Cable Testing

Cable Master Inc. has 20 years of hands on Hipot testing experience and always works to the client's specifications on all hipot test applications. 

What is "hipot" testing? 

Many people are familiar with a continuity test. A continuity test checks for "good connections." You do a continuity test by seeing if current will flow from one point to another point. If current flows easily enough then the points are connected. Many people aren't familiar with a hipot test. "Hipot" is short for high potential (high voltage). A hipot test checks for "good isolation." You do a hipot test by making sure no current will flow from one point to another point. In some ways a hipot test is the opposite of a continuity test. 

In the simple case a hipot test takes two conductors that should be isolated and applies voltage between the conductors. The current that flows is watched carefully. Ideally not much current will flow. If too much current flows the points are not well isolated and they should fail the test. 

Why high voltage test? 

You use a hipot test to make sure you have good isolation between the parts of a circuit. Having good isolation helps to guarantee the safety and quality of electrical circuits. Hipot tests are helpful in finding nicked or crushed insulation, stray wire strands or braided shielding, conductive or corrosive contaminants around the conductors, terminal spacing problems, and tolerance errors in IDC cables. All of these conditions might cause a device to fail.