HI-POT TESTING

What is Hipot testing

Introduction

Hi pot – High potential

Other names

High voltage test

Dielectric test
Basics
Basically the electric current has two potentials
1. High potential
2. Low potential or Zero potential

The electric pressure (potential) is available in between these two

potentials and it is called Voltage.

According to the pressure (potential) the system Voltage is

classified to the different types…

1. Low Voltage (LV or LT) – 110, 230, 415 V

2. Medium Voltage (MV) – 3.3, 6.6, 11, 33 kV
3. High Voltage (HV) – 66, 110, 132, 220 kV
4. Extra high Voltage (EHV) – 400, 500, 765, 800 kV
5. Ultra high Voltage (UHV) – 1200kV
High potential and low potentail

When the two different potentials placed nearer there is

chance for free or excessive flow of electrons from high
potential to low potential the condition is called short circuit.

This excessive flow of electrons in a rapid time will cause a

high temperature raise in the conductor.

Sudden increase of temperature more than the melting level

of the conductor material cause the damage (flash over) to
the conductor.
How to avoid this situation ?

To avoid the flow of electrons from one conductor to

another (i.e from hi to low) the conductors are
separated by a medium called Insulation .

Material used as an insulation

a. PVC combinations
b. Rubber
c. Paper
d. Mica
e. Porcelain
f. Synthetic resin
g. Mineral oil
h. Natural air gap
i. N2
j. SF6
Application of the insulation materials

a. PVC combinations
Domestic wires, Under ground cables,
Home appliances.

b. Rubber
Domestic wires, Under ground cables,
Home appliances.

c. Paper
Motor, Generator and transformer
windings, UG cables

d. Mica
Cables, Electronic components, Home
appliances, Motor, Generator windings.
e. Porcelain
Housing of out door CT, PT, CB, LA,
Isolators, PI, String, strain,
suspension, pin, shackle insulators.

f. Synthetic resin
Molding over the winding of indoor
CT, PT, dry type transformer and
parts of LA, CB and PI.

g. Mineral oil
Coolant and insulation in
transformer, reactor, capacitor,
outdoor CT, PT and CB.
h. Natural air gap
AIS, switch gear busbar, Transmission
line, bus duct

i. N2
Large power transformer before oil
filling, High current bus ducts, large
generators.

j. SF6
GIS, EHV CB, out door CT, PT.

K. Vacuum
VCB, vacuum contactor, vacuum tubes.
Each type of insulation has their own Di electric
strengths.

What is dielectric strength?

Dielectric strength is known as the high Voltage

withstand capacity of the insulation.

What are the methods to asses the insulation level?

a. IR value test or Megger test.
b. Hipot test.
C. Tan delta measurement test.
What is the difference between Megger test and
Hipot test?

hi pot test.mov
Why not the megger test is enough for HV systems?

The portable megger can generate maximum of

5kV.

To asses the dielectric strength insulation we

should apply more than the system Voltage.

In LV systems we can use only megger test.

Because As per IEC/IS 2kV is the dielectric strength

of LV systems.
What IEC/IS standards says about dielectrics?

Any electrical equipment should withstand some test

according to IEC60950/IS.

a. Power frequency withstand test.

b. Impulse Voltage withstand test.

Why these tests are necessary?

Even though the insulation is going to withstand the system

Voltage continuously, there will be a transients occurs in
electric system while…

a. Switching.
b. Opening a large inductive load.
C. Lightning.
d. Closing a large capacitive load.
While transient occurs the systems will experience very high Voltage
which is multifold of the systems rated Voltage.

So the insulation should be capable to withstand such transients

with out failure.

Therefore the insulation is designed to with stand the power

frequency Voltage and Lightning impulse Voltage.

Both of the tests are called type test.

Why it is called type test?

Both of this tests are destructive test, it may reduce the life of
insulation or damage of the insulation.

The equipment can’t be reused after the type test.

