Hipot, short for high-potential, is a withstand test in which AC, DC or very low frequency voltage, often twice rated plus 1 kV for low-voltage equipment, is held for a set time while leakage current is watched. Unlike an insulation resistance test it is pass or fail: the insulation either holds or breaks down. Production lines hipot every unit for safety approval, and cable crews hipot new and repaired cables before energising.
Joint passed hipot at 3 U0 VLF for 15 minutes with steady leakage, you can put the cable back in service.
Also heard as
- hi-pot
- high-potential test
- dielectric withstand test
- pressure test
Do not mix it up with
- Insulation resistance test: An insulation resistance test gives a resistance value; a hipot only shows whether insulation survives the test voltage.
Related terms
Insulation resistance test
DC test that applies a high voltage between conductors and earth and reads leakage resistance in megohms.
Megger
To test insulation resistance with a high-voltage DC tester; also the jobsite name for the tester itself.
Partial discharge
Tiny discharge in a void, on a surface or at a sharp edge that never spans the whole insulation, an early sign of decay.