Archive for July, 2009
Hipot Electrical Safety Tests
Hipot is an abbreviation for high potential. Traditionally, Hipot is a term given to a class of electrical safety testing instruments used to verify electrical insulation in finished appliances, cables or other wired assemblies, printed circuit boards, electric motors, and transformers. The term Hypot is a trademark for hipot testers made by Associated Research.
A Hipot [...]
Notes to Keep in Mind when Purchasing Hipot Testers
Hipot testers are electrical safety test devices that perform electrical compliance tests. Within the general category of electrical safety testing are a variety of equipment types that are specifically designed to test for electrical compliance. The individual equipment defines the kind of test performed. Types of measurement performed by hipot testers include AC dielectric strength, [...]
Performing Safe And Accurate Hipot Testing in a Production Environment
Performing a routine product safety test should not in itself represent a shock hazard to the test operator. Yet, when working with an energized circuit, an operator must be aware of the hazards involved in performing the test and take the necessary safety precautions. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements [...]
Investigating the Need for Hipot Testing
In an industry comprised of workers with varying electronics knowledge, a Hipot test can seem a daunting task for some. Indeed, many test operators and quality assurance supervisors, having never been trained in electrical engineering, have difficulty understanding the principles and setup of the test itself. Naturally, the mere mention of the more specific Hot [...]
Electrical Safety Testing for Photovoltaic Cells and Panels
There are several standards that cover various aspects of photovoltaic module testing, including the following:
UL 1703, Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels
IEC 61730, Photovoltaic (PV) module safety qualification
IEC 61215, Crystalline silicon terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design qualification and type approval
IEC 61646, Thin-film terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) modules – Design
UL 1703 and IEC 61730 are the basic [...]