Insulation Resistance Tester

(Megohmmeter)

Submitted To:
Mr. Jayson Platino

Submitted By:
Junno Androcarlo Vivares
What is an Megohmmeter?
Megohmmeter or megger is a special type of ohmmeter used to measure
the electrical resistance of insulators. Insulating components, for example cable
jackets, must be tested for their insulation strength at the time of
commissioning and as part of maintenance of high voltage electrical equipment
and installations. For this purpose megohmmeters, which can provide high DC
voltages (typically in ranges from 500 V to 5 kV, some are up to 15 kV) at
specified current capacity, are used. Acceptable insulator resistance values are
typically 1 to 10 megohms, depending on the standards referenced.
Construction of a Megohmmeter/megger
The main parts involved in the construction of
megger are deflecting coil, control coil,
permanent magnets, Pointer scale,
Dc generator or battery connection,
Pressure coil resistance, and
Current coil resistance
Deflecting coil & Control Scale: This marks the value
Pointer: Pointer place D.C generator
Coil-These coils are placed at of insulation resistance from
represents the value of the or Battery connection:
right angles to each other zero to infinity and is placed
insulation resistance, moving  Electronic voltage/ battery
and are connected to the in the front-top of the device
from the range of zero to charger produces testing
generator in parallel. These which helps us to read the
infinity. Pointer’s one end is voltage in case of automatic
coils maintain its polarities so values.
connected to the coil and the type megger whereas hand
as to produce torque in the
other end deflects on the operated DC generator is
opposite direction.
scale. used for the same purpose in
manual operated megger.
Working Principle of Megger
Testing voltage produced by the rotation of crank in hand operated megger and by the battery in
case of electronic type megger. For testing a range up to 440V, equipment requires 550V DC is
sufficient. Current coil or deflecting coil is series connected and allows the electric current to flow
through the circuit being tested. Control and deflecting coil has current limiting resistor connected
in series so as to protect the external circuit in case of damages caused due to very low resistance.
Testing voltage is produced by electromagnetic induction in case of hand operated megger and by
battery in case of electronic type megger. Deflection of pointer increases with the increases in
voltage in the external circuit and also decreases with the increase in current. That is, resultant
torque is inversely related to current and directly related to voltage. While the electrical circuit that
is being tested is open, the resultant torque caused due to voltage coil is maximum and the
deflection pointer shows the value of ‘infinity’ which means the circuit does not have any shorting
present and resistance is maximum within the circuit being tested.  In case of short circuit,
deflection pointer shows ‘zero’ which indicates ‘no’ resistance in the circuit being tested.
Two Types of Megohmmeter
1. Manual Type Megohmmeter
The important parts of manual type or hand operated
megger are analog display, hand crank and wire leads.
Analog display is situated on the tester’s front face which is
used for IR value recording. Hand crank is used for the
rotations so as to achieve the desired RPM which is
required for the generation of voltage which flows through
the electrical system. Wire leads are mainly two in number
for the connection of megger with the electrical system to
be tested.

2. Electronic Type Megohmmeter

The important parts in electronic type megger are digital
display, wire leads, selection switches and indicators. The
digital display shows the value of insulation resistance in
digital form. Wire leads are two in number used for
connecting megger for the testing of electrical system.
Selection switches are used for the selecting the ranges of
electrical parameters. Indicators are used for indicating
various statuses of electrical parameters, i.e. On/Off.
Advantages and disadvantages of each type
Advantages of Manual megohmmeter
• Oldest method used for the insulation resistance calculation but still is an important one.
• External sources are not required for the operation
• Cheaper and easily available in market
Disadvantage
• Labor requirement if more, that is, 2. One for connecting the megger with the electrical system
that is to be tested and other for the rotation of the crank
• Accuracy level varies with the rotation speed of crank
• Analog display shows the result
• High safety and care is required for the use of the equipment.
• Placing of equipment at work sites is an issue since it requires a stable position for operation and
unstable placing affects the results.
Advantage of Electronic Type Megohmmeter
• Accuracy level is very high.
• Digital display enables easy readability of insulation resistance values.
• Instrumentation operation can be carried out by a single person.
• Even when used in a congested place this device works perfectly and is very handy and safer.
Disadvantage
• External source of energy is required like dry cell.
• This device is costlier in the market.
Thank You!!!
God Bless.