What is the High Potential Test (HIPOT)?
Hipot Test is short name of high potential (high voltage) Test and it is also known as Dielectric Withstand Test. A hipot test checks for “good isolation”. Hipot test makes surety of no current will flow from one point to another point. Hipot test is the opposite of a continuity test. Continuity Test checks surety of current flows easily from one point to another point while Hipot Test checks surety of current would not flow from one point to another point (and turn up the voltage really high just to make sure no current will flow).
The Importance of HIPOT Testing
The hipot test is a nondestructive test that determines the adequacy of electrical insulation for the normally occurring over voltage transient. This is a high-voltage test that is applied to all devices for a specific time in order to ensure that the insulation is not marginal.
Hipot tests are helpful in finding nicked or crushed insulation, stray wire strands or braided shielding, conductive or corrosive contaminants around the conductors, terminal spacing problems, and tolerance errors in cables. Inadequate creepage and clearance distances introduced during the manufacturing process.
When voltage is applied across an insulation system, part of the current leaks into, through, and around the insulation. During high-voltage direct current testing, capacitive charging current, insulation absorption current, insulation leakage current, and bypass current are all present to varying extents.
The production-line hipot test, however, is a test of the manufacturing process to determine whether the construction of a production unit is about the same as the construction of the unit that was subjected to type testing. Some of the process failures that can be detected by a production-line hipot test include, for example, a transformer wound in such a way that creepage and clearance have been reduced. Such a failure could result from a new operator in the winding department.
Experiments and research have shown that these over voltages can be as high as 1000 V.
Figure 1 – Hi-Pot test is a contraction for high potential HV testing
Video: HIPOT Test After Repair Generator
Test method for HIPOT Test
Hipot testers usually connect one side of the supply to safety ground (Earth ground). The other side of the supply is connected to the conductor being tested. With the supply connected like this there are two places a given conductor can be connected: high voltage or ground.
When you have more than two contacts to be hipot tested you connect one contact to high voltage and connect all other contacts to ground. Testing a contact in this fashion makes sure it is isolated from all other contacts.
If the insulation between the two is adequate, then the application of a large voltage difference between the two conductors separated by the insulator would result in the flow of a very small current. Although this small current is acceptable, no breakdown of either the air insulation or the solid insulation should take place. Therefore, the current of interest is the current that is the result of a partial discharge or breakdown, rather than the current due to capacitive coupling.
Time Duration for HIPOT Test
The test duration must be in accordance with the safety standard being used. The test time for most standards, including products covered under IEC 60950, is 1 minute.
A typical rule of thumb is 110 to 120% of 2U + 1000 V for 1–2 seconds.
Current Setting for HIPOT Test
Most modern hipot testers allow the user to set the current limit. However, if the actual leakage current of the product is known, then the hipot test current can be predicted. The best way to identify the trip level is to test some product samples and establish an average hipot current. Once this has been achieved, then the leakage current trip level should be set to a slightly higher value than the average figure.
Another method of establishing the current trip level would be to use the following mathematical formula:
E(Hipot) / E(Leakage) = I(Hipot) / 2 × I(Leakage)
The hipot tester current trip level should be set high enough to avoid nuisance failure related to leakage current and, at the same time, low enough not to overlook a true breakdown in insulation.
Test Voltage for HIPOT Test
The majority of safety standards allow the use of either ac or dc voltage for a hipot test. When using ac test voltage, the insulation in question is being stressed most when the voltage is at its peak, i.e., either at the positive or negative peak of the sine wave.
For example, for a 1500-V-ac voltage, the equivalent dc voltage to produce the same amount of stress on the insulation would be 1500 x 1.414 or 2121 V dc.
Advantages and Disadvantages of use DC Voltage for Hipot Test
One of the advantages of using a dc test voltage is that the leakage current trip can be set to a much lower value than that of an ac test voltage. This would allow a manufacturer to filter those products that have marginal insulation, which would have been passed by an ac tester. When using a DC hipot tester, the capacitors in the circuit could be highly charged and, therefore, a safe-discharge device or setup is needed.
