CHAPTER 10

HIGH VOLTAGE TESTING OF

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
1. Introduction
2. Classification of High Voltage Tests
3. Test Voltages
4. High Voltage Testing of Electrical Apparatus
1. INTRODUCTION
Purpose of the testing: To ensure that the electrical
equipments are capable of withstanding the
overvoltages that are met with in service.
Covers basic requirements procedures for testing on
several electrical apparatus. Normally, high voltage
(HV) testing is to investigate the insulation
performance.
International/national specifications for testing are
outlined (details of test, specific equipment, procedure
and acceptable limits) to meet the users’ and
manufacturers’ requirements.
2. CLASSIFICATION OF HIGH
VOLTAGE TESTS
Destructive Test
Normally the equipment underwent
destructive test cannot be used in the
service.
Test voltage is higher than its normal
working voltage.
Breakdown test.
Con’t
Non-Destructive Test
Mainly done to assess the electrical
properties, eg. Resistivity, dielectric
constant and loss factor.
The apparatus is not destroyed during the
test and can be used again.
2.2 TYPES OF TESTS
1. Routine Tests
Made by the manufacturer on every finished piece of
product.
To fulfills the specifications.

2. Type Tests
Performed on each type of equipment before their supply
on a general commercial scale – demonstrate
performance characteristics.
No need to repeat the test unless changes are made in the
design of the product.
Con’t
3. Maintenance Tests
Usually carried out after
maintenance/repair of the equipment.
Conducted according to schedule
provided.
Purpose of the test : To ensure the
equipment lifetime is achieved.
Types of tests
The range of
be r! high voltage
m e m
R e tests depends
on the nature
of the
equipment
being tested
3.0 TEST VOLTAGES

Direct
power- voltages
frequency (DC)
alternating
voltages
(AC)

impulse
voltages.

TEST VOLTAGES
Con’t
Test with Direct Voltage (DC).
Mainly to test equipment used in HVDC
transmission systems.
Insulation testing, fundamental
investigations in discharge physics and
dielectric behavior.
Rate of voltage rise above 75% of its
estimated final value should be about 2%
per second.
Con’t
Test with Alternating Voltage (AC).
Frequency range : 40-60 Hz, sinusoidal
shape.
Dry withstand test : Most common routine
test for all types of electrical equipment
especially insulators, bushing, rod gaps etc.
Applied voltage between two to three
times of the normal working voltage.
Con’t
Test with Alternating Voltage (AC) – cont.
 Wet withstand test : To simulate the effect of natural rain
on external insulation.
 Recommended for tests on apparatus which are designed for
outdoor used.
 Use artificial rain.
 Applied for 30-60 seconds.
 Con’t
Test with Impulse Voltage.
Is designed to investigate the
insulation performance due to
the lightning stroke or Lightning
impulse chopped on the front
switching operation.
3 types of impulse voltages, ie;
 1) Full wave
 2) Chopped wave
 3) Switching wave
BS 923: Part 2: 1980
 Con’t
BS 923: Part 2: 1980

Lightning impulse chopped

on the tail

Full switching impulse

Con’t
Rated impulse withstand test
For test on non-self-restoring insulation, 3 impulses are
applied.
For withstand tests on self-restoring insulation, 2
procedures are used:
 1) 15 impulses (rated withstand voltage) with the specified shape
and polarity are applied
 2) Test procedure for determining 50% disruptive discharge
voltage is applied
The method used for determining the levels of applied
voltage is up-and-down methods.
Atmospheric Correction Factors
The electrical characteristics of the insulators and other apparatus
are normally referred to the reference atmospheric conditions.
According to the British Standard Specifications, they are:

Temperature : 20oC
Pressure : 1013 millibars (or 760 torr)
Absolute humidity : 11 gm/m3

Since it is not always possible to do tests under these reference

conditions, correction factors have to be applied.
Atmospheric Correction Factors

V0 = voltage under actual test conditions,

Vs = voltage under reference atmospheric conditions,
h = humidity correction factor, and
d = air density correction factor.

The air density correction factor is given by,

where, b = atmospheric pressure in millibars, and

T= atmospheric temperature, oC.
Humidity correction factor h is obtained from the
temperatures of a wet and dry bulb thermometer, by
obtaining the absolute humidity and then computing h
from the absolute humidity.
Example 1
Sarzaminor conducted an AC flashover test at power
frequency on a cap and pin insulator for his FYP
project. From the test, it was found that flashover
occurred at 80 kV. If the dry and wet temperatures
during the test were 25˚C and 22˚C respectively, and
atmospheric pressure was at 1 atm, determine the
flashover voltage under the reference atmospheric
condition.
Example 1
Dry Temp. = 25˚C
Wet Temp. = 22˚C

Absolute humidity = 18
18g/m3
Example 1
Dry Temp. = 25˚C
Wet Temp. = 22˚C
1 atm = 1013.25 milibar

h=0.92

0.92
4.0 HIGH VOLTAGE TESTING OF
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS
Transformer
Circuit breaker
Insulator
Cable
Impulse testing on transformer
●
According to BS 171: Part 3.
Carried out at room temperature
with the transformer not energized.
●
Used standard impulse
waveshapes. Full and chopped
waves.

Temperature
Impulse Test
Rise Test

Failure
detection Short Circuit
(Insulation test
failure)
●
A change in the waveshape of
the voltage and current both
before and after the chopped
waves have been applied.
●
The existing of acoustic noise.
●
Visual signs of flashover
Testing of Circuit Breaker
(BS 5227: Part 2, IEC 56)

●
Consist of overvoltage withstand tests of power frequency, lightning and
switching impulse voltages.
●
Circuit breaker in both the open and closed positions

Dielectric tests or overvoltage tests,

Short Circuit Test
Methods of conducting short circuit tests are

(I) Direct Tests

(a) using a short circuit generator as the source
(b) using the power utility system or network as the source.

(II) Synthetic Tests

Consists of two separate sources : one power source acting as a current
source supplying the required short-circuit current at a (relative) low-
voltage level and a second source working as a voltage source supplying
the required voltage.
Based on the fact that for certain (short circuit) tests the test object is
stressed by a high current and by a high voltage at different time periods.
 Tests on Insulator

Test on Insulator

Power Frequency Test Impulse Tests Pollution Testing

Routine and Type test on cables
 According to BS 923: Part 2, IEC 60-2, IEC 55-1, IEC 230 and
BS6480.
 Different tests on cables may be classified into
I. mechanical tests like bending test, dripping and drainage test, and
fire
II. resistance and corrosion tests,
III. dielectric power factor tests,
IV. power frequency withstand voltage tests, (a.c. voltage of 2.5 limes
the rated value for 10 min.)
V. Dc withstand voltage tests, (1.8 times the rated d.c. voltage of
negative polarity for 30 min)
VI. Impulse withstand voltage tests, (withstand five impulse of
prescribed magnitude without any damage
VII. partial discharge tests,