This paper dealt with the deterioration characteristics and an on-line diagnosis equipment for SPDs (surge protective devices). An accelerated aging test was carried out using a 8/20 μs standard lightning impulse current to analyze the changes of electrical characteristics and to propose the diagnostic parameters and the criterion for deterioration of ZnO varistor which is the core component of SPDs. Based on the experimental results, an on-line diagnosis equipment for SPD was fabricated, which can measure the total leakage current, reference and clamping voltage. The leakage current measurement circuit was designed using a low-noise amplifier and a clamp type ZCT. A linear controller, the leakage current measurement part and a HVDC were used in the measurement of reference voltage. The measurement circuit of clamping voltage consisted of a surge generator and a coupling circuit. In a calibration process, measurement error of the prototype equipment was less than 3%.
