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Above1kVInsulationsGuide BR en V01-DIG PDF
Above1kVInsulationsGuide BR en V01-DIG PDF
insulation testing
above 1 kV
WHY A 10 KV INSULATION TESTER?
Megger invented insulation testing before the beginning of the 20th century and has continued to lead the market
in innovation and technological advancement. So, why did we develop a 10 kV model when all other suppliers
stopped at 5 kV? The answer is in the IEEE standards. Megger developed a 10 kV unit to meet the new testing
recommendations outlined by the IEEE. Megger has offered a 10 kV insulation resistance tester since 2001.
In March 2000, The IEEE-SA Standards Board approved a revision to IEEE Std 43-1974. The “IEEE Recommended
Practice for Testing Insulation Resistance of Rotating Machinery,” Std 43-2000, emphasizes the need for upgrading
current practices to accommodate changes and improvements in insulating materials and the value of higher voltage
testing that reveals otherwise hidden flaws.
Following is a brief summary of the highlights of the standard:
n Test voltages up to 10 kV are recommended for windings rated greater than 12 kV.
n Both the Insulation Resistance test and the Polarization Index test are recommended.
n Test results should be compared to historical values to identify changes.
n In lieu of historical records, minimum acceptable values (based on the type of equipment) for both tests
areindicated.
n Depending on the machine rating, the readings for one or both tests should exceed the minimum acceptable
values.
n If the readings are below the minimum acceptable values, the winding is not recommended for an over
voltage test or for operation.
IEEE Std 43-2000 recommends a procedure for measuring insulation resistance of armature and field windings
in rotating machines rated 1 hp, 750 W or greater and applies to synchronous machines, induction machines, dc
machines and synchronous condensers. It does not apply to fractional horsepower machines. It also recommends the
insulation test voltage (based on winding rating) and minimum acceptable values of insulation resistance for ac and
dc rotating machine windings.
For more information on the IEEE Standard, please turn to page 27 in the booklet.
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INTRODUCTION Diagnostic insulation testing at voltages above 1 kV is an
Electrical insulation degrades over a period of time area that is less familiar to many electrical maintenance
because of various stresses, which are imposed upon it personnel. The purpose of this booklet, therefore, is to:
during its normal working life. The insulation has been n Acquaint the reader with making diagnostic
designed to withstand these stresses for a period of insulation resistance tests.
years, which would be regarded as the working life of
that insulation. This often runs into decades. n Provide guidelines for evaluating the results
of these diagnostic insulation resistance
Abnormal stresses can bring about an increase in this tests.
natural aging process that can severely shorten the
working life of the insulation. For this reason it is good n Introduce the benefits of multi-voltage testing at
practice to perform regular testing to identify whether higher voltages.
increased aging is taking place and, if possible, to A series of appendices are included at the end of
identify whether the effects may be reversible or not. the booklet to provide the reader with additional
The purpose of diagnostic insulation testing is: information related to diagnostic insulation testing.
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Since diagnostic testing is generally reserved for more Now that the insulation tester isn’t limited to values
critical items, we normally, but not always, find that associated with faulty or aged equipment, it can be
diagnostic testers have voltage outputs of 5 or 10 kV. used to pinpoint the test item’s position anywhere
These voltages are more suitable for testing the assets along its aging curve. The “infinity” indication that is a
which themselves are usually medium voltage machines, delight to the repair technician represents a void to the
cables, transformers, etc. diagnostician. Some instruments have diagnostic tests
preprogrammed into their software and can run them
The Benefit of New Technology automatically, filling that void with valuable analytical
Insulation testers date back to the early 20th century data.
when Sidney Evershed and Ernest Vignoles developed
their first insulation tester (which evolved in 1903 into HOW INSULATION RESISTANCE IS MEASURED
the Megger® range of testers).
How an Insulation Resistance Tester Operates
In the early days, most instruments were hand-cranked. The Megger® insulation tester is a portable instrument
This limited their ability to carry out tests which took that provides a direct reading of insulation resistance
an extended time to complete, and limited the voltage in ohms, megohms, gigohms, or teraohms (depending
stability to the operator’s ability to crank steadily. on the model chosen) regardless of the test voltage
Later, these same instruments were capable of having selected. For good insulation, the resistance usually reads
an external motor drive added which helped with long in the megohm or higher range. The Megger insulation
duration tests but did very little to improve the voltage tester is essentially a high-range resistance meter
stability. However, the range of these instruments rarely (ohmmeter) with a built-in dc generator.
exceeded 1000 MΩ. The analog movements were very
heavy and actually served to damp out any transient The instrument’s generator, which can be hand-cranked,
events. battery- or line-operated, develops a high dc voltage
that causes several small currents through and over
The appearance of electronics and the development surfaces of the insulation being tested. The total current
of battery technology revolutionized the design of is measured by the ohmmeter, which has an analog
insulation testers. Modern instruments are line- or indicating scale, digital readout or both.
battery-powered and produce very stable test voltages
under a wide variety of conditions. They are also able Components of Test Current
to measure very small currents so that their insulation If we apply a test voltage across a piece of insulation,
resistance measuring range is extended several then by measuring the resultant current and applying
thousandfold into the teraohm (TΩ) range. Some Ohm’s Law (R=E/I), we can calculate the resistance of the
can even replace the pencil, paper and stopwatch, insulation. Unfortunately, more than one current flows,
which were formerly used to manually collect results, which tends to complicate matters.
by recording data in memory for later download
and analysis. It is fortunate that these astonishing Capacitive Charging Current
enhancements were made since the manufacturers of We are all familiar with the current required to charge
insulating material have been working hard also, with the capacitance of the insulation being tested. This
the result that modern insulating materials now exhibit current is initially large but relatively short lived,
much higher resistances than those in the early 20th dropping exponentially to a value close to zero as the
century. item under test is charged. Insulating material becomes
Newer technology offers enhanced performance so charged in the same way as a dielectric in a capacitor.
that established procedures can yield greater insights
Absorption or Polarization Current
and new methods can be made available. Modern
instruments deliver stable voltage over their full Absorption current is actually made up of up to three
resistance range, with microprocessor sensitivity in the components, which decay at a decreasing rate to a value
measuring circuit enabling measurements in the TΩ close to zero over a period of several minutes.
range. The combination of stable voltage and enhanced The first is caused by a general drift of free electrons
sensitivity enables the tester to measure the minuscule through the insulation under the effect of the electric
amounts of current that are passed by quality insulation field.
in new, capital equipment. Accordingly, sophisticated
procedures that rely on precise measurement have been
developed and may be easily implemented.
