ABSTRACT
As soon as new electrical equipment is installed in service, the aging process begins, with the rate depending on the application, environment, maintenance quality, and many other conditions that shorten the life of the equipment. Most of the electrical power equipment in use has already deteriorated to different degrees; some remain in service for several decades. As soon as the performance of the electrical equipment begins to decline, knowledge about various life-extension techniques for electrical equipment becomes very important. Traditionally, electric utility maintenance strategies have been based on a fixed interval or number of operations; this is called a time-based maintenance TBM. TBM or PM remains one of the most often used techniques to keep electrical equipment in proper working conditions. Original equipment manufacturer OEM user manuals usually have a special maintenance section where the intervals for maintenance actions are specified. For example, all leading switchgear manufacturers provide detailed maintenance guidelines for their switchgear.
