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Home / Technical Articles / The Most Important Tests For Medium Voltage Metal-Enclosed Switchgear (You SHOULD Perform)

Electrical Switchgear Testing

The design of the insulation system for metal-enclosed switchgear is based upon life expectancy of about 30 years. However, environmental conditions such as dirt, moisture, and corrosive atmosphere can shorten the design life.

The Most Important Tests For Medium Voltage Metal-Enclosed Switchgear You MUST Perform
The Most Important Tests For Medium Voltage Metal-Enclosed Switchgear You MUST Perform

Moisture combined with dirt is the greatest deteriorating factor for insulation systems because of leakage and tracking, which will result in eventual failure. Therefore, it is important to maintain the switchgear insulation and to chart the condition of the primary insulation system by routine testing.

The electrical switchgear may be tested with AC or DC voltage to check the condition of the insulation of switchgear and circuit breakers. Before conducting any other tests, an insulation resistance test (by Megger) should always be conducted first to determine if it is safe to conduct other HV tests.

Also when testing circuit breakers, it is important to check the condition of the circuit breaker contacts and circuit breaker operating mechanism to assure that the circuit breaker is opening and closing as designed.

These tests are listed and discussed as follows:

  1. Insulation resistance test
  2. DC or AC hi-pot test
  3. Power factor or dielectric loss test
  4. Circuit breaker contact resistance test
  5. Circuit breaker time–travel analysis test

1. Insulation Resistance Measurement Test

The insulation resistance measurement test may be conducted on all types of electrical switchgear using the insulation resistance megohmmeter commonly known as the MEGGER.

The Megger S1-5010 is shown in Figure 1 that may be used to perform this test.

Megger S1-5010 for making insulation resistance tests. (a) Megger S1-5010; (b) Megger S1-5010 being used in the feld.
Figure 1 – Megger S1-5010 for making insulation resistance tests. (a) Megger S1-5010; (b) Megger S1-5010 being used in the feld.

The insulation resistance test consists of applying voltage (600–10,000 V DC) to the apparatus to determine the megohm value of resistance. This test does not indicate the quality of primary insulation.

Several factors should be remembered when performing this test:

The first is that this test can indicate low values of insulation resistance because of many parallel paths.

The other is that an insulation system having low dielectric strength may indicate high resistance values. In view of this, the test results should only be interpreted for comparative purposes. This does not indicate the quality of the primary insulation system from the point of view of dielectric withstandability.

The connection diagram for making this test on a power circuit breaker is shown in Figure 2.

When performing insulation testing, it is recommended that auxiliary equipment, such as potential transformers and lightning arresters, be removed from the stationary switchgear.

Typical connection for insulation resistance test of circuit breaker in open position
Figure 2 – Typical connection for insulation resistance test of circuit breaker in open position

Insulation resistance tests are made with the circuit breaker in open and closed position, whereas the insulation test for the switchgear bus is made with one phase to ground at a time, with the other two phases grounded.

The procedure for this test is as follows:

  1. Circuit breaker open: Connect HV lead to pole 1. Ground all other poles. Repeat for poles 2 through 6, in turn, with other poles grounded.
  2. Circuit breaker closed: Connect HV lead to pole 1 or 2, as convenient, with either pole of phase 2 and 3 grounded. Repeat for phases 2 and 3 with other phases grounded.
  3. Stationary gear (buses): Connect HV lead to phase 1 with phases 2 and 3 grounded. Repeat the same for phases 2 and 3 with other phases grounded. Also, perform IR tests between phase 1 and 2 with phase 3 grounded, phase 2 and phase 3 with phase 1 grounded, and phase 3 and 1 with phase 2 grounded.

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2. High-Potential (Hi-pot) Test

DC Hi-Pot Test

The DC hi-pot test is normally not made for AC electrical switchgear and therefore may be considered only when AC hi-pot cannot be performed.

The hi-pot testing of switchgear involves testing of the circuit breakers and switchgear buses separately. This is a major test and determines the condition of the insulation of the switchgear assembly.

The DC hi-pot test is not preferred for testing AC switchgear because the application of DC voltage does not produce similar stress in the insulation system as is produced under operating conditions. Moreover, the DC hi-pot test produces corona and tracking owing to concentration of stress at sharp edges or end points of buses.

The corona and tracking are more pronounced in older equipment, and it is therefore recommended that DC hi-pot testing be avoided on such equipment. The test procedures for DC hi-pot testing are similar to those of AC hi-pot testing.

If DC hi-pot testing is to be performed, the DC voltage test values shown in Table 1 are recommended for various voltage-class equipment.