However, it is a good practice to always ensure that a product is discharged, regardless of the test voltage or its nature, before it is handled.
It applies the voltage gradually. By monitoring the current flow as voltages increase, an operator can detect a potential insulation breakdown before it occurs. A minor disadvantage of the dc hipot tester is that because dc test voltages are more difficult to generate, the cost of a dc tester may be slightly higher than that of an ac tester.
The simple series circuit path of a local defect is more easily carbonized or reduced in resistance by the DC leakage current than by AC, and the lower the fault path resistance becomes, the more the leakage current increased, thus producing a “snow balling” effect which leads to the small visible dielectric puncture usually observed.
Since the dc is free of capacitive division, it is more effective in picking out mechanical damage as well as inclusions or areas in the dielectric which have lower resistance.
Figure 2 – High potential (Hi-Pot) DC testing guidelines for medium voltage cables
Advantages and Disadvantages of use AC Voltage for Hipot Test
One of the advantages of an ac hipot test is that it can check both voltage polarities, whereas a dc test charges the insulation in only one polarity. This may become a concern for products that actually use ac voltage for their normal operation. The test setup and procedures are identical for both ac and dc hipot tests.
A minor disadvantage of the ac hipot tester is that if the circuit under test has large values of Y capacitors, then, depending on the current trip setting of the hipot tester, the ac tester could indicate a failure. Most safety standards allow the user to disconnect the Y capacitors prior to testing or, alternatively, to use a dc hipot tester.
The dc hipot tester would not indicate the failure of a unit even with high Y capacitors because the Y capacitors see the voltage but don’t pass any current.
Thumb Rules for HIPOT Testing
- Only electrically qualified workers may perform this testing.
- Open circuit breakers or switches to isolate the circuit or Cable that will be hi-pot tested.
- Confirm that all equipment or Cable that is not to be tested is isolated from the circuit under test.
- The limited approach boundary for this hi-pot procedure at 1000 volts is 5 ft. (1.53m) so place barriers around the terminations of cables and equipment under test to prevent unqualified persons from crossing this boundary.
- Connect the ground lead of the HIPOT Tester to a suitable building ground or grounding electrode conductor. Attach the high voltage lead to one of the isolated circuit phase conductors.
- Switch on the HIPOT Tester. Set the meter to 1000 Volts or pre decide DC Voltage. Push the “Test” button on the meter and after one minute observe the resistance reading. Record the reading for reference.
- At the end of the one minute test, switch the HIPOT Tester from the high potential test mode to the voltage measuring mode to confirm that the circuit phase conductor and voltage of HIPOT Tester are now reading zero volts.
- Repeat this test procedure for all circuit phase conductors testing each phase to ground and each phase to each phase.
- When testing is completed disconnect the HIPOT Tester from the circuits under test and confirm that the circuits are clear to be re-connected and re-energized.
- To PASS the unit or Cable under Test must be exposed to a minimum Stress of pre decide Voltage for 1 minute without any Indication of Breakdown. For Equipment with total area less than 0.1 m2, the insulation resistance must not be less than 400 MΩ. For Equipment with total area larger than 0.1 m2 the measured insulation resistance times the area of the module shall not be less than 40 MΩ⋅m2.
Safety precautions during HIPOT Test
During a HIPOT Test, There may be at some risk so to minimize risk of injury from electrical shock make sure HIPOT equipment follows these guidelines:
- The total charge you can receive in a shock should not exceed 45 uC.
- The total hipot energy should not exceed 350 mJ.
- The total current should not exceed 5 mA peak (3.5 mA rms)
- The fault current should not stay on longer than 10 mS.
- If the tester doesn’t meet these requirements then make sure it has a safety interlock system that guarantees you cannot contact the cable while it is being hipot tested.
