NO copy UNLEss Designation: D 149 - 97a (Reapproved 2004) Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials at Commer Frequencies* L. Seope 11 This test metbod covers procedures for the determina tion af dielectric stength of solid: insulating materials at commercial power frequieneies, under specified ewnitions, 1.2 Unless otherwise specilie, the tests shall be made at 60 He, However. thy fest method! may be used at ny frequency fiom 25 ta SHO Hz. At frequencies aboue 800 Hz, dilectr heating may’ be a problem, 1.3 This test method! is intended be used in conjunetion with any ASTM stanlard or ether docuanent that refers to this fest method Referenees t this document should specify the panticular options to be used (see $.5), TA Ie may be used at various temperatures, and in any LS This test method is not intended for measuring. the trials that ane Aud under the eondl- Surtable gaseous or liquid surround Aiclectrie strength of m 1.6 This test method is not intended For use in determining intrinsic dielectric strength, direet-volt dlicleetrie strength, ‘or thetmmal failure under electrical stress (see Test Method bash. LT This test method is most commonly used to dete the dielectric breakdown voltage through the thickness oF at specimen (puncture), Ie may alse be used to determine diclee- tie breakdown voltage along the interface between a solid specimen and a gaseous or Fiquid surrounding median (lash: VyTIEDL AucrIeaD NeeHERy TOF Hern, * Conshohorken Pai tse made by the Gs Alarvor Drvve, hus copy ts Fmoretion Mutastey af Ben AUT | Power ‘overt, With the addition of instructions modfyin this test metho! may’ be used for proot testing LX This test method is similar ta IEC Publication 243-1. Atl procedures in this mscthod are inehuded in HEC M31. Diller Section 12, fences hetween this method and IEC 243-1 are largely editorial L9 Phi standard does not purport tu askivess all uf the safety concerns, jf ans, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard 61 establish appro priate safety and health practices aad determine the applica bility of regulatory: limitations prior ta use. Specie hazand statements are given in Section 7, Also see 6b. 2. Referenced Documents, 2. ANTAL Standards: D374 Test Methods for Thickness of Solid Elecite Ins fation D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Vesting D877 ‘Test Method or Dielectric Breakdown Volt Insulating Liquids Using Disk Electrodes D ITIL Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation 2413 Practice for Preparation of Insulating Paper and Board Impregnated with a Liquid Dieletric 3151 Test Method for Thermal Failure of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials Under Eleetrie Stress D487 Specification For Mineral Insulating Oil Used in Electrical Apparatus 1D S423 Specification for Forced-Conveetion Laboratory Ovens for Flectrical Insulation 2.2 HEC Standard. Pub. 243-1 Methoxls of Test for Klectrical Stet Part 1: Tests at Powe Insulating Materials Frequencies" sess ANDRE Har By tao a Sten ob A Sr MetrotngsNO COPY UNLESS AUTHORIZED fl 0 149 ~ 97a (2004) 2A ANST Shoreland CORT “Techniques tor Dieleetie Tests, EEE Standard No. 3 Ter LL Definitions BALL aiclecie vofage toccurs under prescribed conditions in an electrical insuting nutri located between vo elvetrodes, (See also Append Xl BLN Disewssion rvaklown the potential differenve at which diekectre failure breakdown voltage telectre The teem cielectric breakdown voltage ws sometimes shortened 10 “breakdown volta 312 dieleemie falune trader resi), nea -event that is evideneed by an increase in conductance in the diclectie under test Tinting the electric field that can be sustained 3.1.3 svlecirec srengah, nthe voltage gradient at whieh ing mate Aiolecteie failure oF the insula ‘occurs une spe calle conditions of test, RAM elev steel BEAL Discussion ater used almost universally RUS flashover, a surface of electrical insulation or in the surrounding meslium, which may or may not cause permanent damage 10 the sve dielovtrie strength, ional ‘electric strength" is 4 disruptive electrical discharge at the 1.16 or definitions of other terms relating to solid insult ing onaterials. rotor 10 Terminology D 17H 4. Summary of Fest Method 41 Alternating voltage at a commercial power frequency’ (0 Hx, woless otherwise specified) is applied to a test specimen, The voltage is increased rom zeto oF from a level ‘well bolow the breakdown vokage. in