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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.

The test is nondestructive and capable of determining the sufficiency of electrical insulation. The test uses high voltage. The high voltage is applied to all electrical appliances for a certain time duration to ensure the insulation is more than marginal. High quantities of voltage are applied to the insulation in the process.

The reason for the process is to detect the presence of nicked or crushed insulation in a device. It also enables the identification corrosive or conductive contaminants, stray wire strands, and braided defensive around conductors. Tolerance mistakes in cables and troubles in terminal spacing can also be diagnosed easily by using hipot testing. Voltage that is used on this system is commonly two times more than the operating voltage.

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 case there are two contacts that need to be connected, then one has to be connected to the voltage while the other is connected to the ground. This kind of connection is important because it ensures that contacts are isolated from kinds of other contacts. If the insulation between the two conductors is inadequate, then a small current will flow between the conductors when a huge voltage is applied.

Even though the flow of such a small current is usually acceptable, a breakdown of solid or air insulation is not supposed to occur in any case. High voltage is usually used in these tests because it is believed that any product is usually subjected to normal day-to-day transient over voltages. As such, in case such variations in voltages occur during the day, the product is supposed to remain operational and safe.

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.

Specifications for the quantity of current which an individual should apply also exist. Many types of different testers which a person can purchase easily exist in the current market. Varying testers are designed for varying categories of products. Therefore, knowing the tester to apply for specific applications is vital.




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