But manufacturer produces many number of equipment at a time,
the test is not possible to conduct in all equipments.

So randomly few equipments will be type tested.

Necessity of the Hipot test…

Since the type test done randomly, the hipot test become mandatory
for the electric equipments.

How we do the hipot test?

Already we discussed the insulation is placed between the hi

potential to low potential.

The low potential always grounded in AC system.

To test

The high Voltage should be applied to the hi potential (Phase) and

neutral of the hipot kit shall be connected to the ground of the
systems.
What are the equipments to be tested?

i. HV cables.
ii. HV panel bus bars.
iii. HV bus ducts.
iv. HV circuit breakers.
v. HV motors.
vi. HV generators.

How much Voltage should applied for hipot test?

AC Test Voltage = 2E+1kV

DC test Voltage = AC test Voltage *√2

Example

The system Voltage VL is : 11kV

Then test Voltage is

11x2+1 = 23kV AC for Bus bars, bus ducts

23* √2 = 32 kV DC for cables.

Test duration : 1 minute.

Precautions to be taken!!!

HT panel hipot

1.Hipot test also reduces the age of the insulation so it should not be conducted
frequently or many times in the same system.

2. All support (post) insulators of the panel should be thoroughly cleaned before test.

3. If any surge arrester is available in panel it should be isolated.

4. The capacitor should be isolated from the system.

5. The line PT and bus PT should be isolated from the panel.

6. All CT secondary must be shorted and earthed.

7. All breakers should be in service position and breaker should be “ON”

8. The power cable should be isolated from the panel.

9. The panel should be solidly earthed.

10. The caution tape should be placed in the entire panel.

11. No other work person should be approach the panel while testing.
Test method.

HT panel hipot

1.Do the megger test before hipot and record the value.

2. Connect the hipot kit, the transformer should be placed back side of the panel.

3. The high Voltage terminal (bushing) to be connected to the “R” phase keep in the air with good clearance.

4. “Y” and “B” phase should be shorted and earthed.

5. Keep the control unit away from the transformer unit to avoid electric shock.

6. Apply AC voltage, gradually increase the Voltage to 2E+1.

7. While increasing the Voltage measure the leakage current it should be in steady increment.

8. Once reach the test Voltage note the time.

9. Apply the Voltage for 1 minute.

10. Absorb the noise and corona in the panel.

11. If any abnormal sound or arc occurs slow down the Voltage.

12. Once 1 minute over in clock slowly reduce the Voltage, do not directly switch of the power source of the kit.

13. Sudden switch off will lead the damage to the kit.

14. The leakage current should be noted when the test started and in final.

15. Megger the system after hipot, there should not be a big variation in IR value.
Precautions to be taken!!!

HT Cable hipot

1.The cable should be isolated in both the sides.

2. All three phases should be placed in good clearance from panel and other phases.

3. The sheath must be earthed.

4. One person should be monitor the other side of the cable.

5. Caution tape should be placed.

Test method…

1. Connect hipot kit with Diode.

2. Apply DC Voltage 2E+1*√2 for 1 minute.

3. Apply the Voltage to “R” phase the “Y”B” to connected with sheath and earth

4. Repeat the test for all other phases also.

5. Do the megger before and after the hi pot test.

6. Discharge the cable after test with resistance earthing rod.

Precautions to be taken!!!

VCB hipot

1.The breaker should be drawn out from the panel.

2. The breaker should be earthed with wire.

Test method…

CB open condition

1. Connect hipot kit with AC Voltage.

2. Keep the CB in “OFF” postion.

3. Short the top of all three phases and bottom (R+Y+B+Earth)

3. Short all three phase bottom and apply hi Voltage (R’+Y’+B’+test kit)

4. Measure the leakage current should be minimum and steady.

5. Do the megger before and after the hi pot test.

6. The Voltage should not exceed the calculated value if more the vacuum will fail
Hi pot kit with control unit.