one of three preseribed methods of voltage application, until diclectrie failure of the test specimen occurs 4.2. Most commonly. the test voltage is applied using simple test electrodes on opposite faces of specimens. The specimens hay be molded or east, or eut from Mat sheet oF plate, Other clectrode and specimen eonfigurations may be used to accom, ruwlate the geometry of the Sample for to simulate a specific application for whieh the material is being evaluated Siguiticanee and Use 5.1 The dieleeiie strength of an electrical insulating mate ial is a property of intevest for amy application where an clectical field will be present, In many eases the dielectric strength of 9 material will be the determining factor in the of the apparatus in which it is to be used 52 Tests made as spevified herein may be used 10 provide port uf the information needed fr determining suitabibity of & ‘material fora given application; an also, for detceting changes or deviations ftom normal characteristics resulting from pt cessing variables, aving conditions, or other manufacturing or environmental situations. This test method is usetil For process ‘conte esearch testing 5.3. Results obtained by this test method ean seklom he used alirctly © determine the dielectric behavior of misters! i actual applivation, I most eases it is necessary tha these results be evaluated by comparison with results obtained fivnt ‘thee Functional tests oe from tests on other materials, oF bot, in onler to estimate thei significance Jor a particular material Sef Thave methods for voltage application are speciied in Section 12: Method A, Short-Timne ests Method 1h Step-by Step Test; and Method €., Slow Rate-of-Rise Test, Method is the most commonly-used test Far quality-conteol tests, Hos ver, the longer-time tests, Methods BF and C, whieh usual Wve more manna esas will give lower test results. say when differ 1 test set with motor-driven voliage control is slow rate-of-rise testis simpler and preferable to the step-by step test. The results obtained from Methoxs 1 anil C are comparable to each other it materials are being compared with eaeh other. I alae, the 5.5 Documents specifying the use of this test method shall also specify: 5.5.1 Method of voltage application, 55.2 Voltnge rate-ofrise, if slow rate-oFrise metho is specified. 5.5.3 Specimen selection, preparation, and conditioning 5.5.4 Surrounding mediums and temperature during tes 53.3 Electro 5.5.6 Wherever possible, the failure criterion ofthe current sensing element, and 5.5.7 Any desired deviations fom the recommenced proce dures as given 5.6 [any ofthe requirements listed in 5.5 are missing from the specifying document, then the recommendations for the several variables shall be followed. 5.7 Unless the items listed in 5.5 are speviicd tests mae with such inadequate reference 19 this test method! are not i ceonformanee with this test method, [Fthe items listed in 5.5 are rot closely controlled! during the test, the precisins stated in 15.2 and 18.3 may not be realized 5.8 Variations in the fiilure eriteria (current setting and response time) of the current sensing element significantly alfeet the test ress 5.9 Appeniix XI, contains a more complete discussion of the significance of dieleetrie strength tests 6. Apparatus, 6.1 Fatage Some Obtain the test vollage eum step-up transformer supplied front a variable sinusoidal low-vol source. The transformer, its voltage source, an! the assed controls shall have the following capabilities: GALT The ratio of rest to rolmean-square (rms) test voltage shall be equal 10/2 5% (ILM to 148), with the all voltages greater than SO test specimen inthe viet, of the breakdown voltage 6.12 The capacity oF the source shall be sullicient 1 ‘maintain the test voltage until ielecuie breakalown occurs, Foe most materials, sing electrodes similar to thse shown Talble 1. an output current capacity of 40 am’ is ust satisfactory ‘opye@ot Amertenn Soniety tor ‘esting ane Matenain ASTM 10 Harbor Drive, West Conthabocken, PA 19128 Unis 81 aw copy fae been male by the Buresv of Stasi Snaneetian Bin ym MetroingsXo (fp 0 149 - TABLE 1 Typical 1 Opposing ends ST ra (2 in} acer 8 mn UP WY NSA sto drm (025 1m) ra veo as vowed 3.2 mm 125 1h) ernaphorea! elecodes 127 mm (05 9m arene {0.601} hek e upper ne 29 mm (1h dome £6 he woh eae tbh did 9 nen 012-0 vo” ‘ogpseng era lt ta, 180 nator 10 mem ck wh “Thase aodes ae tare mos cron peo hed a aerced