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Please note: The charging current disappears Selected Typical Connections
relatively rapidly as the equipment under test
Shielded Power Cable
becomes charged. Larger units with more
capacitance will take longer to be charged. This Connected to measure the insulation resistance between
current is stored energy and, for safety reasons, one conductor and ground.
must be discharged after the test. Fortunately,
the discharge of this energy takes place relatively
quickly. During testing, the absorption current
decreases at a relatively slow rate, depending upon
the exact nature of the insulation. This stored
energy, too, must be released at the end of a test,
and requires a much longer time to discharge than
the capacitance charging current.
Power Transformer
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Unlike the analog/digital display mentioned above, an You should always ensure that an insulation tester is
“average sensing” bar graph meter does not provide provided with a “load graph” that indicates output
a real-time indication of insulation resistance. Some voltage characteristics against load resistance or,
instruments offer a curved bar graph in place of a alternatively, an integral voltmeter that actually
genuine logarithmic arc, in which the low end of the measures the terminal voltage during a test and displays
scale is expanded relative to the high end. The bar graph it continuously. By this means you can ensure that an
takes readings over time, performs calculations and adequate voltage is produced over the resistance range
then displays the results. The problem with this type of interest.
of meter is its principal of operation. If an event occurs
A quality insulation tester will have a voltage
when the bar graph is not taking readings, it will be
characteristic that exhibits a sharp rise in voltage up to a
missed and not shown on the display. Additionally, bar
level of resistance commensurate with good insulation.
graph simulations of pointer travel may not appear to
A fast rise time ensures an effective measurement. The
the eye the same as the familiar pointer travel and may
voltage characteristic shown in figure 9 represents a
not replicate a mechanical movement to the expected
good characteristic. In this example, the output voltage
degree.
will have reached 500 V at a load as low as 500 kΩ
When doing insulation testing, the more the operator and 1000 V by 1 MΩ. These values are legislated by
knows about the results (during and after the test), the international standards for testing wiring in houses,
better his/her decision on how to correct the problem, if shops, etc. While this is hardly a common use for typical
one exists. If something is missed during a test because diagnostic insulation testers, it does provide a good
the instrument had a bargraph-style meter, important benchmark for the serious manufacturer. Similar figures
information could also be missed. would apply at higher voltages. Voltage should rise
sharply up to anywhere from one to five megohms,
Voltage Characteristics depending on the voltage selection, and maintain that
The output voltage of an insulation tester depends on voltage at all higher resistances.
the resistance it is measuring. At low resistances, say tens With lower quality insulation testers, voltage ramp is
of ohms, the output voltage will be close to zero, maybe far slower. The instruments typified by the poor curve
a few volts. As the resistance load is increased so the shown in figure 10 do not produce the rated voltage
test voltage will increase until it reaches the requested until much higher resistances have been reached. Thus
voltage. As the resistance increases further, the test tests could produce results that provide pass levels of
voltage will slowly increase until a steady value is insulation but have only been subjected to half the
reached. This value will probably be slightly in excess of desired test voltage.
the requested nominal voltage (e.g. 5104 V when 5000 V
Note: Beware of instruments that do not have published load
was selected).
curves.
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It is most important not to confuse the guard with a ground. Guard Terminal not being used
Connecting the guard and return lead to the same element
of the test item only shunts the current that is supposed to
be measured, and thereby short-circuits the measurement
function. When selecting a tester, consider:
n The goals of testing (basic installation checks
don’t generally require a guard).
n The electrical composition of the items to be
tested (motors and transformers can be tested for
leakage between windings, with ground leakage
eliminated).
n The possible effects of surface leakage (wire and
cable can carry current across the surface, via dirt
Guard Terminal in use
and moisture, as well as through the insulating
material).
n The degree to which results must be analyzed
(are “bad” items merely to be replaced or
discarded, or will it be necessary to localize faults
for possible repair).
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insulation measurement. The protection is against
the inadvertent application of voltage or transients
as required by the specified safety CAT rating from
IEC61010.
The Megger MIT and S1 families of 5 kV and 10 kV
insulation testers have a unique specification for the
performance of their guard terminals. The specification
means the instrument has the ability to take IR
measurements when the guarded leakage current is 200
times the magnitude of the measured insulation leakage
current and have no more than an additional 2% error
in accuracy.
To achieve this and still provide the required safety
Figure 16: Measurement circuit with low-impedance
protection to meet IEC61010 is of course important.
high-accuracy guard
However, the most common approach used by some
instrument manufacturers is to employ a higher input In figure 16 the Megger guard terminal input protection
impedance to provide the required protection. This will is low impedance but still protects to the requirements
effectively destroy the measurement performance of the of IEC61010. The importance of the low impedance
guard terminal. protection is evident with the additional error
To understand this effect let’s take a case study of an introduced to the guarded measurement being no more
instrument manufacturer that has highlighted the than 0.2% in this calculated example.
benefits of a guard terminal protected with 200 kΩ It is important when selecting a 5 kV or 10 kV insulation
input impedance. tester to ensure the instrument is properly protected
on all terminals including the guard terminal, but also
to ensure the protection used has not destroyed the
instrument’s performance as an insulation tester. Megger
will not make compromises.
Final Words
Clearly, the guard terminal is a very useful feature, but
a few words of caution are necessary. The presence
of the guard terminal alone does not guarantee that
an insulation test set will give accurate results in the
presence of high levels of surface leakage. In particular,
it is difficult to maintain the performance of the guard
terminal if the instrument is also to offer a CAT IV 600V
safety rating. Make sure the insulation tester is able to
achieve its CAT rating without compromising the guard
Figure 15: Measurement circuit “protected” by high impedance
guard
terminal performance.
There can be many reasons why some instruments
Figure 15 above shows an equivalent circuit of a 1000
achieve poor guard terminal performance, but one of
MΩ insulation resistance being measured with a surface
the most obvious is that, with a guard terminal, the
leakage of 6 MΩ across it. The surface leakage has been
instrument not only has to supply the current needed
connected to the guard terminal to ensure it is not
for the actual insulation test, but also the diverted
measured. However this instrument is protected with a
current that flows via the guard terminal. If the voltage
200 kΩ input impedance. The result is a measured value
generator in the test set has insufficient capacity —
of about 43 MΩ, over 2000% away from the 1000 MΩ
effectively having a high internal resistance — the result
that should have been measured.
will be that the test voltage falls, giving inaccurate
In a Megger insulation tester the guard deploys results. This is a very important consideration because
effective protection but the input impedance remains the current in the guard terminal circuit can be ten or
at an acceptable level as shown in the example below in more times greater than that in the test circuit itself.
figure 16.