Table 1DC Hi-Pot Maintenance Test Values

Rated operating voltage1 min. DC test voltage
2401,600
4802,100
6002,300
2,40015,900
4,16020,100
7,20027,600
13,80038,200
23,00063,600
34,50084,800

The hi-pot test should be conducted under conditions similar to those of commercial testing.

The switchgear should be wiped, cleaned, and restored to good condition before the hi-pot test is conducted. Temperature and humidity readings should be recorded and the test reading corrected when conducting DC tests.

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AC Hi-Pot Test

This test should be conducted separately for circuit breakers and switchgear buses (stationary gear). It should be made only after the DC insulation resistance measurement test has been passed satisfactorily and all cleanup has been finished.

The AC test will stress the switchgear insulation similarly to the stresses found during operating conditions. The maintenance test voltages should be 75% of final factory test voltage.

These values are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 – Hi-Pot Test Values

Rated Operating VoltageAC Factory Proof Test (V)AC Test Maintenance Values (V)
2401,5001,130
4802,0001,500
6002,2001,650
2,40015,00011,300
4,16019,00014,250
7,20026,00019,500
13,80036,00027,000
14,40050,00037,500
23,00060,00045,000
34,50080,00060,000

Hi-pot tests are made with the circuit breaker in both open and closed positions. The hi-pot test should be the last test conducted after all repairs have been made, cleanup is finished, and the insulation resistance test has been successfully passed.

Typical connection for hi-pot test for circuit breaker in closed position
Figure 3 – Typical connection for hi-pot test for circuit breaker in closed position

Procedures for the hi-pot test of the circuit breaker are as follows:

  1. The test connection for the hi-pot test is as shown in Figure 3.
  2. Circuit breaker in open position:
    Connect HV lead to pole 6. Ground all other poles. Repeat for poles 1 through 5, in turn, with all other poles grounded. Apply the desired high voltage in each case in
    accordance with Table 2.
  3. Circuit breaker in closed position:
    Connect HV lead to pole 1 or 2 or phase 1 as convenient with either pole of phases 2 and 3 grounded. Repeat for test for phases 2 and 3 with other phases grounded.
  4. Stationary gear (buses):
    Connect HV lead to phase 1 as convenient with phases 2 and 3 grounded. Apply the recommended voltage. Repeat the test for phases 2 and 3 with other phases grounded.

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3. Power Factor Testing

The power factor testing of an insulation system is useful in finding signs of insulation deterioration. The absolute values of power factor measured have little significance.

However, comparative analysis of values from year to year may very well show insulation deterioration. Therefore, when a power factor test is made, it should be made under the same conditions of temperature and humidity. If differences exist in the temperature and humidity from year to year, this should be taken into consideration when evaluating the test data.

Generally, higher temperature and humidity result in higher power factor values. As a general rule, only the air circuit breaker bushing should be power factored, and the arc chutes, operating rods, and so on, should be disconnected when conducting this test.

A significant change, especially an increase in watts loss or percent of power factor indicates deterioration, which should be monitored.

As a general rule, a power factor below 1% indicates good insulation. Any value above 1% warrants investigation.

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4. Circuit Breaker Contact Resistance Measurement Test

Stationary and moving contacts are built from alloys that are formulated to endure the stresses of electrical arcing.

However, if contacts are not maintained on a regular basis, their electrical resistance due to repeated arcing builds up, resulting in a significant decrease in the contact’s ability to carry current. Excessive corrosion of contacts is detrimental to the breaker performance.

One way to check contacts is to apply DC and measure the contact resistance or voltage drop across the closed contacts.

The breaker contact resistance should be measured from bushing terminal to bushing terminal with the breaker in closed position. It is recommended that for MV and HV the resistance test be made with 100 A or higher DC. The use of a higher current value gives more reliable results than using lower current values.

The resistance value is usually measured in microohms (µΩ). The average resistance value for 15 kV class circuit breakers is approximately between 200 and 250µΩ. Several companies make good, reliable microohmmeters to perform this testing.

One such instrument is the Megger DLRO 200. It can generate test currents from 10 to 200 A and can measure resistances ranging from 0.1µΩ to 1 Ω.

The Megger DLRO 200 is shown in Figure 4.

Megger DLRO 200
Figure 4 – The Megger DLRO 200-115 High Current Digital Low Resistance Ohmmeter, 200 Amp is designed to check and measure contact resistance in high voltage circuit breakers, disconnecting switches (isolators), busbar joints, or for any low resistance measurement

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5. Circuit Breaker Time-Travel Analysis

This test is usually performed on MV and HV circuit breakers, usually 34 kV and above, to detect problems in the breaker operating mechanism.

