suitable for schools, hospitals, data centers, and manufacturing enterprises with stringent requirements for power continuity.In summary, low-voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents are not a "magic potion"; rather, they scientifically remove contaminants that cause insulation degradation, fundamentally restoring and improving the insulation performance of distribution cabinets. They are not just equipment cleaning tools; they are also crucial tools for preventing electrical accidents, ensuring power supply safety, and achieving refined maintenance. Regularly using low voltage electrical insulation cleaning agents for preventive maintenance is a wise choice for modern enterprises to improve electrical system reliability and reduce operation and maintenance costs.
