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“A Stitch in Time...”

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Values of C at 20°C<br />

60-Hertz<br />

25-Hertz<br />

Tanked oil-filled type 1.5 1.0<br />

Untanked oil-filled type 30.0 20.0<br />

Dry or compound-filled type 30.0 20.0<br />

This formula is <strong>in</strong>tended for s<strong>in</strong>gle-phase transformers. If the transformer<br />

under test is of the three-phase type, and the three <strong>in</strong>dividual w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs are<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g tested as one, then:<br />

E = voltage rat<strong>in</strong>g of one of the s<strong>in</strong>gle-phase w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

(phase to phase for delta connected units and phase to<br />

neutral for star connected units)<br />

kVA = rated capacity of the completed three-phase w<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g under test<br />

Tests Us<strong>in</strong>g Multi-Voltage Megger Insulation Testers<br />

Ma<strong>in</strong>tenance practice trends <strong>in</strong>dicate the value of test<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>sulation with<br />

DC voltages at levels somewhat higher than the peak value of the rated AC<br />

voltage of the equipment be<strong>in</strong>g tested. Such DC tests have <strong>in</strong> some cases<br />

been shown to reveal non-destructively <strong>in</strong>cipient weaknesses <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>sulation<br />

which could not otherwise be found, except possibly by partial discharge<br />

detection at non-destructive AC test voltage levels.<br />

The technique <strong>in</strong>volves the application of two or more DC voltages, and<br />

critically observ<strong>in</strong>g any reduction of <strong>in</strong>sulation resistance at the higher<br />

voltage. Any marked or unusual reduction <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>sulation resistance for a<br />

prescribed <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> applied voltage is an <strong>in</strong>dication of <strong>in</strong>cipient weakness.<br />

It is important to mention that the merits of this technique arise from more<br />

recent <strong>in</strong>vestigations which <strong>in</strong>dicate that rather high DC voltage can be used<br />

to detect weaknesses without damag<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>sulation. The maximum value<br />

of voltage which should be used will depend largely on the cleanl<strong>in</strong>ess and<br />

dryness of the <strong>in</strong>sulation to be tested.<br />

In mak<strong>in</strong>g tests on <strong>in</strong>sulation at such DC voltages, the ohmmeter method<br />

has at least two advantages. First, prescribed fixed voltages are switched<br />

<strong>in</strong>to use, and one <strong>in</strong>strument measurement made with the direct read<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ohmmeter. This is a simple and reproducible method compared to one <strong>in</strong><br />

which many choices of voltage are available. Another important advantage<br />

42<br />

A STITCH IN TIME

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