This test can be conducted with a mechanical or electronic time–travel analyzer.

Today, the electronic time-travel analyzers are replacing the old mechanical time–travel analyzers. With either analyzer information on the breaker operating mechanism is provided in form of charts or graphs which can be used to assess the mechanical and electrical condition of the breaker.

There are eight tests that are usually conducted on the breaker with the circuit breaker analyzer. These tests are:

  1. Closing time and opening time,
  2. Contact bounce,
  3. Opening and closing synchronization,
  4. Closing and opening speed (velocity and displacement),
  5. Trip operation,
  6. Trip-free operation,
  7. Close operation, and
  8. Trip-close operation.

1. Closing and opening time

In the example below, the closing time of the contacts is shown to be 31.4 ms (phase A), 30.2 ms (phase B), and 31.8 ms (phase C).

ParametersValueUnit
001 Close time A31.4ms
060 Bounce time A0.0ms
001 Close time B30.2ms
060 Bounce time B1.1ms
001 Close time C31.8ms
060 Bounce time C0.8ms
010 Diff time A – B – C1.6ms
016 Cls speed8.40m/s

Also closing times of a breaker can be viewed in a graph form as displayed in Figure 5.

Graph showing closing time of contacts of a breaker
Figure 5 – Graph showing closing time of contacts of a breaker

2. Contact bounce

If we expand the x-axis in Figure 5, we can actually view the contact bounce associated with the above breaker operation as shown in Figure 6.

It is clear to see that there is 0.8 ms bounce associated with the contact movement in phase C. These series of contact bounces can be compared with future tests to see if there is any degradation to the actual mechanism associated with breaker contacts.


3. Opening and closing synchronization

The breaker opening and synchronization can be viewed as a group, i.e., the operation of all three phases together for breaker open and close cycle.

This information will indicate whether the breaker contacts open and close together or how far apart the three-phase contacts are relative to each other during the close and open cycle as shown in the example below.

The normal maximum time difference between all three phases should not be more than 2 ms for most breakers.

ParametersValueUnit
010 Diff time A – B – C1.6ms

The synchronization of a breaker is defned as the time difference between the fastest and slowest phase (contact make and break) during the breaker open and close operation.

Graph showing contact bounce of a breaker
Figure 6 – Graph showing contact bounce of a breaker

4. Total opening and closing speed

All breakers have specific speed, opening and closing times. Therefore, it is important that breakers operate within their opening and closing time.

For example, if a breaker is slow to open due to ageing or degradation, it may compromise the protection and coordination scheme of the protective relays, and thereby cause unwanted power interruption and equipment damage.

Further, all breakers have specified closing speed which is defined as the average speed calculated between two defined points on the motion curve as indicated below.

ParametersValueUnit
016 Cls speed8.40m/s

These two points will be specified by the breaker manufacturer and define where to set both points for accurate speed measurements.

For example, they will define the first point to be set to a distance above the open position and a distance below the upper point where the contact motion stops as indicated below.

Upper pointLower point
Distance above open position: 80.0 mmDistance below upper point: 20.0 mm
Distance below open position: 10.0 mmDistance below upper point: 10.0 mm

5. Trip operation

The trip operation of a breaker is another name for an open operation. Most utility companies and plant owners want to perform a trip (or open) operation to monitor the speed of the opening mechanism and contacts to make sure there is enough energy in the spring mechanism to open under a fault condition.

The graph for a trip is similar to the one for a close operation, except the motion of the mechanism is going in the opposite direction, i.e., from closed contacts to fully open position as seen in Figure 7

Graph showing speed of the contacts opening for trip (or open) operation of a breaker
Figure 7 – Graph showing speed of the contacts opening for trip (or open) operation of a breaker

6. Trip-free operation

This operation simulates the condition when an open breaker is closed into a fault and then it is tripped free by a protective relay.

Trip-free is an operation where the breaker contacts are in the open position and the breaker is operated to perform a close–open sequence. In this operation, the breaker is closed and then immediately sent a control command to open.

This operation confirms whether a breaker, if closed into a fault, can clear it.

The graph for a trip-free operation is shown in Figure 8 below.

Graph showing trip-free operation of a breaker
Figure 8 – Graph showing trip-free operation of a breaker

7. Close operation

This test is performed to verify a breaker’s closing mechanism. The graph for close operation of a breaker is shown in Figure 9 which is similar to the graph of Figure 5.

Graph showing close operation of a breaker
Figure 9 – Graph showing close operation of a breaker

8. Trip-reclose operation

In this test, the reclose operation of the breaker is checked to assure that the breaker closing time is within specified limits after a trip operation. The reclose time is measured either in milliseconds or cycles.