For Cable:
- Verify the correct operation of the safety circuits in the equipment every time you calibrate it.
- Don’t touch the cable during hipot testing.
- Allow the hipot testing to complete before removing the cable.
- Wear insulating gloves.
- Don’t allow children to use the equipment.
- If you have any electronic implants then don’t use the equipment.
Suggested Guide – Fault Finding Solutions Guide by MEGGER
Hello Team,
I need information about the Hi-Pot range and testing method for SPD devices. I am a bit confused about whether it is necessary to remove low-rating components before performing this test, as per the IEC 60950 standard.
DEAR SIR,
I WANT DETAILS OF HI POT TEST& WHO IS MANUFACTURING THIS QUALITY INSULATION POWDER IN INDIA.
MY MOBILE NUMBER IS 9560278850 , EMAIL [email protected]
REGARDS
TN DUBEY
Than you for the informative topic
Is the test time 1 minute or 1 to 2 seconds?
Dear sir,
We are manufacturing LT control panels. We are taking HV at 2.2 KV 60 sec.
Please let me know how to set leakage current value.
Is leakage current value depending upon class of insulation. or there is any formula or standard chart available for leakage current values
Dear Engr.Jignesh,
As a specialist in distribution energy theft detection can you mentor me in this particular area so as to curb the menace of energy theft. I work with a meter manufacturing firm and an outsource for some power utility companies in Nigeria.
Regards.
In testing power supply can we test Hipot test
With Input earth to – ve oputput and withstand 2500 va for 1 minute ,(20 ma ).
Dear Sir,
Can you tell me, what could be the reason of a DC Hipot to show negative kV reading.
What is the duration for Hipot testing?
DEAR SIR,
IF THE MOTOR OPERATING VOLTAGE IS 1000V, WHAT SHOULD BE THE VALUE OF SURGE TEST VOLTAGE AND HI-POT TEST VOLTAGE? IT IS OK TO DO SURGE TEST AT 2500V ( 0 PEAK ) AND HI-POT TEST AT 3000V ( PER PHASE / GROUNDING ) FOR 1 MIN ?
AND WHY NEED SURGE AND HI POT TEST ? CAN WE DO ONLY HI POT TEST AT HIGHER VOLTAGE ?
Dear Sir
We are the leading manufacturer of low voltage polymeric standoff insulators, we are doing HIPOT test @1.5KV for 1-2 seconds, is this method is correct as per IEC60950-1
Kindly send me the both standards.
Thank you
is there any Indian standard for hippo test
dc test voltage is under root 2 (or 1.414) times the ac test voltage, so the value of the dc voltage is equal to the ac voltage peaks.
but in actual we can find out the DC voltage of an AC power supply by using the formula VAC/√ (2), where VAC is the AC voltage. In other words, you can take the AC voltage and divide it by the square root of 2 to find the DC voltage. For example, if the AC power source has 120 V, then your formula would be 120/√ (2) = 84.85 V in a DC signal
so DC is less than AC voltage. which is just opposite to what I read in this article.
pls explain it
they said about amount of dc voltage that can create the same same stress at insulation, it is not ac to dc conversion.
the point is to stress insulation at the same level by using ac or dc. this means dc must be higher.
Thanks for info.
I would ask for the frequency set up in ac hipot, what is the criteria?
What meaning of Hipot test and what size of cable gis and so on …
Hello sir,
Please tell me the voltage injection formula for AC/DC HIPOT TEST for both cables and bus bar
Hi,
Please check or correct me if I am wrong. You have mentioned in the starting of this Article that, A hipot test checks for “good isolation.” I think it is “good insulation”.
I am following this website for more than two years. Very informative and useful. Keep going. Exploring more.
Thank you.