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and some that require considerable fixed equipment. While Apparatus “A” has much higher absolute
Here we shall consider only those tests that may be resistance values than Apparatus “B,” the trend is quite
performed with a readily portable dc insulation tester. worrying. Apparatus “B” has a fairly consistent flat
These are: trend, indicating that the insulation quality is probably
acceptable.
n Trending spot tests
n Time constant
n Polarization Index (PI)
n Step Voltage (SV)
n Ramp test
n Dielectric Discharge (DD)
Each test gives a different view, or window, into the
condition of the insulation; the whole picture is only
available when all required tests have been completed.
As noted previously, the increased sensitivity available in Periodic tests should be made in the same way each
microprocessor-based diagnostic insulation testers allows time. Use the same test connections and apply the same
the operator to identify insulation problems in their test voltage for the same length of time. Tests should
early stages rather than when those problems become also be made at about the same temperature, or the
catastrophic. In many cases, the trend is far more operator must correct them to the same temperature. A
important than the absolute value. record of the relative humidity near the equipment at
the time of the test is helpful in evaluating the reading
Compare the two traces in figure 18. Apparatus “A” and trend as low temperatures and high humidity might
shows a high insulation resistance while Apparatus suggest condensation on the surface of the insulation.
“B” shows a low value. However, when the trend is For this reason it is essential to ensure that equipment to
examined, Apparatus “B” shows little cause for concern; be tested is at a temperature in excess of the dew point,
it has been around the same value for several years and as otherwise, condensation will form which will distort
shows every prospect of continuing in the same vein for the readings unless the measurement is well “guarded.”
many years to come. Conversely, the curve for Apparatus
“A” is diving dramatically and the apparatus will, if The following table contains some general observations
nothing is done to prevent it, fail within the next about how to interpret periodic insulation resistance
few years. tests and what should be done with the result.
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mentioned previously there are materials that exhibit
very little or no dielectric absorption. Carrying out a test
on these materials would then produce a result very
close to 1.
Note that resistance readings alone are difficult to work
with, as they may range from enormous values in new
equipment down to a few megohms just before removal
from service.
A test like the PI is particularly useful because it can be
performed on even the largest equipment, and yields a
self-contained evaluation based on relative readings
rather than absolute values. But no PI can be calculated
with a tester of limited range, because “infinity” is not a
number! Advanced testers reach the teraohm range,
and therefore, do not run off the graph. The largest and
newest capital equipment can be readily tested to yield Figure 20: Benefit of the Polarization Test for Large Equipment
repeatable data for recording and subsequent trend
Although the PI value table has been used for many
evaluation. The following chart highlights selected PI
years and is well accepted, PI readings can occasionally
values and what they mean to the operator.
be encountered which are exceptional. Many years ago
Polarization Index Insulation Condition the freshly cooked stator of a 3750 kVA generator was
tested and a PI of 13.4 was obtained. The stator had
<1 Poor
cooled down and no doubt was still in its curing phase.
1-2 Questionable Subsequent tests yielded reducing PI values until it
2-4 Okay stabilized around 4.7. During routine maintenance, PI
>4 Good values do not reach these heady heights.
It is also interesting to note that many people have
Values above 4 indicate excellent equipment for
tried to use the PI test on oil-filled transformers and
which no action is likely to be necessary within the
cannot understand why a known good transformer
immediate maintenance schedule. The operator may
gives them results close to 1. The answer is simple. PI
be called upon to make critical judgments, however.
testing is not appropriate for oil-filled transformers.
Some high values of PI (above 5) could indicate brittle
The concept depends on the relatively rigid structures
or cracked insulation; this should be fairly obvious. A
of solid insulating materials, where absorption energy
sudden increase in PI greater than 20%, without any
is required to reconfigure the electronic structure of
maintenance having been performed, should serve as a
comparatively fixed molecules against the applied
warning; insulation may hold its value for long periods,
voltage field. Because this process can go to a
but is not likely to dramatically improve all by itself.
theoretical state of completion (at “infinite time,”
A benefit of the PI test is that it can provide an which obviously cannot be achieved in the practical
indication of insulation quality in ten minutes on very field, but can be reasonably approximated), the result
large pieces of equipment that might take an hour or is a steady diminution of current as molecules reach
more to fully charge, see figure 20. With a spot reading their “final” alignment. Because the PI test is defined by
test, the operator would have to wait until the reading this phenomenon, it cannot be successfully applied to
stabilized. For this reason it is normal to conduct a PI fluid materials since the passage of test current through
test at relatively low voltage before applying the high an oil-filled sample creates convection currents that
voltages typically applied for a withstand test. continually swirl the oil, resulting in a chaotic lack of
structure that opposes the basic premise upon which the
PI test rests.
The graphs in figure 21 are taken from a motor that n Surface contamination
was damp and dirty (lower trace) and after cleaning and
n Uncured resin
drying (upper trace).
In general, if a deviation of 25% in resistance n Moisture absorption
n Delamination
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n Voids an indication of impending breakdown.
This test is recommended by the US Bureau of
Reclamation on a wide range of rotating machines with
polyester, asphalt and epoxy-mica insulations. Another
possible application for the ramp test is to test voltage
suppression devices by monitoring the applied voltage at
a specified current.
The ramp test offers better control of the applied test
voltage compared to the step voltage test, providing a
better warning of impending insulation breakdown, and
therefore an opportunity to avoid insulation damage.
In addition the rate of voltage increase is typically 1000
V per minute whereas the greater rate of voltage rise
during a step increase is typically 1000 V per second. The
slower rate of voltage increase is also less likely to result Figure 22: Typical ramp test result for epoxy-mica insulation
in insulation damage.
In addition the ramp test allows the user to separate the
leakage current from the capacitive and polarization
currents. This means small defects in insulation can be
detected more easily.
