Insulator strings are important components of transmission lines

and insulator icing severely threatens safe operation of transmission lines. Lots of studies focus on the mechanism of ice coating

the process of ice coating and the characteristics of ice flashover of transmission lines at home and abroad. For the purpose of understanding the equivalence of characteristic parameters of conductor-icing and insulator-icing

we conducted icing tests on conductors and insulators under different influence factors such as wind speed and direction

moisture content

ambient temperature

analyzed the influences of the above factors on the icing state

and obtained an equivalent relation between the degree of ice cover on wire and insulator. Conclusions are drawn as follows: at a wind speed of 0～4 m/s

the thickness of icing on conductors and insulators increases with the wind speed

and before the bridge connection of icicles on insulators

their icicles grow faster than icicles on conductors. When the ambient temperature is in the range of –4～–10 ℃

the state of icing on conductors and insulators will increase with the lowering of temperature

and the thickness of icing on conductors and insulators is related with the growth pattern of icicles and types of icing. In the range of water content of 36～72 g/m3

there is consistency in the way of ice growth of conductors and insulators. Moreover

an equivalent relation between a conductor and an insulator is proposed. The results of the study can provide references for the state evaluation of ice cover on insulators of transmission lines and the realization of ice disaster warning system.