Hi Sir, I cannot find this in the IEC 60950-1 document (As per IEC 60950, The Basic test Voltage for Hipot test is the 2X (Operating Voltage) + 1000 V). May you please specify exactly the IEC 60950 edition where we can find hi pot test voltage computation.. thank you
Sir,
is there any mathematical formula or criteria or standard that need to follow to know
if the leakage is within the acceptable limits???
Hello sir,
Please tell me the voltage injection formula for AC/DC HIPOT TEST for both cables and bus bar.
Hi sir I have a doubt
Now I am injecting Dc voltage at diode
How to calculate half wave and full wave
Proper reason you have 1.414 why using this valve
Any another valve to calculate dc voltage
Diode inside any process I mean PDS to dc or dc to PDS something exact I don’t know
Please this question answer anyone have please share me
I CARE ABOUT ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND CODES
if any one wants to get complete slides about iec 60502-1 hi-pot test for low voltage cables
and iec 60502-2 hi-pot test for ht cables my email edress [email protected]
Dear sir request if you can share the iec 60502-1 thank you in advance
Kindly send me slides and procedure.
Thanks in advance.
Please send the High Voltage test details
Dear Sir,
Please share the is code for Hogh voltage with stand test for Switchgear panels and Cables.
Thanks & Regards
Ravi
What is the value of 33 kv and 11 kv cables.
We design a cct to operate a mechanical relay ON & OFF the one AC line. Do we need a HIPOT test for this unit.
What is the permissible leakage current value for a 11kv cable.If there any formula for calculating leakage current
Hello sir,
which IS Standard Refer for DC High-pot Testing for Following Test.
The majority of safety standards allow the use of either ac or dc voltage for a hipot test.
When using ac test voltage, the insulation in question is being stressed most when the voltage is at its peak, i.e., either at the positive or negative peak of the sine wave.
Therefore, if we use dc test voltage, we ensure that the dc test voltage is under root 2 (or 1.414) times the ac test voltage, so the value of the dc voltage is equal to the ac voltage peaks.
For example, for a 1500-V-ac voltage, the equivalent dc voltage to produce the same amount of stress on the insulation would be 1500 x 1.414 or 2121 V dc.
one of our client had require IS standard for DC High-pot Testing.
Let me know if you have any query.
Regards,
Jaimin panchal
NS Engineers, Ahmedabad, Gujarat- India.
+91 7600096685
could you please help me, I need the standard that contains the relation used above, or at least full name of standard and issuing date.
Does anyone have information on how medium voltage shielded cables (new installation) installed outdoors can build capacitance charge in open air? The cables run underground; one end comes up (parallel feed) the steel structure of a switch-yard, and the other end to a utility wooden pole and are braced to a cross-arm – The 15kv terminations are installed and left to be tested on both ends.
Hello
The rule of thumb for duration of hipot testing 1-2 seconds. Is that descripted in a standard like IEC 60950?
assume 33kv cable
What voltage I can applied in cable(Dc voltage) through HI-POT kit?
What voltage I can applied in bus bar(Ac voltage ) through HI-POT kit?
for AC = 2*(Operating Voltage)+1000V – for 1 Minute
for DC = 2*(Operating Voltage)+1000V * 1.414 – for 1 Minute
I wanted to notify you that Shrikant Kajale (Kajale Projects) has copied and pasted your article and posted on LinkedIn pretending he wrote it. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hipot-testing-dielectric-strength-test-space-power/
Please let me know why we are using DC hi pot in Cables and AC hi pot in Bus Bars
nice
Hi,
If i have a High Voltage DC operated device to perform Hipot Test, what type of voltage we should use?
DC or AC?
PS: I have 5 Electrolytic Caps connected in parallel to the input terminals
If a1.6 /1.2 KV transformer primary is connected tob1.6 KV and secondary is connected to 1kv sources what happens
In the section regarding current setting for the HIPOT test, the current trip level is set as 2x the scaled up value of the rated leakage. It appears that the 2x is just to reduce trips since the real part of the test is arcing and breakdown. Is that correct?
