What Is Dielectric Test & How It Works?

What Is Dielectric Test & How It Works?

Industries that utilize high voltage equipment have to perform routine and regular checks. The purpose behind the checks is to examine the condition of their machine. In order to prevent any type of risk, Dielectric Testing of materials is used by the industries as insulators. Dielectric testing is a type of testing which is generally used to ensure that the industrial materials will meet the Electrical Safety Testing Standard.

Dielectric Test (DT) is a test that measures the highest voltage required to induce a dielectric breakdown in a component or material being used as an insulator. It is also popularly known as the Dielectric withstand test, and hi-pot test. Dielectric testing in Alberta is used by the industries as a non-destructive method of introducing an electrical current into an insulated component. The test helps them to determine the ability of the component to protect against electrical current.

Performance:A dielectric test is a well-known test that can verify the performance headroom of the insulation. The test helps to ensure that the insulation will not fail due to the insulation degradation from wear due to vibration, moisture, aging, or other reasons. It is a simple method of verifying the capability of electrical insulation to bear up transient events.

It is one of the most important factors to select an epoxy for different potting and encapsulation applications, conformal coating, in the electronic and electrical industries, where electrical insulation properties in perfect condition are a must.

The dielectric test is one of the most common types of electrical safety test used to measure leakage current It is an essential part of product safety evaluation that provides the manufacturers appropriate information regarding the insulation system choose by them.

Voltage level:Usually dielectric testing use AC voltage. In the dielectric test, the level of voltage is generally adjusted on the basis of environmental conditions to which the final product will be subjected. This test applies a high level of AC (alternating currents) or DC (direct currents) to the insulation barrier and also measures the material reaction.

Industries use higher dielectric test voltage for equipment that is located where the environmental conditions are severe. This test typically involves applying a higher than normal voltage. When such voltage is applied to the components it helps to detect any leaks or current flaws through the insulation.

If the insulation tested remains intact even under the impact of high test voltage, at such time the equipment is considered safe to use under normal operating conditions.

Such a type of test helps the industries to verify whether the insulation of a component perfectly protects the users from electrical shock or not.

Test results:A dielectric test usually measures the fail voltage at weak spots caused by the dielectric effects of any kind. As per the experts of Dielectric testing in Alberta, when the test voltage is too low, the material of the insulation will not be effectively stressed during the test. This allows the inadequate insulation to pass the test. While on the other side, when the test voltage is too high, the results of the test can permanently damage the material of the insulation that is or else adequate for the application.