Why Is Horizontal Installation Used When High-voltage Disconnect Switches Are Installed Outdoors?

For high-voltage disconnect switches used in open-air environments, industry standards and manufacturer installation guidelines recommend that High Voltage Disconnect Switch be placed in a horizontal position. This arrangement is not a matter of habit, but rather a result of in-depth analysis of the equipment's structure and outdoor environmental factors, as well as summarizing practical experience in the field.

The supporting insulators of high-voltage disconnect switches typically employ porcelain insulator structures with porcelain skirts to protect electrical insulation components from direct rainwater. When the disconnect switch is arranged horizontally, the geometry of the porcelain skirts provides better physical shielding, allowing rainwater to slide off along the skirt edges and reducing the accumulation of wet contaminants caused by rainwater erosion. This effect is particularly noticeable in humid or rainy areas.