Sunday, January 20, 2019

Useful Information Regarding Hipot Tester

By Diane Bailey


High voltage or high potential test is what the phrase hipot test means. Dielectric withstand test is the other name for this test. It is an analysis of electrical parts. It is done purposely to check for suitability of the electrical insulation. Ensuring current leakage from one place to another within electrical devices does not exist is the goal the analysis is meant to achieve. This analysis is the exact contrary of continuity test. This is what Hipot tester are all about.

Hipot testing is supposed to be nondestructive to determine the adequacy of electrical insulation. The testing is high-voltage and it is applied to all electrical devices for a given period of time so as to ensure that the insulation is not marginal. The process involves the application of high amounts of voltage to the insulation.

Determining the availability of nicked or crushed insulation in a component is part of the goal of the process. Also, the process assists in identification of corrosive or conductive contaminants, stray wire strands, and braided shielding around conductors. By using hipot testing, one can easily identify terminal spacing problems and tolerance errors in cables. Compared to operating voltage, the voltage that is normally applied in this process is two times greater.

Hipot testing is usually conducted using hipot analyzers. A typical tester usually connects one side of the supply to safety ground. The second side of the supply gets connected to the conductor that need to be tested. In this arrangement, there are only two kinds of contact to which conductors can be connected, that is, the ground and voltage.

In cases where there are 2 contacts that have to be connected, then one needs to be linked to the voltage whereas the other one is connected to ground. This type of connection is crucial as it guarantees that contacts get isolated from other kinds of contacts. If insulation between the two conductors is insufficient, then a small charge will flow between the two conductors when a massive voltage is passed through.

The flow of that tiny current is normally acceptable. However, a breakdown of air or solid insulation is supposed not to happen in any case. It is understood that any product is normally subjected to normal everyday transient over voltages. That is why high voltage is normally applied in these tests. Therefore, the product should remain safe and operational in event such differences in voltages happen during the day.

While doing this analysis, varying standards are normally observed. The voltage should be applied for varying amounts of time as required by different standards. The test needs to be continued for a one-minute duration. This requirement is under IEC 06950. A typical rule of thumb requires applying 110 to 120 percent of operational voltage of the product. This is plus 1000 volts for 1 to 2 seconds.

There are also specifications for the amount of current that need to be applied. Currently, there are several different kinds of testers in the market that one can buy. Different testers are meant for different classes of products. As such, it is important to know which tester to use for certain applications.




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