Both the tracking tester and the high voltage tracking tester are test equipment used to detect a certain physical property of insulating materials, but the physical properties they detect are different, so the test standards they are based on are also different. Next, the Standard Group will explain in detail the main differences between the two.

1. Definition Difference

The high voltage tracking tester simulates the use of liquid pollutants and inclined specimens at power frequency (48Hz-62Hz) to evaluate the tracking and corrosion resistance of electrical insulating materials used in harsh environmental conditions through the measurement of tracking and corrosion resistance. Its tracking refers to the continuous degradation of the solid insulation surface due to discharge in local areas and the formation of conductive or partially conductive channels.

The tracking tester simulates whether the conductive substances deposited on the surface of the insulating material by the charged parts of different polarities of household electrical appliances in actual use cause creepage, breakdown short circuit, and fire hazards on the surface of the insulating material, thereby determining its comparative tracking index and tracking resistance index. Its electrical tracking refers to the gradual formation of conductive channels on the surface of solid insulating materials and/or inside the sample under the combined action of electrical stress and electrolytic impurities.

2. Differences in the main national standards

The national standard based on the high voltage tracking tester is GB/T6553-2014 "Test method for evaluating the resistance to tracking and corrosion of electrical insulation materials used in harsh environmental conditions"

The national standard based on the leakage tracking tester is GB/T4207-2012 "Determination method of tracking resistance index and relative tracking index of solid insulating materials"

3. Differences in test principles

The leakage tracking test is to apply a certain voltage between platinum electrodes of specified size (2mmx5mm) on the surface of solid insulating materials and drip a specified drop volume of conductive liquid (0.1% NH 4Cl) at a fixed time (30s) and a fixed height (35mm) on the surface of solid insulating materials. It is used to evaluate the leakage resistance of the surface of solid insulating materials under the combined action of electric field and humid or polluted media and to determine its relative tracking index (CT1) and resistance to tracking index (PT1).

The high voltage tracking test uses liquid pollutants and inclined specimens to evaluate the tracking and corrosion resistance of electrical insulation materials used in harsh environmental conditions through the measurement of tracking and corrosion resistance.

4. Differences in test circuits

The circuit principle of the leakage tracking test is to apply a positive wave voltage to the electrode, which varies between 100V and 600V, with a frequency of 48Hz to 62Hz, and the voltage measurement device indicates a true effective value with a maximum error of 1.5%. The power supply power should be no less than 0.6kVA, and the test circuit diagram is shown in Figure 1. The variable resistor should be able to adjust the short-circuit current between the electrodes to 1.0A+0.1A, and at this current, the voltage drop indicated on the voltmeter should not exceed 10%, and the maximum error of the short-circuit current measurement device is +3%. The input power supply voltage of the test device should be sufficiently stable. When the effective value of the current is 0.5A, its relative tolerance is +10%, and it lasts for 2.00s, the relative tolerance of the device is +10%, the overcurrent should be activated.

The circuit principle of the high voltage tracking test is as follows: Since the test is carried out under high voltage, a safety fence should be used for safe contact, and the circuit composition is as follows.

The power supply frequency is 45Hz~65Hz, and the output voltage can be adjusted to about 6kv and stabilized at +5%. The rated current for each sample should not be less than 0.1A. For the method, the preferred test voltage is 2.5kv, 3.5kv and 4.5kv.

5. Differences in electrode materials used in the test

All electrodes, fixing devices, and assembly parts connected to the electrodes, such as screws, in the high voltage tracking test should be made of stainless steel (for example 302 grade)

The electrodes used in the leakage tracking test should use platinum electrodes with a minimum purity of 99%. There should be a cross-section of (5+0.1) mm between the two electrodes, with a 30°±2° bevel, and the blade of the bevel is approximately a plane with a width of about 0.01mm±0.1mm.

6. Difference in test sample size

Any sample with a very flat surface can be used for the leakage tracking test, as long as the surface is sufficient to ensure that no liquid flows out of the edge during the test.

Note: Although smaller sizes can be used, the recommended flat size should be no less than 30mm*20mm to reduce the loss of electrolyte flowing out of the sample edge.

The sample thickness should be 3mm or thicker, and each material sample can be repeated to obtain a thickness of at least 3mm.

The sample size area of the high voltage tracking test is 50mm*120mm and the thickness is 6mm.

7. Difference in test voltage

The voltage applied between the two electrodes in the leakage tracking test is 100V~600V

The voltage of the high voltage leakage tracking test is 1000V~6000V