The trip-reclose operation of the breaker is shown in Figure 10.

Graph showing trip-reclose operation of a breaker
Figure 10 – Graph showing trip-reclose operation of a breaker

The problems usually detected with this test are faulty dashpots, faulty adjustments, weak accelerating springs, defective shock absorbers, buffers and closing mechanisms, or broken parts.

This test should be performed during acceptance tests and then during maintenance tests about every 3 years.

The breaker opening and closing parameters can easily be measured with a Megger Programma EGIL breaker analyzer or its equivalent manufactured by other vendors. The EGIL is designed to test MV breakers that have a common operating mechanism and a single break per phase.

All three phases can be tested at the same time giving both individual phase timing and combined measurements for all three phases. The EGIL analyzer is shown in
video below.


Learn How to Conduct Circuit Breaker Testing


Circuit Breaker Timing Test

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Reference // Electrical Power Equipment Maintenance and Testing by Paul Gill

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More Information
author-pic

Edvard Csanyi

Electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP. Highly specialized for design of LV/MV switchgears and LV high power busbar trunking (<6300A) in power substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. Professional in AutoCAD programming.

20 Comments


  1. Tony Stewart EE since '75
    Jan 21, 2024

    I would also encourage PD detection during AC hipot rather than simply leakage current. This can be done to PDIV threshold , non-destructively.


  2. Tony Stewart EE since '75
    Jan 21, 2024

    Don’t you think dynamic arc and static resistance are more critical CBM tests?


  3. Gangadhara BH
    Oct 04, 2023

    Good Info


  4. hariom sharma
    Apr 05, 2023

    Very useful information for power engineers for testing MV/LV swichgear system particularly the CBs.It will definitely improve knowledge of the reader


  5. Ken williams
    Nov 11, 2022

    Very good reading and information, i am a field engineering service manager in medium voltage .


  6. Hasan
    Oct 08, 2022

    Thanks a lot for useful description.


  7. Mohamad younes
    Sep 01, 2021

    hi
    I’m an electrical engineer i found your site very important and usefully, I’d like to see video about testing switch-gear totally


  8. Rodolfo Osuna
    May 12, 2021

    It’s information is very good,, but I have one question.. you never mentioned if this tests are affected for hight over sea (msnm)… I would like to know more about this…thks so much


  9. Steven Alley
    May 02, 2021

    Does anybody got a good megger test sheet for 480 volt breakers in the racked out position? I think its with the breaker open Megger 1-4 2-5-3-6 at 500 volts. Closed its 1,2,3, to ground. I’m sure theirs more, I was just wanting a good test sheet for meggering a 480 volt breaker in the racked out position on a bench. Any help would be greatly appreciated.. .


  10. Jose Lus Villanueva
    Apr 07, 2021

    Este plan de pruebas esta realizado en base a que NORMAS ??? NEMA; ANSI ; IEE; IEC


  11. Srijan
    Apr 01, 2020

    What about auto-trip operation?


  12. Roel Galo
    Feb 02, 2020

    For reference


  13. Ibrahim Said
    Jan 22, 2020

    Thank you , its very good doc. but I have some comment
    1- Hi pot test DC and AC values are very high need equations
    2- Power factor measurements need more clarification its the same PI %.
    3-Circuit breaker timing test values its very low , Please support and send the refrance .
    Thank you so much


  14. Puneet Katara
    Dec 14, 2019

    This is very usefull for a power plant engineer. Pls provide such more knowledge about various transformer tests,relay tests, switchgear tests & other important test for a solar power plant & their method also. This is very helpfull for us.
    Thanks


  15. Santosh Purushottam Patil
    Dec 11, 2019

    Sir
    Please pdf download


  16. Henry
    May 07, 2019

    Excellent info, thanks


  17. Muneeb Islam
    Apr 26, 2018

    The average resistance value for 15 kV class circuit breakers is approximately between 200 and 250µΩ

    WHAT IS THE BASIS FOR THIS?


  18. Luis Pablo Murillo R.
    Mar 28, 2018

    Hello
    Thanks for the article. Regarding switchgear, a client ask me if it is possible to connect a voltage relay in the capacitive sensor that comes in each cubicle for voltage presence. The problem is in one switchgear that does not have VT.
    I guess it is not posible due to the power capability of these sensor and transients. Thanks.


    • Alek
      Jan 19, 2023

      Hi, you can try to use sensors which are compatible with the device as CAPDIS?


  19. HUMAYUN AKHTAR
    Mar 28, 2018

    PLEASE SEND ME THE DETAILS

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