The ramped voltage test, like the step voltage test,
requires the operator to interpret the test results and
make a determination of insulation condition from
graphs produced. Following is a quick guide to what the
graphical display of results indicates:
n Windings in good condition should produce a
smooth, almost linear rising current curve versus
Figure 23: Typical ramp test result for asphalt-mica insulation
the applied voltage.
n Any deviation from a smooth curve should be Comparing the results of epoxy-mica insulation in figure
viewed as a warning that the insulation test 22, to asphalt-mica insulation in figure 23, the difference
could be approaching a possible breakdown is due to the level of absorption current present. Asphalt-
(deviations could be obtained as close as 5% mica insulation has a much higher level of absorption
below the breakdown voltage). current relative to the conduction leakage current. This
results in a much steeper slope. However both insulations
n An imminent breakdown is usually indicated in a
diagnosed as being in good condition because of the
sudden increase in current.
linear response.
n An abrupt drop in current is rare, but if it
happens when the test voltage is above the peak
operating voltage of the winding it can also be
Figure 24 is the response from insulation with absorbed The current curves from different phases can also be
moisture. This could be caused by a long period of compared. All three windings should provide
disuse for example. This test, due to the sudden increase comparable results. A phase that shows a different
in current, would have been stopped to prevent response, such as shown in figure 27 will usually indicate
breakdown occurring. a problem with the insulation condition.
Figure 25: Asphalt-mica insulation with localized weakness Figure 27: Test on three phases tested separately
Old asphalt insulation may provide a slightly non-linear The graphs shown are examples of the type of faults
response and can show very small deviations, or blips in that can be diagnosed with the ramp test. Referring to
the current graph. Significant localized weaknesses will IEEE95-2002 will provide much more detail of the test’s
show a much larger, sudden increase in current, as seen diagnostic capability.
in figure 25. In this case the test has been terminated as
the graph was approaching vertical; breakdown would Dielectric Discharge Test
have been imminent in this case The Dielectric Discharge test (DD) is a relatively new test
Cracks in the ground wall insulation will also show a method that was developed by EdF, the national power
sudden near vertical current response, often preceded by utility of France, and based on years of research. While
small spikes before breakdown finally occurs. Figure 26 the other methods mentioned measure the currents
shows a typical response which in this case is an epoxy- flowing during the charging process, the DD test
mica insulation. measures the current that flows during discharge of the
test sample. As such, it is not a pure insulation resistance
test but rather an adjunct to traditional insulation tests.
The charge that is stored during an insulation test is
automatically discharged at the end of the test when the
insulation tester’s discharge resistors are switched across
the terminals.
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Figure 28: Discharge of Test Item’s Stored Charge record the temperature.
The rate of discharge depends only on the discharge Insulation in high voltage equipment often consists of
resistors and the amount of stored charge from the layers, each having its own capacitance and associated
insulation. However, the capacitive charge is discharged leakage resistance. When insulation is built up in this
rapidly until the voltage across the insulation has way, the aim is to make each layer such that the voltage
reduced to almost zero. At that time, the effect of stress is shared equally between layers. When the
leakage currents will be negligible. So only the reversal insulator is discharged, each layer’s charge will decrease
of dielectric absorption is left. This is known as dielectric equally until there is no voltage remaining.
reabsorption and is a mirror image of the dielectric When a layer is faulty between good layers, its leakage
absorption. resistance will decrease while capacitance is likely to
The capacitive current quickly decays from a high value remain the same. A standard insulation test will be
with a relatively short time constant (a few seconds). The determined by the good layers, and not likely to reveal
absorption (or reabsorption during a discharge) current this condition. But during dielectric discharge, the time
always starts at a high level but has a much longer time constant of the faulty layer will mismatch the others to
constant (up to many minutes). It is caused by the dipoles yield a higher DD value. A low DD value indicates that
randomizing their alignment within the insulation and reabsorption current is decaying quickly, and the time
the electron shell returning to an undistorted shape. constant of each layer is similar. A high value indicates
This has the effect of a current flowing if the discharge that reabsorption exhibits long relaxation times, which
circuit is still connected, or a voltage reappearing on may point to a problem.
the sample if it is left open circuit. Rapidly removing the
effects of leakage and capacitive currents allows the
possibility of interpreting the degree of polarization
of the insulation and relating it to moisture and other
polarization effects.
The test item is first charged for anywhere from 10 to 30
minutes at high voltage until full absorption has taken
place. (The Megger insulation testers that automate this
test charge the test sample for 30 minutes.) At this time,
capacitance is fully charged and the dielectric absorption
is essentially complete. Only leakage current continues
to flow. At this point the test voltage is removed and
the insulation is discharged through the instrument’s
internal discharge resistors to quickly dissipate the Figure 29: Reabsorption Currents
capacitive charge. After 60 seconds of discharge, any
remaining current flow is measured. At this time, the Typical conditions from practical research, primarily
capacitance has been discharged and the voltage has carried out on generators by EdF, arrived at the
collapsed so that the charge stored in the dipoles can be figures of merit in the following table. This technique
viewed independently of the “masking” currents that was developed for high voltage generators but has
are dominant during the charging phase of an insulation application on any multilayered insulation.
test.
The measured results are then entered into the D Value (in mA V-1F-1) Insulation Condition
following formula and an index is calculated. >7 Bad
Current flowing after 1 minute (nA) 4-7 Poor
Test Voltage (V) x Capacitance (µF) 2-4 Questionable
The measurement is temperature dependent, so it is <2 OK
important to test at a reference temperature or to
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APPENDICES Accuracy Statements
Pay close attention to an insulation tester’s accuracy
Potential Sources of Error/Ensuring Quality Test Results statement. Do not accept a mere plus/minus percentage
The following section identifies several areas of for digital units. The statement must also include plus/
potential error in insulation testing above 1 kV. These minus a number of digits, as no digital display can fix
factors may be of less importance in 1 kV testing, but its last digit (least significant digit, or l.s.d.) to a single
increased voltages and sensitivities make them critical number. Accuracies specified as “percent of reading”
for higher voltage testing. indicate the same error at all points on the scale.
Analog statements listed as “percent of scale” or “full
Test Leads
scale deflection” (f.s.d.) can be deceptive. Because
Beware of instruments with low quality leads whose
the accuracy interval is based on the full-scale length,
voltage rating is less than the test voltages employed.
it translates into an increasing percentage error as
It is extremely important that the only leakage currents
the readings rise against a logarithmic scale. In other
during a measurement are those that are developed
words, the same number of pointer widths on the
by the insulation under test. If the leads themselves
expanded low end of the scale will account for only a
produce leakage, you may be measuring lead insulation
few megohms, while on the contracted upper end, this
resistance rather than the item under test.
will be hundreds of megohms. Therefore, when meeting
All leads supplied with Megger insulation testers are a desired or required accuracy spec, don’t stop at the
high quality leads, which have been tested to withstand percentage statement but also examine the terms.
voltages well above the highest test voltage generated
Accuracy statements can also be misleading if not
by the particular instrument. Even then, it is important
explained carefully. Be sure to check the range covered
to reduce stray leakage by preventing the leads from
by the accuracy statement in the datasheet, as it can
contacting each other, the ground and particularly
vary dramatically among different instruments. There is
water.
a significant difference in an instrument that shows 5%
Additional information on the design and the accuracy up to 40 GΩ or 100 GΩ and one that shows 5%
importance of operating safely can be found on page 31. accuracy up to 1 TΩ. Some instruments show an accuracy
statement but do not give the applicable range. Always
Making Measurements above 100 GΩ ask about the range for a specific accuracy if it is not
Measurements up to 100 GΩ can be made without specified.
any special precautions, assuming that the leads are
reasonably clean and dry. The guard can be used to Note: Beware of instruments that do not have published
remove the effects of surface leakage if necessary. load curves.
