15 
ground of the test machine or by applying a grounded cable to 
the phase bus bars. 
 
If a failure of a vacuum bottle should incur during the integrity 
test, the test procedure should be reviewed and the pole 
piece cleaned. Failure rates for vacuum bottles is 0.0007 per 
field unit.  
 
Note the voltage level at failure on the first test; then perform 
a retest on the phase pole piece. If the pole piece passes the 
retest, the vacuum bottle is acceptable - STOP
STOPSTOP
STOP. If the test fails 
again but at a higher voltage level than was observed in the 
first test. Clean the pole piece and retest. If a failure of the 
integrity test occurs a third time, consider the vacuum bottle 
to have lost vacuum and replace the complete pole piece as 
described under Repair of Interrupter Assembly. 
 
CAUTION: MANY DC HIGH POTENTIAL MACHINES ARE 
HALFWAVE RECTIFIERS.  THIS TYPE OF HIPOT TESTER 
MUST NOT
NOTNOT
NOT BE USED TO TEST VACUUM INTERRUPTERS. 
THE CAPACITANCE OF THE POWERVAC BOTTLES IS VERY 
LOW AND THE LEAKAGE IN THE RECTIFIER AND ITS DC 
VOLTAGE MEASURING EQUIPMENT IS SUCH  THAT THE 
PULSE FROM THE HALFWAVE RECTIFIER MAY BE IN THE 
NEIGHBORHOOD OF 120 kV WHEN THE METER IS 
ACTUALLY READING 40 kV.  IN THIS CASE, SOME PER- 
FECTLY GOOD BOTTLES CAN SHOW A  RELATIVELY HIGH 
LEAKAGE CURRENT SINCE IT IS THE PEAK VOLTAGE OF 120 
kv THAT IS PRODUCING ERRONEOUS BOTTLE LEAKAGE 
CURRENT.  IN ADDITION, ABNORMAL X-RADIATION WILL 
BE  PRODUCED. 
 
Although a AC hi-potential test is recommended for checking 
the vacuum integrity, a DC hi-potential test can also be 
conducted on the vacuum interrupters at 50 kV and held for 10 
seconds with the restrictions noted as follows: 
No attempt should be made to try to compare the condition 
of one vacuum interrupter with another nor to correlate the 
condition of any interrupter to low values of dc leakage 
current. There is no significant correlation. After the high 
potential voltage is removed, discharge any electrical charge 
that may be retained. 
 
Acceptable AC high potential machines are: 
 Hipotronics  Model 7BT 60A 
 Hipotronics  Model 60HVT 
  James G. Biddle    Catalog 222060 
 Phoenix   Model 660-10P 
Acceptable DC high potential machines are: 
 Hipotronics  Model 860PL 
 Hipotronics  Model 880PL 
 
9.5—Insulation Tests 
The primary circuit insulation on the breaker may be checked 
phase to phase and phase to ground using a 2500 Volt or 
other suitable megohmeter. 
 
Since definite limits cannot be given for satisfactory insulation 
values, a record should be kept of the megohmeter readings 
as well as temperature and humidity readings. This record 
should be used to detect any weakening of the insulation from 
one check period to the next. Generally, readings should equal 
or exceed 10,000 megohms. 
 
To measure the breaker secondary circuit insulation 
resistance, disconnect the motor leads and thread a wire 
connecting together all secondary disconnect pins except 
#24, the ground pin. The measurement is made by 
connecting a 500 Volt megohmeter from the wire to ground.