Can we measure Partial discharge while doing AC Hipot test.
What is the difference in measuring leakage current and partial discharge while performing Dielectric tests.
What is the allowable leakage current during hipot test
why we have to use DC Voltage For Hi-Potential Test? do we have any strong reason ?
Dear Sir,
Is there any Standard for the amount of allowable leakage current during the High-Pot testing of Switchgears?. For Eg. We have 33kV GIS Switch Gear(2 Verticles) and during High Pot Testing (A/C) whether a leakage current of 20-25mA is acceptable or not ?
50mA is generally allowable. Depends upon the testing kit we can set 10,20mA respectively
Hi Sir,
I want to know HI-POT testing charges for below spec
Part Name – Bus Bar
Voltage – 1KVDC
Part Length – 380mm
Width – 15.24mm
Thick – 2mm
Quantity – 20,000 Pieces
Regards
Anbu
Considering high-pot testing is somewhat distractive specially for old and existing electrical equipment, what do you recommend as an alternative test for high-pot testing?
It means your installation should be renovated with new cables and apparatus.
Dear Sir
Pl let us know what is the limit of leakage current while doing Hi-POT test for cable and HT busbar
1. At what max KV we can go HI POT for CAT 5E cables?
2. Enlist requirement to make 2KV HI POT tester for cable harness ranging from 1 M Length to 20 M length
3. Approximate cost.
4. Any special care required for operators while handling this test?
5. Please provide details for safety/controls/special tool requirement/mating parts requirement while performing HIPOT test for cable harness.
6. This can be done on both types of cables? shielded and un-shielded?
7. Approximate what will be the total time required to conduct 2 sec HIPOT test for cable having approximate length of 2 M and connector at both ends?
8. provide supplier details who make this type of tester.
As per IEC 60950, The Basic test Voltage for Hipot test is the 2X (Operating Voltage) + 1000 V
Please send standard or part of this standard where support this assertion.
according to this standard for a 5K cable is applied as hom
hipot dc surges tester are equal?????
and dc withstand
Hi Sir,
I’m design inductance coil, I need perform hipot test for 60sec under low current limit 0.7mA and upper current 5.0mA with load voltage test range 2.5kV, test voltage 0.5KVac Now my problem is i market return unit fail hipot but during lab test without load the unit pass hipot using test range 0.5KVac and leak current only 0.01mA…Pls help
Siva
Your question is not very clear.
Hipot test are very simple depending what you are testing.
hi,
I need to the test sheet for hi pot test for 20 kv cable & bus duct and 6 kv motors.
thank you
12/20(24)||U0/U(Um)-
Test voltage to be 50kV dc
Hossein
It is easy, go on spread sheet, design your sheet.
Applied voltage Duration Result ie in Ohm’s valve
Dear Sir,
Pl suggest me for the voltage range apply for HV test for high rating UPS like 100kva to 600kva
Vinod
The test voltage always depend on what your testing.
It dosen’t matter 100 KVA or 600 KVA power, but what is
equipment voltage.
for examlpe UPS is for 125V then you can go upto 500V Testing.
What settings do you set the Fluke Multimeter to? I’m trying to capture check for leakage and record the results in mA. Any help would be appreciated!
If I get less value in IR test after hi-pot then before hi pot what could be the reason.
Usual problem, but still I am not cleared…If there is any acceptable leakage current value is there during Hi-pot test, please share with us.. In modern day test kit, we could find many options, 25mA, 50mA, 75mA… I heard, insulation should not get breakdown or kit should not trip. I kept in 25mA option and it is tripped, but same way I kept it in 100mA, and it is not tripped. I am sure it is less than 100mA. But I need to know what is the acceptable range of leakage current.
Dear sir
What are the drawbacks of injecting DC voltage( for testing purpose) in Gas Insulated Switchgear. what is the limitation.
