Pennsylvania Power & Light Company (PP&L) has encountered copper concentric neutral corrosion on its underground distribution (UD) system. Corrosion has been found on both primary and secondary copper concentric neutral cables with the condition of the neutrals ranging from good (original condition) to extreme corrosion (50 to 100 percent loss of neutral). The age of these cables varied from one to seven years. Corroded neutrals have been found on cables directly buried and in conduit.

This paper describes the cathodic protection criteria established and installed in existing UD developments. It presents the results of several years of operation with both magnesium anodes and rectifier-driven anodes including readings of neutral-to-earth DC potential, soil resistivity, and current.

Subject
Costs, Materials, Anodic protection, Cathodic protection, Magnesium anodes, Soil resistivity, Installation, Transformers, Cables, Rectifiers, Backfill, Soil, Anodes
© 1984 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1984
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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