By sion932 
In the power system, high-voltage switches are like “heart valves” guarding the brightness and warmth of thousands of households, and every precise “beat” of them is related to the stability and safety of power transmission. But have you ever been curious about how these behemoths ensure that they can work reliably every time, instead of “falling off the chain” at critical moments? Today, let’s unveil the mysterious veil of the high-voltage switch tester together and see how it actually safeguards the safety of the power grid.
Unveiling the Veil: What is the Sacred Nature of High Voltage Switch Testers?
Simply put, a high-voltage switch tester is an instrument specifically designed to test the electrical performance of high-voltage switch equipment. It is like a “health checkup doctor” for high-voltage switches, evaluating whether the key indicators of the switch equipment meet the standards during operation through a series of professional electrical measurements. These indicators are directly related to whether the switch can act quickly and accurately when needed, and maintain stability under various complex working conditions.
Why do high-voltage switches need to undergo a physical examination?
Although high-voltage switches are well-designed, their performance gradually deteriorates over time due to various factors such as environment, load, and aging during long-term operation. for example
Decreased insulation performance: Moisture, dust, aging, and other factors can all lead to a deterioration in the performance of insulation materials, increasing the risk of discharge.
Mechanical performance degradation: Wear and poor lubrication of the operating mechanism may result in slow or inadequate movement.
Poor contact of contacts: Arc erosion, oxidation, etc. can affect the conductivity of contacts, increase resistance, and cause overheating.
If these subtle changes are not detected and handled in a timely manner, they may cause equipment failures and even lead to large-scale power outages. HVHIPOT Power Technology Co., Ltd. has been deeply involved in this field for many years and understands the importance of high-voltage switch testing.
What are the factors that affect the “health” of high-voltage switches?
Operating environment: Temperature, humidity, and degree of atmospheric pollution can all affect the insulation and mechanical performance of equipment.
Load characteristics: Frequent opening and closing actions, as well as loads of different current levels, can cause losses to contacts and mechanisms.
Maintenance situation: Regular cleaning, lubrication, fastening and other maintenance work are key to extending equipment life and ensuring performance.
Equipment aging: As the service life increases, the performance of the material itself will also deteriorate.
Doctor’s toolbox: The essential skills of high-voltage switch tester
The high-voltage switch tester is not just a “diagnostic” method, it has a complete “toolbox” that can evaluate the status of high-voltage switches from different dimensions.
Insulation resistance test: This is one of the most fundamental and important testing items. By measuring the resistance between the live parts of the switch and the casing, determine whether the insulation is good. The value of insulation resistance test directly reflects the integrity and dryness of the insulation material.
Dielectric loss test (tan δ): This technique can provide a more in-depth assessment of the degree of degradation of insulation materials. Insulation media will experience losses under alternating electric fields, and the tangent value (tan δ) of this loss angle is an important indicator for measuring insulation quality. The abnormal increase in dielectric loss testing often indicates the possibility of partial discharge or moisture intrusion inside the insulation.
Partial discharge detection: This is a powerful tool for diagnosing subtle defects inside insulation. During the operation, there may be small defects inside the insulation material, which can cause weak discharge phenomena, namely partial discharge, under the action of an electric field. Partial discharge detection can capture these weak signals and detect potential insulation breakdown risks in advance.
Resistance test of closing/opening circuit: The contacts of the high-voltage switch are the key points through which current passes. If the contact is poor, it will generate a large resistance, causing local overheating and affecting the conductivity. The circuit resistance test is to measure the resistance value of the contact in the closed state to ensure smooth conductivity.
Operational characteristic testing: This involves the mechanical action of the switch. Including measuring the time of closing and opening, bouncing situation, and operating energy. Operational characteristic testing can evaluate whether the movement of the switch mechanism is flexible, fast, and reliable.
How can we “use” these tools effectively after understanding the “essential skills”?
HVHIPOT Power Technology Co., Ltd. reminds you that in order to fully utilize these testing instruments, you need to pay attention to the following points:
Professional operators: Although the instrument itself is advanced, operators need to have solid electrical knowledge and rich practical experience in order to correctly connect the instrument, set parameters, and accurately interpret measurement results.
Following standard procedures: Various tests have corresponding national standards or industry specifications, and strict adherence to the procedures is necessary to ensure the accuracy and comparability of data.
Comprehensive analysis: A single test result may not be sufficient to comprehensively determine the equipment status. It is necessary to combine multiple test data, equipment operation history, and on-site environment for comprehensive analysis in order to make accurate diagnosis.
Prevention first, maintenance second: The ultimate goal of testing is to “cure the disease”, and more importantly, to reduce the occurrence of faults through early detection and prevention.
Correlation and Extension: Testers and Grid Safety
The application of high-voltage switch testers is closely related to the safety of the power grid in the power system.
Preventing equipment failures: By conducting regular inspections, potential equipment hazards can be identified and addressed in a timely manner, thereby avoiding power outages caused by equipment failures.
Ensuring the stable operation of the power grid: A reliable power system cannot operate without the stability of every link. As a key node, the stability of high-voltage switches directly affects the smooth operation of the entire power grid.
Improve maintenance efficiency: Accurate detection can guide maintenance personnel to carry out maintenance more effectively, avoid blind maintenance, and save time and costs.
How can we do better?
Intelligence and automation: Future high-voltage switch detection will be more intelligent. By combining big data analysis, artificial intelligence and other technologies, we can achieve online monitoring and intelligent diagnosis of equipment, truly achieving the goal of “being prepared for the future”.
Integrated testing: Integrating multiple testing functions into one instrument to simplify the operation process and improve work efficiency.
Remote diagnosis and data sharing: By establishing a unified device health management platform, remote transmission and sharing of test data can be achieved, facilitating expert consultations and improving diagnostic capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What should I do if the measurement results of the high-voltage switch tester are abnormal? A1: Please carefully check whether the test connection is correct and whether the operation steps comply with the regulations. If the instrument itself and operation are correct, it may indicate that there is indeed a potential problem with the high-voltage switchgear. It is recommended to immediately contact professional technicians for further detailed inspection and maintenance. HVHIPOT is your trusted partner.
Q2: Why are there differences in insulation resistance values measured at different times or locations? A2: The insulation resistance test results are affected by various factors such as environmental humidity, temperature, and equipment surface cleanliness. Usually, the measurement results are higher in a dry and clean environment. So, when comparing data, it is necessary to consider these environmental factors.
Q3: How does the dielectric loss test (tan δ) work? A3: Simply put, dielectric loss testing measures the ratio of the loss current in phase with the voltage to the capacitive current at 90 ° of the lead voltage in the current flowing through the insulation material by applying an alternating voltage. This ratio is tan δ, which can reflect the degree of deterioration of insulation materials.
Q4: What should be paid attention to in the maintenance of high-voltage switch tester? A4: The instrument needs to be calibrated regularly, kept clean, and pay special attention to the insulation of the probe and connecting wires. Avoid prolonged use in harsh environments and perform daily maintenance according to the instructions.
Q5: I am an ordinary user, do I need to know about high-voltage switch testers? A5: As the “behind the scenes heroes” of the power system, high-voltage switches and their “health check-up doctors” – testers – are important links in ensuring our electrical safety. Understanding their working principles helps us better understand the reliability of power systems and value daily knowledge of power safety.