Tuesday 30 October 2012

Home Electrical Insulation Testing

Insulation Testing

A large percentage of testing done on electrical power systems (maybe 80%) is related to insulation testing. Companies like Megger provide equipment to do this.

Background to AC (Mains) Electricity

The current system of AC electricity we have today was devised by Nikola Tesla. His AC electric designs were licensed by entrepreneur and engineer, George Westinghouse.

AC electricity runs normally at 50 Hz (UK, India, China, France, Germany, Italy) or 60 Hz (USA, Canada, Brazil, South Korea). Japan is one country that has both 50Hz and 60Hz due to the conflicting influence of Britain and the United States.

AC vs. DC

This was a cause of great debate in the so-called War of Currents in the late 1880s (Thomas Edison being the foremost proponent of direct current).

Circuit Breakers
 
Electrical switches designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage by overload (excess current causing excess heat) or short circuit (where electricity goes on an unintended path).