Electrical safety (Hipot) tester functions and application (.PDF Download)
Electrical safety testers—often referred to as “hipot” testers—are an integral part of electrical and electronic equipment manufacturing. Hipot testers get their name from the high-potential (high voltage) they produce to perform dielectric withstand and insulation resistance tests. In addition to these tests, many hipot testers provide accurate low-resistance measurements and low-resistance/high-current outputs to test ground resistance and ground bond integrity. Modern hipot testers utilize electronic source technology to assure compliance with IEC-61010 that explicitly requires that “the voltage test equipment shall be able to maintain the required voltage for the specified period of time.”
Product safety certification
Manufacturers must submit samples of their products to recognized certification agencies. Nationally Recognized Certification Laboratories (NRTLs) include UL, VDE, FM, ETL, and others. The agency certification process is conducted to confirm compliance with the relevant standard(s). This compliance evaluation investigates two key areas:
- Construction: Mechanical construction, spacing, clearances, etc.
- Safety: To assure safe operation (even under high-stress conditions)