RASTA Sania ince syste fer or Man stface mateal Other eicrodes maybe used me epesiog ASM sandr agreed upon Gece sce a pe = er meters maybe sed. provid tl pats othe est specimen tea ‘ive ype Teectode, 98 doscibad ta table md Note oe hose pen Festing bigh-loss materials, higher eureent capacity may be needled. The power rating for most tests will vary front 0.5 kVA, for testing low-capacitanee specimens at voltages up to 10 KV, tw 5 RVA for voltages up 1 100 KV 6.1.3 ‘The controls on the variable low-voltage source shall be capable of varying the supply voltage and the resultant test voltage smoothly, uniformly, and without overshoots wr tran- sents, in aecordanee with 12.2. Do not allow the peak veltage to execed 148 times the indicated mis test voltage under any cireumsianee. Motordriven controls are preferable for makings short-time (see 12.2.1) or slow-rate-of-tise (sve 12.2.3) tests, 6a se with a citeuit breaking device that will operate within thrce eycles, The device shall disconnect the veltage-source equipment from the power setvice and protect it from overload as a result of specimen bresksown causing an overload of the testing apparatus, It prolonged current follows breakdown it will result in nnec= essary burning of the test speeimens, piling of the electrodes, and contamination of any liquid surrounding medium, 6.1.5 The eireut-brcaking device should have an adjustable ccurrent-sensing element in the step-up tansformer secondary, to allow for adjustment consistent with the specimen char teristics and arranged t© sense specimen eutrent, Set the sensing clement to respond toa current that is indicative oF specimen breakdossn a8 defined i 12.3, 6.1.6 ‘The current setting can have a signifigant effect on the test results. Make the setting high enough that transients sich as partial discharges, will nor tsp the breaker but not so high that excessive burning ofthe specimen, with resaltant electrode damage, will occur on breakdown, The optimum current seiting is not the same for all specimens and depending upon the intended use of the material and the purpose of the test it may be desirable to make tests on a given sample at more than ‘Vopyright American Soclety for Texting Harbor Drive, West Conshohorken Ts eopy five boon mode by thy Niwastre of Rew COPY U. VLESS AUTHORIZE 97a (2004) rodes for Dielectric Strength Testing of Various Types of insulating Materials” trrheotn ei ane encapsulating mater te 1s Whe exception of Type 8 Weares, ra ae hax panna Supe eating ated ele to the sgprgnat standard othe a eres appa Wy ta wpe slecragenceenbly Unies otervite apecied he wer eects sa be $0 fone curreat setting. The electrode area may have a significant elfect upon what the current setting should be. G.1.7 The specimen current-sensing element may be in the primary of the step-up transformer. Calibrate the curient sensing dial in terms of specinen current, 6.1.8 Pxervise core in setting the response oF the eutrent control. IF the control is set too high, the eirewit will not respond wten breakdown occurs; if set 100 low, may’ respond to Teakaye currents, capacitive currents, oF partial diselarg (corona) currents oe. when the sensing to the step-up transformer magnetizing current 62 Toltage Measurement—A voltmeter must be provided for measuring the rms test voltage. A peak-reading voltmeter muy be uscd, in which ease divide the reading by \/2 t pet rns values, The overall eror of the vollage-measiring citeut shall not exe of the measured value, In adition, response time of the voltmeter shall he sich that its tine la will not be greater than 1% of full seale at any rate-al i loment is located in the used 6.2.1 Measure the voltage using a volimeter oF potential transformer connected to the specimen ek trodes, oF 6 a separate volimeter winding, en the test transtonmer, that is lunalfected by the step-up transformer loading, 6.22 his desirable forthe reading ofthe maximunn applied test voltage to be retained on the voltincter after breaks so that the breakdown voltage ean be acca ind 6 corded 6.3 Electrodes -For a given specimen canfiguration. the dielectric breakdown voltage may vary considerably. dept ing upon the geometry and! placement of the test ekctrodes. For this feason itis important that the eleetrodes «0 he wsed be this test method, snd that they be deseribod when specify Aleseribod in the report Materials CASTHD,100 fr PA 19128 Hest Stoves af os > Bass or Be Metrotezy