Hipot testers are electrical safety test devices that perform electrical compliance tests. Within the general category of electrical safety testing are a variety of equipment types that are specifically designed to test for electrical compliance. The individual equipment defines the kind of test performed. Types of measurement performed by hipot testers include AC dielectric strength, DC dielectric strength, arc detection or tracking, insulation resistance, AC/DC selectable, and earth...
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Q & A on Hipot Testers
We asked our users for their input on Hipot Testers. Here are the results of 81 users familiar with Hipot Testers.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying Advice |Design TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing hipot tester design?
8 answers
I believe that the use of switching power supplies instead of power transformers is a major technological improvement for Hipot testing.
~Fabio A, Engineer, Valinhos, Brazil
After retirement / not being in the field COMPUTER TECH is by far the most important factor influencing today's market.
~Willie B, High voltage network cable splicer, Madison, Madison
To have DC and AC Hipot and the same time with link at the computer.
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Partial discharge testing requirements
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
AC (incl. VLF (0.1Hz)) & GIS
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
Electronic and Software
~General Corporate Mgmt, Medellin, Colombia
EH vehicles
~ADRIEN B, Design Engineer, PALO ALTO, CA
Display
~Stan B, Engineer, Houston, TX
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative hipot testers?
14 answers
Last I saw of things, CIRRIS SYSTEMS seemed to be covering automatic testing comprehensively, rather expensively too though!
~Ken D, Tester , workshop - now retired ., Gloucester, UK
I'm really happy with the Baker AWAIV, since it's easy to setup, use and generate reports with.
~Other, Gothenburg, Sweden
In my opinion are Kikusui and NX
~Fabio A, Engineer, Valinhos, Brazil
Baur, HV Diagnostics, Megger
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
Quadtech, Slaughter
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
Phenix and VON Corp
~Jim G, Technical Support, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Biddle - Baker
~General Corporate Mgmt, Medellin, Colombia
Meggar, Biddle
~Stan B, Engineer, Houston, TX
Hipotronics
~Marketing/Sales, Quezon City, Philippines
HVA Bauer
~Engineering, Other, Middleburg, South Africa
Too many manufactures, it's hard to compare
~MingRun SONG, Facilities Manager, Wuhan, China,PRC
Quadtech
~ADRIEN B, Design Engineer, PALO ALTO, CA
Omnia
~Quality Control/Assurance, Eskişehir, Turkey
VLF
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used hipot testers for?
22 answers
We test our metal base polymer/ceramic blend IMS circuit board panels, our etched circuit board panels and our final circuits for dielectric withstand, Proof Testing. We also preform breakdown testing to ASTM D-149, on all our materials. We support our customer in Hipot testing of their assemblies and systems.
~General Corporate Mgmt, Prescott, WI
Applied high potential test for power & distribution transformer, instrument transformer, and other high potential equipment
~MingRun SONG, Facilities Manager, Wuhan, China,PRC
Cable Testing, Transformer Testing, Generator & motor Testing, Materials testing, capacitor & insulator testing
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
Checking RF and gen' purp' coax cables for leakage in connectors, also for some potted inductor assembly's.
~Ken D, Tester , workshop - now retired ., Gloucester, UK
Used for testing MV switchgear, and a VLF to pressure test cables and to do Tan Delta tests on XLPE cable.
~Engineering, Other, Middleburg, South Africa
For power transformer testing
electrical appliances testing
calibration lab
~Marketing/Sales, Quezon City, Philippines
Medium voltage cables 4.16 and 13.2 KV New Installations Electrical motors 4.16 and 6.6 KV Start up and after rebuilt winding
~General Corporate Mgmt, Medellin, Colombia
Power cable ( xlpe, transformer, vcb, L/A, & etc as required & applicable)
~Technical Support/Services, BULACAN, Philippines
I used hipot testers in manufacturing medical devices (final tests).
~Fabio A, Engineer, Valinhos, Brazil
For IEC testing and some insulation and earth bond testing.
~Shrinivas Piddugu, Engineer, Pune, India
Industry Trends & Events
Electrical/Electronic Components
~Engineering, Design, Tomsk, Russia
Transformers, Switchgear, Circuit-Breakers, Power Cables
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
Fault locate direct buried , duct, OH and marine CABLE.