Greater precautions are required when measuring
Delivery of Stated Voltage
resistances above 100 GΩ as stray leakage current can
Voltage regulation is indicated for an insulation tester
spoil the quality of the readings taken. Be aware of the
with a load graph in the instruction manual showing
following:
the output voltage against resistance load. The load
n Test leads should not be allowed to touch each other curve ensures that, at typical insulation resistance
or any other object since this will induce leakage values, the insulation tester is delivering full rated test
paths. voltage to the test item. While this may appear to be
obvious, it is not necessarily the case unless so stated by
n Sharp points at the test lead connections should be
the manufacturer of a given tester. A poorly-regulated
avoided since this will encourage corona discharge.
tester may load down under a high-resistance load so
n Instrument test jacks should be deep so that that the insulation of the test item may actually be
unwanted leakage does not occur between the experiencing only a fraction of the rated test voltage,
terminals. which the transformer can output only under maximum
conditions. Such instrumentation is not likely to come
provided with a load curve.
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If this seems like excessive attention to detail, consider it rides on top of the sinusoidal voltage it can initiate
the standards agencies. Organizations like UL® and an arc, which will continue until the end of the cycle.
ASTM® do not write procedures that say, in effect, In a CAT IV environment, the available short circuit
“hook up a meter and take a reading.” Rather, they current can exceed 1000 amps. Inside an instrument
specify every variable, including setup, procedure, and that happens to be testing the circuit, this can generate
characteristics of the test instrument, before results can hundreds of kilowatts of heat in a small space for a few
be considered in conformance. Standard maintenance milliseconds. The rapid expansion of air can cause the
procedures deserve no less diligence. instrument to disintegrate or explode. Fire, burns, and
dangerous flying pieces are the consequence.
CAT Rating
Instruments designed to a category rating have sufficient
In addition to the obvious performance specifications, clearance between critical parts to prevent an arc from
instrumentation should also be evaluated according to creating the initial breakdown when a transient occurs.
various quality standards. Paramount among these is IEC61010 defines the design requirements in order for
safety. One of the most recognized and respected safety instruments to declare a specific category rating and
standards has been established by the International specifies both the electrical and physical requirements
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in EN61010-1:2001. (called creepage and clearance distances) that make up
This standard defines the requirements that test the circuitry and casework.
instruments must meet in order to be safe from arc
flash and arc blast in specific environments. It is not
enough to simply determine that an instrument is “CAT
rated”, as it is commonly termed. The CAT rating must
be understood, as it rigorously describes where in the
electrical environment a given piece of equipment can
and cannot be safely employed.
Figure 30: Megger MIT models ensure CAT rating applies to all
terminals for safety purposes. Some instruments on the market
today are misleading.
Figure 31: Electrical supply broken down into categories
CAT Rating Guidelines
“CAT rating” is rendered in two parameters: one The Importance of a CAT Rating
indicating system level and the other specifying rated CAT rating is determined by distance downstream of
operating voltage. A designation of “CAT IV 600 V” the transformer servicing the premise. The overhead
means that the unit is safe to operate in any electrical or underground transmission lines constitute the CAT
environment up to and including CAT IV, on cable or IV environment because the energy available from the
apparatus rated up to 600 volts phase to ground. Beware supply is much higher near the transformer. This is the
of products that specify the CAT rating while failing to most dangerous environment and requires the highest
list the voltage level. This is incomplete information and degree of protection. As voltage passes through the fuse
the absence can be costly in terms of safe operation. The panel into the building, the circuit impedance is higher
CAT rating defines the level of transient (spike or surge) and transients are damped, reducing the available
that the instrument has been designed to withstand. energy in the transient. This process of progressive
Transients vary in size and duration depending on the damping, lower energy and reduced hazard continues
source. A transient may be several kV in amplitude but through the remaining categories. Downstream of
its duration is notably short, a typical interval being 50
µsec (microseconds). Its principle danger is that when
www.megger.com 27
*Winding Rated Insulation Resistance Test The recommended minimum insulation resistance
Voltage (V) Direct Voltage (V) after one minute at 40o C can be determined from
the following chart. The minimum resistance of one
<1000 500
phase of a three-phase armature winding tested with
1000-2500 500-1000 the other two grounded should be approximately
2501-5000 1000-2500 twice that of the entire winding. If each phase is
5001-12,000 2500-5000 tested separately (with guard circuits being used on
the phases not under test), the observed minimum
>12,000 5000-10,000
resistance should be three times the entire winding.
* Rated line-to-line voltage for three-phase ac
machines, line-to-ground voltage for single-phase
machines, and rated direct voltage for dc machines or Minimum Test Specimen
field windings Insulation
Resistance (MΩ)
The standard recommends that each phase be isolated kV* + 1 For most windings made before
and tested separately (if feasible) as this approach allows about 1970, all field windings, and
comparisons to be made between phases. The two others not described below.
phases not being tested should be grounded to the same 100 For most dc armature and ac
ground as the stator core or rotor body. When all phases windings built after about 1970
are tested simultaneously, only the insulation to ground (form-wound coils).
is tested. Insulation resistance measurements should be 5 For most machines with
made with all external equipment (cables, capacitors, random-wound stator coils and
surge arresters, etc.) disconnected and grounded as these form-wound coils rated below 1 kV.
items may influence the resistance reading. A common
ground should be used to prevent stray losses in the * kV is the rated machine terminal-to-terminal voltage
ground circuit that could affect the test results. in rms kV.