Dear Jignesh,
If I need to test Hipot test with the product. Do we need to test Hipot test before Functional test or after Functional test? Why?
Is there a conversion from DC microamps to AC microamps?
Hello sir
What is the difference between high voltage test and insulation resistance test
And how class of equipment decide
Dear Mr. Jignesh Parmar,
We have a new AC Hipot equipment for our instrument transformers 5kv, 15kv, 35kv. My question: Is there a table of all different voltages of transformer and the voltages to apply to hipot transformer.
Thanks alot for this very usefull idea
Dear Mr.Jigner,
Nice info sir,
If i want to do DC Hipot testing for panel 6 kv, this panel contains cable 6 kV, VCB, Busbar, PT, CT, Surge Absorber, and etc.
Before perform hipot test for this panel, i’m open fuse on the PT and draw off VCB. Surge absorber, CT, and busbar still connecting to cable.
is it right?
I gave 13,5 kV for 10 mins and the leakage current is 500ms. Is it cause by i’m not disconnecting the surge absorber?
Nice work for engineer to learn.
Neatly explained, step by step. Nice job .Keep it up Jigneshji
Dear Jignesh,
Please send me the details for Lightining Arrestor testing method and for the capacitor banks used in HV/MV ( 60KV/30KV) network and if you dont mind the all the test that shall be done in commissionning phase for power transformer, GIS, and LV switchgear
thanks a lot
Dear Jignesh,
Please send me the details for Lightining Arrestor testing method and the Earth resistance value for LA ( Used for building protection). Also is it possible to have damage in Electrical lighting DB by lighting stricke or Surge form HT lines as we observed one HT fuse blown during lighting stricke and electrical burningh in LDB.
JP, excellent! I had an Indian EE friend in America. He worked in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra states of India before coming to America for M.S in EE. A very nice friend of mine then in mid1990’s. I know how the hi-pot test works and the setup. Please include the test equipment diagram in your paper. Also, I don’t see someone from your group side to be responding to the comments put out by the readers? Why is that? Another things is that your query down below like 6 x three = ? That’s 6 is in digit and three non-digit, could be questionable in some where down the line. It has to be all in digits, not?
Shaukat Ali : 6 x Three types questions are to block spam programs imitating humans and flooding the website. Normally a spam is not supposed to recognize such thing, and will not be able to proceed further.
Dear Jigu,
I want an insulation for instrumentation purpose from readily available insulation polymers that can be molded which has very low leakage in the range of femtoamps, I am basicaly interested in measuring current in that range, Operating voltage is in the range of 300Vdc to 1000v DC. what would be the best test in this range and which insulation can be used.
Im curious to how you came up with the rule of thumb for the test voltage. I looked at the IEC spec and couldnt quite figure it out. please advise
Dear sir,
pl send solar motar caulation excel sheat.
Your article of hipot is very good and easy to digest, I would like to contact you to ask some direction to solve an issue. We are seeing VSWR large spikes in coaxial at 2.5 GHz and wonder if the standard concept of a hipot can be applied by changing the frequency of the ac (60 GHz) to other frequency as the one of the VSWR, in the range of 2 – 8 GHz and if will be possible see the physical issue (sparks) in the conductor or overlap of dielectric or the shield. Based in our calculation we can correlate the periodicity in inches of the spikes
we have a cantractor and they wanna start this test according to iec60502-2 standard but this standard talk about cable. i wanna know procedure of hipot test for panel busbar
hi,i have a question?
we want to start hipot test for panel busbar in sub station,how we do it?
purpose of fault indication and advantages.
If we use core balance current transformer for earth fault protection then do we need to connect S2 terminal of CBCT to the ground terminal .Please send me some pictures of circuit diagrams of cbct +efr for earth fault protection.
this website is very very helpful to electrical engineers………………………
thank you,
Sir,
Can I make my self 30 Kv DC HI-POT set for Cable testing. If possiblethat, then can me provied circuit daigrame or components name also.