The phrase hipot test means high potential or high voltage test. Another name used to refer to this test is dielectric withstand test. This is an analysis of electrical components that is done with the intention of checking for suitability of electrical insulation. The analysis is meant to ensure that there is no current leakage from one point to another in electrical devices. It is the opposite of continuity test. This is worth knowing about Hipot tester.

Hipot testing is supposed to be nondestructive to determine the adequacy of electrical insulation. The testing is high-voltage and it is applied to all electrical devices for a given period of time so as to ensure that the insulation is not marginal. The process involves the application of high amounts of voltage to the insulation.

The reason for the process is to detect the presence of nicked or crushed insulation in a device. It also enables the identification corrosive or conductive contaminants, stray wire strands, and braided defensive around conductors. Tolerance mistakes in cables and troubles in terminal spacing can also be diagnosed easily by using hipot testing. Voltage that is used on this system is commonly two times more than the operating voltage.

Hipot testing is usually conducted using hipot analyzers. A typical tester usually connects one side of the supply to safety ground. The second side of the supply gets connected to the conductor that need to be tested. In this arrangement, there are only two kinds of contact to which conductors can be connected, that is, the ground and voltage.

In the situation there exist two contacts for which connection is needed, then a person must connect one to the ground while the other one to the voltage. This type of connection is vital. It makes sure that contacts are isolated from other forms of contacts. A small current will flow from one conductor to the other when a massive voltage is applied when the insulation placed between the two conductors is not adequate.

Even though the flow of such a small current is usually acceptable, a breakdown of solid or air insulation is not supposed to occur in any case. High voltage is usually used in these tests because it is believed that any product is usually subjected to normal day-to-day transient over voltages. As such, in case such variations in voltages occur during the day, the product is supposed to remain operational and safe.

There are different standards that are usually observed when conducting this analysis. The various standards require the voltage to be applied for different amounts of time. Under the IEC 06950, the analysis is supposed to be continued continuously for a duration of one minute. However, a typical rule of thumb is to apply 110 to 120 percent of operating voltage of the product plus 1000 volts for 1 to 2 seconds.

Specifications for the quantity of current which an individual should apply also exist. Many types of different testers which a person can purchase easily exist in the current market. Varying testers are designed for varying categories of products. Therefore, knowing the tester to apply for specific applications is vital.