COMPARISON OF IMPULSE AND 3 KILOHERTZ SINE WAVE SPARK TESTING,
Abstract
Either the impulse or the high frequency sine wave spark test may be used under properly controlled conditions to match or improve on the results of water tank testing for the product tested. No simple way to determine the actual test voltage acting on the wire insulation over a range of product sizes was found when the annulated electrode was used. Electrode voltage drop was found to be a marked function of the D/d ratio, insulation material, insulation thickness, and wire centering in the electrode. Voltage drop across the air space in the contact (bead chain) electrode was found to be low compared with the voltage applied to the insulation when test voltages of at least 4000 volts RMS were used in the high frequency sine wave test. Strict control of both operator performance and spark test equipment performance is necessary to insure that the retest fault level in the finished product is below that which would be achieved in the water tank test. The quality of the product is much higher when a properly controlled spark test is substituted for the water tank test because of the elimination of undetected adjacent layer burns caused by failures in the water tank test. No indication of product damage due to repeated spark testing was found. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0660225
Entities
People
- Henry H. Clinton
- Thomas W. Stewart