The standard calls out both the insulation resistance test The rating of the machine determines whether the
and the polarization index test (PI), and recommends motor windings must achieve the minimum value for
that both tests be made (if possible). It indicates that either the insulation resistance test or PI test, or must
testing history should be used to track changes. If history achieve the minimum for both tests.
is not available, the standard provides minimum values
for both tests that can be used to estimate the suitability Machine Rating Evaluation Criteria
of the winding. These are the lowest values at which a
winding is recommended for an overvoltage test or for 10,000 kVA or less Should have EITHER a value of the
operation. PI test or a value of the insulation
resistance test (at 40º C) above the
The recommended minimum values for PI are based on
minimum recommended values.
the thermal class of the insulating materials and apply
to all insulating materials regardless of application Above 10,000 kVA Should have BOTH a value of the
per IEC 60085-01: 1984. The PI test is not applicable to PI test or a value of the insulation
noninsulated field windings. Be aware that a very high resistance test (at 40º C) above the
PI (greater than 8) for varnished cambric, shellac mica- minimum recommended values.
folium, or asphaltic stator windings may indicate that the
Effects of Temperature
insulation has been thermally aged and may be at risk of
failure. Physical inspection can be used to confirm if the Temperature variations can have a significant effect
insulation is dry and brittle. on insulation resistance readings. Resistance drops
markedly with an increase in temperature for the same
Thermal Class Rating Minimum PI Value piece of apparatus. Each type of insulating material
Class A 1.5 has a different degree of resistance change with
temperature. Temperature correction factor tables
Class B 2.0
have been developed for various types of electrical
Class F 2.0 apparatus and can be acquired from the manufacturer.
Class H 2.0 Failing that, it is recommended that you develop
www.megger.com 29
vapor in air condenses as a liquid), the test reading The first digit refers to particulate ingress, reflecting
will not be affected much by the humidity. Even if the the degree to which solid objects can penetrate the
equipment to be tested is idle, the same is true — so enclosure. A level of “5” indicates “dust protected” as
long as its temperature is kept above the dew point (and well as protected from invasion with a wire down to 1.0
the insulation surfaces are free of contaminants, such as mm. There is only one higher category: “dust tight.” The
certain lints and acids or salts, which have the property of second digit refers to moisture. A rating of “4” means
absorbing moisture). resistance to “splashing water, any direction.” The
higher ratings of 5 through 8 indicate “jetting water”
In electrical equipment, we’re concerned primarily with
and “temporary” or “continuous” immersion.
the conditions on the exposed surfaces where moisture
condenses and affects the overall resistance of the So what? Well, suppose an instrument under
insulation. Studies show, however, that dew will form consideration was rated only to IP43. What would
in the cracks and crevices of insulation before it is visibly that tell the operator about its usability? Could it be
evident on the surface. Dew-point measurements will thoroughly utilized in a quarry or cement plant? Hardly!
provide a clue as to whether such invisible conditions The particulate rating 4 indicates “objects equal or
might exist, altering the test results. greater than 1 mm.” That’s a boulder in comparison to
particles typically produced by industrial processes. Flying
Humidity effects require greater attention as test
dust could put the unit out of commission.
voltages increase because the higher voltages can
promote ionization much more readily than at low Suppose the unit is rated at IP42. A moisture rating of
voltages. As a result, humidity that doesn’t produce a 2 indicates dripping water. Therefore, it would not be
noticeable effect at 1 kV may produce perplexingly low resistant to flying spray. Acquiring an instrument for an
readings at 5 kV. This is not necessarily a problem. The environment that exceeds its IP capabilities likely means
difference in response at two different voltages can be that the operator will need another very soon. What
used to detect moisture and tests carried out guarded about a rating of IP40? A moisture rating of 0 means
and unguarded can be used to detect surface moisture or that the unit is not protected against any liquid ingress.
internal moisture.
The following charts provide a guide to various IP ratings
and what they mean to the operator:
Ingress Protection
Somewhere in the fine print of most test equipment Protection Against Access to Hazardous Parts
product bulletins is an IP rating, a number that gives (First Digit)
the operator vital information. In fact, the IP rating lets Number Description
the operator know whether a piece of test equipment is
0 Non-protected
suited for his/her application and test environment.
Protected against access with
“IP” stands for “ingress protection.” That is the degree to 1
back of hand (50 mm)
which the instrument can withstand invasion by foreign
Protected against access with
matter. The IP rating system has been established by the 2
jointed finger (12 x 80 mm)
IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), in their
Standard 529, and is used as a guide to help the operator Protected against access with a
3
protect the life of the instrument. It also can help the tool (2.5 mm)
operator make a more informed purchase decision by Protected against access with a
4, 5, 6
ensuring that the piece of test equipment is designed to wire (1.0 mm)
work in the environment(s) that he/she faces.
The IP rating is comprised of two digits, each signifying Protection Against Ingress of Solid Foreign Objects
a separate characteristic. The designation indicates how (First Digit)
well the item is sealed against invasion by foreign matter, Number Description
both moisture and dust (the higher the number(s), 0 Non-protected
the better the degree of protection). What would a
1 Objects equal or greater than 50 mm
typical rating of IP54 tell a buyer about the application
capabilities of a model? If you want to sound thoroughly 2 Objects equal or greater than 12.5 mm
knowledgeable, that’s IP five-four, not fifty-four. Each 3 Objects equal or greater than 2.5 mm
digit relates to a separate rating, not to each other. 4 Objects equal or greater than 1 mm
5 Dust protected
6 Dust tight
5 Jetting water, any direction Full-function insulation testers above 1 kV often include
a “burn” mode. It is a feature that may never be used;
6 Powerful jetting water, any
yet it does have a viable function within a narrow range
direction
of application.
7 Temporary immersion in water
Insulation testers will generate high voltages into
8 Continuous immersion in water
significant resistances. However, if a breakdown occurs
within the insulation, the resistance drops, the current
High Potential Testing increases, and the voltage drops. If left to its own devices
There is no truly singular definition of the “high this would cause the breakdown arc to extinguish, the
potential” test. It is commonly used, but its definition is resistance to increase, and the voltage to increase which
situational, in the “eye of the beholder” it might be said. in turn causes breakdown and so on. This continuing
Basically, a high potential test is an electrical stress test cycle does not allow the measurement of resistance
conducted at a voltage two or more times rated voltage and indeed could open pinholes or enlarge burn tracks.
and sometimes known as a Withstand or Proof Test. Rather than cause further damage, most insulation
testers will shut down.
