Do’s and don’ts when measuring insulation resistance of a

transformer
electrical-engineering-portal.com/measuring-insulation-resistance-transformer

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Do's and Don'ts When Measuring Insulation Resistance Of A Transformer (photo credit: sonel.pl)

Insulation Resistance Measurement

This test is performed at or above rated voltage to determine if there are low resistance paths to ground or between
winding to winding as a result of winding insulation deterioration. The test measurement values are affected by
variables such as temperature, humidity, test voltage, and size of transformer.

This test should be conducted before and after repair or when maintenance is performed . The test
data should be recorded for future comparative purposes. The test values should be normalized to
20°C for comparison purposes.

The general rule of thumb that is used for acceptable values for safe energization is 1 MΩ per 1000 V of applied test
voltage plus 1 MΩ. Sample resistance values of good insulation systems are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 – Typical Insulation Resistance Values for Power and Distribution Transformers

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 Transformer Winding Voltage (kV) Winding Ground (MΩ)

22°C 30°C 40°C 50°C 60°C

6.6 400 200 100 50 25

6.6 – 19 800 400 200 100 50

22 – 45 1000 500 250 125 65

≥ 66 1200 600 300 100 75

Test procedures //

The test procedures are as follows:

1. Do not disconnect the ground connection to the transformer tank and core. Make sure that the transformer tank
and core are grounded.
2. Disconnect all high voltage, low voltage, and neutral connections, lightning arresters, fan systems, meters, or
any low voltage control systems that are connected to the transformer winding.
3. Before beginning the test, jumper together all high voltage bushings, making sure that the jumpers are clear of
all metal and grounded parts. Also jumper together all low voltage and neutral bushings, making sure jumpers
are clear of all metal and grounded parts.
4. Use a megohmmeter with a minimum scale of 20,000 MΩ.
5. Resistance measurements are then made between each set of windings and ground. The windings that are to
be measured must have its ground removed in order to measure its insulation resistance.
6. Megohmmeter reading should be maintained for a period of 1 min. Make the following readings for two-
winding transformers:

1. High-voltage winding to low-voltage winding and to ground

2. High-voltage winding to ground
3. Low-voltage winding to high-voltage winding and to ground
4. Low-voltage winding to ground
5. High-voltage winding to low-voltage winding

The connections for these tests are shown in Figures 1a through e and 2a through e for single-phase and three-phase
transformers, respectively. Megohmmeter readings should be recorded along with the test temperature (°C).

The readings should be corrected to 20°C by the correction factors shown in Table 1.

NOTE! If the corrected field test values are one-half or more of the factory insulation readings or
1000 MΩ, whichever is less, the transformer insulation system is considered safe for a hi-pot test .

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 Figure 1 – Test connections for insulation resistance of a single-phase transformer. Note: In figure (e) reverse the L and E leads to measure
from high-winding to low-winding

For three-winding transformers, test should be made as follows //

High to low, tertiary and ground (H-LTG)

Tertiary to high, low and ground (T-HLG)
Low to high, tertiary and ground (L-HTG)
High, low, and tertiary to ground (HLT-G)
High and tertiary to low and ground (HT-LG)
Low and tertiary to high and ground (LT-HG)
High and low to tertiary and ground (HL-TG)

Do not make the megohm test of the transformer winding without the transformer liquid because the values of
insulation resistance in air will be much less than in the liquid.

Also, do not make the insulation resistance test of the transformer when it is under vacuum because of the possibility
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of flashover to ground.

The test connections shown in Figure 2a, c, and e are most frequently used. The test connections in Figure 2b
and d give more precise results. The readings obtained in the connections in Figure 2a and b are practically equal to
readings in test connections in Figure 2c and d, respectively.

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 Figure 2 – Test connections for insulation resistance of a three-phase transformer

Where:

1. Connection for high winding to low winding to ground;

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 2. Connection for high winding to ground and low winding guarded;
3. Connection for low winding to high winding to ground;
4. Connection for low winding to ground and high winding guarded;
5. Connection for high winding to low winding.

Acceptable insulation resistance values for dry and compound-filled transformers should be comparable to those for
Class A rotating machinery, although no standard minimum values are available.

Oil-filled transformers or voltage regulators present a special problem in that the condition of the oil has a marked
influence on the insulation resistance of the windings.

In the absence of more reliable data the following formula is suggested:

IR = CE / √ kVA

where //

IR is the minimum 1 min 500 V DC insulation resistance in megohms from winding to ground, with other
winding or windings guarded, or from winding to winding with core guarded
C is a constant for 20°C measurements
E is the voltage rating of winding under test kVA is the rated capacity of winding under test

Values of C at 20°C
60 Hz 50 Hz

Tanked oil-filled type 1.5 1.0

Untanked oil-filled type 30.0 20.0

Dry or compound-filled type 30.0 20.0

This formula is intended for single-phase transformers. If the transformers under test is one of the three-phase type,
and the three individual windings are being tested as one, then:

E is the voltage rating of one of the single-phase windings (phase to phase for delta connected units and phase
to neutral or star connected units)
kVA is the rated capacity of the completed three-phase winding under test.

Power Transformer Testing (VIDEO)

Measuring DC winding resistance and checking the tap changer.

Reference // Electrical power equipment maintenance and testing by Paul Gill (Purchase hardcopy from Amazon)

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