Sylmar Converter Station
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Sylmar Converter Station is the southern terminal of Pacific DC Intertie at Sylmar, California, USA. It consists of two parts, Sylmar A and Sylmar B. Sylmar A is the older of them. It was built in 1970 and used as valves originally three six-pulse groups of mercury arc valves, designed for a voltage of 133 kV and a current of 1800 Ampere. In 1971 an earthquake destroyed the station. It was rebuilt without major changes. In 1985 voltage of Pacific Intertie was increased to 500 kV and a thyristor 12 pulse valve was added. In 1989 Sylmar B was built for hosting the thyristor valves of the extension. Sylmar B is switched in parallel to Sylmar A and is a few miles away. At the time, the mercury arc valves are replaced by thyristors.