Since the test is conducted at a voltage considerably
higher than the rated voltage of the equipment being However, if you want to find the location of the
tested, it is known as an overvoltage test unlike the high breakdown this may be extremely inconvenient. For this
voltage insulation test, which is generally applied at a reason some instruments offer an operator selectable
voltage below the rated voltage of the equipment. The “burn” mode; the automatic shutdown is overridden and
act of overvoltage testing creates abnormal stresses in a low current arc is maintained. It must be understood,
the test sample and can contribute to the acceleration however, that the instrument’s short circuit limitation
of aging in insulation. Indeed, some standards require is still in effect. The tester will not provide a “dead”
the voltage to be increased until the test sample breaks short. The function enables the operator to localize or
down. identify the fault by looking for a spark or wisp of smoke
or perhaps by use of an ionization detector. Pinholes
If an overvoltage test is to be applied, it is normal in windings can be identified, covered with insulating
practice to apply an undervoltage PI test beforehand to varnish, and the equipment returned to service. In cable
pre-qualify the insulation. maintenance, a high potential tester with much higher
High potential tests may be carried out with ac or dc currents than insulation testers is used to “break down”
voltages, as appropriate. Samples with considerable a high-resistance fault, converting it to an “open”
capacitance will appear as a short circuit to an ac test, that is much more easily recognized by arc reflection
requiring a test set with very large power capabilities to techniques.
overcome the capacitive charging currents. In situations
such as this, it is quite normal to apply a dc test with the Drying Out Electrical Equipment
equivalent peak. Electricity and water do not form a happy partnership
and so it is often necessary to “dry out” insulation. This
Current (nA) Readings vs. Resistance (MΩ) Readings may be done to remove surface moisture or perhaps
Insulation testers measure current and then convert to drive moisture from the internals of the insulation.
it into a resistance reading. Why do we do this? Well, Indeed some pieces of equipment have in-built heater
predominantly, it’s tradition. Good insulation produces coils which can be used for this purpose. However,
a high reading while poor insulation produces a low several other methods are also available for drying
electrical equipment.
www.megger.com 31
The most satisfactory solution to the problem
involves placing the windings in an oven with suitable
temperature control and proper air circulation. Banks
of infrared lamps may be used when this is not possible,
or a suitable housing may be built around the machine,
using steam coils or electric resistance type units for a
source of heat. Openings must be provided for the free
circulation of air as otherwise the expulsion of moisture
would simply result in an increasing humidity inside the
drying chamber. Blowers may be used to increase the air
movement.
Vacuum drying has also been effectively used to
expedite the return of equipment to service, but this
method requires extra precautions and should only be
undertaken by experienced personnel.
Another method often used is to circulate low-voltage
current through the windings. This method should not
be used, however, until the insulation resistance has
reached a value of at least 100 MΩ. The current should Figure 34: Typical Drying-out Resistance Graph
be limited to only a fraction of nameplate amperes,
Figure 34 shows a typical drying-out curve for a dc motor
and a careful check must be maintained on maximum
armature, which shows how insulation resistance
temperatures on the insulated parts. Maximum drying
changes. During the first part of the run, the resistance
temperatures on windings should not exceed 194º F (90º
decreases because of the higher temperature. Then it
C) as measured by a thermometer. This will prevent not
rises at a constant temperature as drying proceeds.
only the rapid thermal deterioration of the insulation
Finally, it rises to a high value, as room temperature
but damage from the high vapor pressures that would
(20° C) is reached.
be obtained if steam were produced.
There is a significant caveat when testing wet insulation
If drying is required, records help determine when
with an insulation tester; wet equipment is susceptible
the insulation is moisture free. As an example of the
to voltage breakdown. If windings have absorbed a lot
importance of past readings, consider a motor that’s
of moisture even low voltages can puncture insulation.
been flooded. After a cleanup, a spot reading with the
Therefore, the operator should be very careful before
Megger tester shows 15 MΩ. If past records showed the
applying high voltages. More advanced Megger
insulation resistance to run from 10 to 20 MΩ, the motor
insulation testers allow the test voltage to be set at
would be in good shape. If, on the other hand, past
anything from a low of 25 volts to a high of 5000 volts in
records showed the normal resistance values to run from
25-volt increments.
100 to 150 MΩ, the operator would know that moisture
was still present in the motor windings. Test Item Discharge
During drying operations, when insulation resistance Perhaps you were taught to discharge a capacitor and
values are used as an indicator of the suitability of then to store the capacitor with the terminals shorted
windings for service or for application of test potential, together. Did you ever wonder why, since you have
the drying must be continued for a sufficient time discharged the capacitor and maybe had checked that
to make sure that the values are reliable. Often the there was no voltage across the terminals, you needed to
resistance curve will take one or more sharp dips before short the terminals?
leveling off or continuing to increase in a positive
The reason is the dielectric absorption current. If the
direction. This is due to moisture working out of the
terminals are left unshorted, the energy stored by
windings. When the machine is completely dried out,
dielectric absorption will slowly release with negative
further work is required to remove any remaining dust.
charge migrating to one terminal and positive charge to
This may be done through the use of dry compressed air
the positive terminal. Over a period of time this charge
at pressure not exceeding 40 psi.
can build up to a dangerous level, as high as the original
A good quality instrument will automatically discharge The main benefit was, because of the weight of
the test sample as soon as a test is completed or the movement, it had considerable inertia and
interrupted. Some lower quality instruments have a was, therefore, quite insensitive to interference or
separate discharge selection knob, or switch, which adds transient events. This resulted in a very smooth motion.
a step to a test. If this step is forgotten, the test item can Unfortunately, the sheer weight of the movement made
be deadly for the next person who handles it. it fairly delicate and so the instruments needed to be
handled with care. Furthermore, the instruments needed
Megger insulation testers also detect the voltage across to be leveled before use and were, therefore, supplied
the test sample during the discharge phase and will with a spirit level on the scale and adjustable feet. The
show this voltage until it has fallen to a safe level. At this movements were also fairly insensitive with maximum
point, the item is safe to handle. resistance capabilities that could be measured in high
However, all we have discharged at this point is the megohms or low gigohms.
stored capacitive charge. As explained at the start of this Alternative power sources were developed. The old
booklet, any capacitance is charged relatively quickly generator was big and heavy as anyone who has tried
at the start of a test. Similarly, the capacitive charge is to hand crank one of these old instruments will attest;
discharged relatively quickly at the end of a test. But the you certainly wouldn’t want to do a PI test while hand
dielectric absorption current takes much longer to go in cranking, but if you lacked a mains supply there was no
and also takes much longer to come out. alternative.
Thus while the sample is immediately safe to handle, if Technology advances meant that “electronic movements”
the terminals are not shorted they will gradually acquire could be used which were more rugged and more
charge and become dangerous once again. So, unless accurate. New low-voltage generators were developed
the equipment is going back into service, ensure that the which made hand cranking much easier and then
terminals are shorted and grounded. ultimately battery technology enabled pure battery
power to be employed. This resulted in the long term,
Charging Time for Large Equipment very stable power supplies that we see today.