~Willie B, High voltage network cable splicer, Madison, Madison
Power cables 72KV rated
Rotating Machine 12KV rated
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Insulation breakdown test
Ground bond test
~Engineering, Process/Production, Singapore, Singapore
Testing medium and low voltage switchgear.
~Stan B, Engineer, Houston, TX
For Hermetic compressor hi-pot test
~Quality Control/Assurance, Eskişehir, Turkey
Testing of high voltage transistors
~John C, Research & Development, Stilbaai, South Africa
Power Cable and electric motors
~Jim G, Technical Support, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Induction motors
~Other, Gothenburg, Sweden
Drivetrain
~ADRIEN B, Design Engineer, PALO ALTO, CA
Leakage
~General Corporate Mgmt, Mesquite, TX
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that hipot testers have been used for.
11 answers
For insulating materials - paper, tubing, blocks in stock before using them and new windings.
~General Corporate Mgmt, Medellin, Colombia
I mentioned the high voltage generator Hi pot to measure the insulation of the workbench
~Fabio A, Engineer, Valinhos, Brazil
Source for PD testing of CT's & Switchgear (if PD free up to test voltage).
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
Test dielectrical properties of insulation material on an arc furnace.
~Engineering, Other, Middleburg, South Africa
I didn't know of any "unusual" applications in the Co i was with.
~Ken D, Tester , workshop - now retired ., Gloucester, UK
Integrated circuit testing, PC boards
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
Drying cables prior to energization
~Stan B, Engineer, Houston, TX
Testing of high voltage transistors
~John C, Research & Development, Stilbaai, South Africa
To kill fish in river.
~MingRun SONG, Facilities Manager, Wuhan, China,PRC
Drivetrain
~ADRIEN B, Design Engineer, PALO ALTO, CA
Cable join
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of hipot testers?
5 answers
Using a hipot that is either too small or too large for your testing needs.
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
Actually shorting devices due to over voltage selection on tester.
~Ken D, Tester , workshop - now retired ., Gloucester, UK
Make sure all conductors, equip. and men are clear.
~Willie B, High voltage network cable splicer, Madison, Madison
The ascending speed is too high, it's dangerous.
~MingRun SONG, Facilities Manager, Wuhan, China,PRC
Level voltage
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
11 answers
Multiple Programmable test sequences
Ability to download test results (to std. MS Office would be a bonus!)
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
arc detect
ad and dc and insulation resistance
data base ethernet connection = one box
~ADRIEN B, Design Engineer, PALO ALTO, CA
Easy to use and program
Higher degree of safety for operator and equipment under test
~Shrinivas Piddugu, Engineer, Pune, India
Ease of use, highly mobile, battery and main power input, auto voltage ramp up time.
~Jim G, Technical Support, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Leakage current, KV applied, time, Keep in memory, output to PC and software
~General Corporate Mgmt, Medellin, Colombia
Not overly complex to learn uses of machine
~Ken D, Tester , workshop - now retired ., Gloucester, UK
Total bluetooth interfaced. More Mobile.
~Engineering, Other, Middleburg, South Africa
Controlled and monitored by computer
~John C, Research & Development, Stilbaai, South Africa
Partial discharge free (<2 pC)
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
Better graphics
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Easy operation
~MingRun SONG, Facilities Manager, Wuhan, China,PRC
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using hipot testers?
6 answers
DC testing is no longer recommended by most and is very limited in application - there are products on the market that have both +DC, -DC and VLF capabilities. PD testing is now becoming a std requirement in commissioning and maintenance. Invest a little more and get a PD-free hi-pot tester.
~Paul V, Engineering Business Manager, Perth, Australia
Buy a hipot that will deliver the rated current at rated voltage.
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
It is important to check how safe the device is for the operator.
~Shrinivas Piddugu, Engineer, Pune, India
Safety must have highest priority, keep them simple.
~Jim G, Technical Support, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Use a consultant.
~Willie B, High voltage network cable splicer, Madison, Madison
Use it first.
~Stan B, Engineer, Houston, TX
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of hipot testers?
4 answers
It is important to select the device as per design requirements or the requirements as per the standards.
~Shrinivas Piddugu, Engineer, Pune, India
Watch out for many manufacturers that promise good after-sales support.
~Paul W, Engineer, Grantsville, MD
The right tool for the job and knowledge of the job.
~Willie B, High voltage network cable splicer, Madison, Madison
Level voltage, noise and filters
~Jose Luis Coca, Engineer, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
