Useful And Essential Facts About Hipot Tester

By Diane Bailey


The phrase hipot test means high potential or high voltage test. Another name used to refer to this test is dielectric withstand test. This is an analysis of electrical components that is done with the intention of checking for suitability of electrical insulation. The analysis is meant to ensure that there is no current leakage from one point to another in electrical devices. It is the opposite of continuity test. This is worth knowing about Hipot tester.

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.

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.

There are different standards that are usually observed when conducting this analysis. The various standards require the voltage to be applied for different amounts of time. Under the IEC 06950, the analysis is supposed to be continued continuously for a duration of one minute. However, a typical rule of thumb is to apply 110 to 120 percent of operating voltage of the product 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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