One question we are often asked is, “How long will it
The use of electronics has resulted in lighter, more
take to charge a particular piece of equipment?” The
rugged, more accurate instruments that respond more
answer is, “We don’t know!”
quickly. They can provide more information, which results
Why not? Well, the answer depends on the actual in us seeing transient events that were previously totally
configuration of the particular piece of equipment hidden by the relative instability of the power supply and
concerned. For example, the Megger S1-5010 specifies the inertia of the movement.
a charging rate of “less than 5 seconds per microfarad
Which is better? The decision is yours.
with 2 mA short circuit current” and “2.5 seconds per
microfarad with 5 mA short circuit current.” Thus, if you
know the capacitance of the test sample you can work
out the charging time; it doesn’t matter if it is a motor, a
cable, or just a slab of insulating material.
www.megger.com 33
TEST LEAD DESIGN cause serious burns to the operator or bystander near the
The design of the test lead sets is intended to facilitate clip or probe. Additionally, should the contact be broken
connection to a variety of de-energized systems for the while current is flowing, arcing may occur leading to an
purpose of making insulation resistance measurements. extremely serious situation known as arc-flash.
In all cases it is the responsibility of the user to employ The standard describes the danger of arcing as follows:
safe working practices and verify that the system is safe “The arcing will ionize the air in the vicinity of the arc,
before connection. Even electrically isolated systems may permitting continued current flow in the vicinity of the
exhibit significant capacitance which will become highly probe tip or crocodile clip. If there is sufficient available
charged during the application of the insulation test. energy, then the ionization of the air will continue to
This charge can be lethal and connections, including the spread and the flow of current through the air continues
leads and clips, should never be touched during the test. to increase. The result is an arc flash, which is similar
The system must be safely discharged before touching to an explosion, and can cause injury or death to an
connections. operator or a bystander.”
Test leads are a key component of any precision IEC 61010-031:2008 requires probe tips and crocodile
instrument and that safety, long life, and the ability clips to be constructed to mitigate the risk of arc flash
to provide reliable connections to the wide variety of and short circuits, and this requirement applies to all
test pieces found in real applications are of utmost crocodile clips or clamps that are rated to Installation
importance. Category III or IV (CATIII or CATIV). The outer surfaces of
Careful design ensures repeatable connections, which crocodile clips must not, therefore, be conductive and
are practical and safe to use. Only the best materials and no metal parts should be accessible (as defined by the
most appropriate materials should be used to provide standard) with the clip closed.
the essential blend of performance and safety. As an During design phase, detailed measurement and test
example the careful specification of the cable ensures procedures are used to assess the electrical creepage and
it remains flexible in all conditions and has extremely clearance paths, to assure compliance with the standard.
good insulation properties which will not affect the Accessibility of conductive metalwork is assessed using an
measurements made. IEC standard test finger.
Using a double-insulated silicon cable will ensure reliable
and safe measurements. Testing with poor or electrically Things to Consider for Safe Operation
leaky leads can provide misleading measurements and In electrical test environments, safe working practices
may result in perfectly good insulation being diagnosed are essential to ensure the safety of operators. Insulation
faulty, wasting both time and money on unnecessary testing in high-voltage, high-energy environments poses
repairs. This is especially so when using long test leads. a number of unique hazards listed below:
www.megger.com 35
involving power distribution systems such transients can Unfortunately, while the injection-molded materials
be significant, carrying a very large amount of energy suitable for case manufacture are ideal for their
and providing a significant danger to the user. Even lightweight and durability properties, they are generally
during an insulation test when the connected circuit is not fire retardant and will not provide adequate
de-energized, a switching operation elsewhere on the protection in the event of a fault. Materials with fire
network or a distant lightning strike can induce a large retardant additives are available but suffer from reduced
transient voltage in the un-energized system which the durability, so will not withstand the rigors of everyday
instrument must safely survive to protect the user. use as well. This conundrum creates a serious challenge
for instrument manufacturers.
Fire Retardant Safety
Megger has adopted a unique design approach by
IEC61010 categorizes such transients into different forming a dual case design where the inner layer
severities depending upon the location and supply provides essential fire protection leaving the outer case
voltage within the distribution system. Increasingly uncompromised in its ruggedness and durability.
severe transients are encountered as we move upstream
along the distribution system. Instruments for connection
to external systems must be rated to Category IV,
(CATIV). Instruments rated to CATIV 600 V, for example,
must be able to safely withstand transients of 8,000 V.
Should a fault develop when connected to such a system
and the transient cause flashover within the instrument,
the local ionization of the air may create an effective
short circuit across what could potentially be a very high-
energy supply, presenting a significant danger to the
user. As a result, IEC61010-2-030 requires instruments to
remain safe when such transients occur.
In addition, Part 1 of IEC61010 requires that there will
be no spread of fire outside the equipment in the event
of a single fault occurring within the instrument, for
example a faulty battery. There are two routes to check
compliance: first, perform “single-fault” testing within
the instrument, and second, simply fit a fire retardant
case. The safest instruments include both routes of
compliance.
n Ramp test
S1-1068
MIT1025
S1-1568
MIT1525
www.megger.com 37
Models MJ15 and BM15 Test Leads
5-kV Insulation Testers Megger provides a full line of test lead sets that are
n Pass/fail overlays for rapid go/no go testing designed to provide safety isolation in compliance with
IEC 16010-031:2008. They provide double insulation
n Insulation resistance to 20 GΩ where practical. However, at higher voltages where
the large physical dimensions would render this
n Voltage range to 600 V indicates auto discharge impractical for a usable clip, single insulation is provided.
Safe working practices must be used, and clips and
The BM15 and MJ15 are compact 5-kV insulation testers
connections must not be touched while energized.
that are simple to use and provide a quick, accurate
reading of insulation resistance. Both instruments offer More information on Megger test leads can be found on
four test voltages (500 V, 1 kV, 2.5 kV, 5 kV), analog our website www.megger.com under the 5 kV and 10 kV
scales, and measurement sensitivity to 20 GΩ. Insulation Testers’ product group.
The BM15 is powered by 8 “AA” or rechargeable alkaline
batteries while the MJ15 includes a hand-crank generator
in addition to battery power.
n Training Programs
www.megger.com 39
Part No: xxxxx - Above1kVInsulationsGuide_br_en-uk_V01
The word ‘Megger’ is a registered trademark
Copyright © 2017 Megger Limited, Archcliffe Road,
Dover CT17 9EN, United Kingdom.