Application Note

MPD 600 Self Test

Author
Dr.-Ing. Kay Rethmeier | kay.rethmeier@omicron.at
Date
Aug, 2010
Related OMICRON Product
MPD 600, MPD 540
Application Area
Self Test, test of performance, check of performance
Version
v2.0
Document ID
ANP_10040_ENU

OMICRON

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Content
1

Short Cut ................................................................................................................................................3

PD Measuring Results Do Have Consequences ................................................................................3

Checking your equipment is an IEC recommendation ......................................................................3

Self test with the MPD test generator ..................................................................................................4

4.1 Start the System Check ..................................................................................................................4

System OK..............................................................................................................................................6

Please use this note only in combination with the related product manual which contains several important safety
instructions. The user is responsible for every application that makes use of an OMICRON product.
OMICRON electronics GmbH including all international branch offices is henceforth referred to as OMICRON.
OMICRON 2010. All rights reserved. This application note is a publication of OMICRON.
All rights including translation reserved. Reproduction of any kind, for example, photocopying, microfilming, optical
character recognition and/or storage in electronic data processing systems, requires the explicit consent of OMICRON.
Reprinting, wholly or in part, is not permitted.
The product information, specifications, and technical data embodied in this application note represent the technical
status at the time of writing and are subject to change without prior notice.
We have done our best to ensure that the information given in this application note is useful, accurate and entirely
reliable. However, OMICRON does not assume responsibility for any inaccuracies which may be present.
OMICRON translates this application note from the source language English into a number of other languages. Any
translation of this document is done for local requirements, and in the event of a dispute between the English and a nonEnglish version, the English version of this note shall govern.

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Short Cut
Disconnect all cables from the MPD PD input port
Turn on the internal Test Generator
3. Set the charge division factor to 1
4. Check PD events, check 5 pC...15 pC charge level
5. Check pulse in time-domain
1.
2.

PD Measuring Results Do Have Consequences

Measuring Partial Discharges (PD) will provide important information about the condition of the device
under test (DUT). As a consequence the results of a PD measurement can lead to serious decisions like
taking a power transformer out of service immediately or declare its condition as safe for ongoing operation.
It is obvious that making mistakes will have immense consequences, as outages, black-outs and financial
penalty fees.

Checking your equipment is an IEC recommendation

To rely on the results of a PD measurement the PD measuring instrument has to work probably. For new
PD systems this is guaranteed by the OMICRON Quality Assurance System with independent 3rd party
Type Testing, documented calibration and ISO 9001 ff certificated processes. However, due to unpredictable
impacts like mechanical damages or overvoltages the performance of the MPD 600 and its accessories
could be affected.
Therefore it is necessary to check the functionality of all relevant parts of the system from time to time.
Regarding to IEC 602700:2000 (Chapter 7) a PERFORMANCE TEST has to be done periodically, at least
every five years or after major repairs. PERFORMANCE CHECKS are to be done periodically, at least once
a year. IEC recommends to keep all the data in a RECORD OF PERFORMANCE maintained by the user.

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Self test with the MPD test generator

OMICRON integrated a Self Test Generator into the MPD series to check the system performance in a fast
and simple way. Every board of a MPD 600 acquisition unit contains an internal remote controlled voltage
source which allows the injection of test pulses to the closely located PD input port by stray capacitances.
Therefore these test signals will be detected by the PD input port and treated identically to external calibrator
pulses.

4.1

Start the System Check

Just disconnect the PD input port of the MPD 600 acquisition unit and turn on the Test Generator by
selecting the check box available in the PD-Card of the Expert Software as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1: Activate the Test Generator

As a next step select the Q-Card and set the Division Factor in the charge calibration menu manually to 1
(fig. 2) and press the "Enter" button of the computer's keyboard.

Figure 2: Set Charge Division Factor to 1

Set the Measuring Center Frequency to 6 MHz and the Bandwidth to 300 kHz after selecting the Q-Card.

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Select the V-Card and set the voltage trigger to Line. A series of PD events (see black Arrows in fig. 3) will
be visible in the main measuring window (Large Scope View); the QIEC reading should indicate a charge
value of approximately 5 pC to 15 pC (see red marker in fig. 3). As some MPDs have different
configurations in their analog input circuits the measured value may be different from one MPD to the other.
Use the Time-Window (Small Scope View) to visualize the pulse u(t) in the time-domain. The pulse-width is
about 50 ns, the amplitude about 10 mV to 20 mV (blue mark in fig. 3). It has to be noted once again that
due to differences in the design of the analog input of the MPDs the given numbers may vary in a certain
range. The oscilloscope settings of the time-domain window can be changed in the PD-Card.

Figure 3: Check PD Events, Charge reading and Time-Domain

Due to the very fast pulses injected by the test generator the frequency spectrum is very broad
banded and constant up to an upper cut-off frequency of approximately 16 MHz. This limit does not
describe the test pulse parameters but is given by the internal anti-aliasing filter of the MPD's AD-converter
(32 MHz). Choose the FFT-Window (Small Scope View) and compare it with the curve shown in figure 4.

Figure 4: Check Flat and Horizontal FFT Curve

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System OK
As a High-Quality Supplier of High-End PD Measuring Systems OMICRON expects that Your MPD 600 will
pass this system check at any time. In the unlikely event of greater derivations, or if you are uncertain
about some results do not hesitate to contact OMICRON Technical Support. We will be pleased to
help you.
Even if this Self-Test procedure does NOT substitute the IEC recommended performance checks it provides
you quick and easy information about the basis function of the MPD. To gain reliable PD measuring results
we recommend to invest these few minutes to check your MPD measuring system before every
PD measurement.

OMICRON 2013

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OMICRON is an international company serving the electrical power

industry with innovative testing and diagnostic solutions. The application of
OMICRON products provides users with the highest level of confidence in
the condition assessment of primary and secondary equipment on their
systems. Services offered in the area of consulting, commissioning,
testing, diagnosis, and training make the product range complete.
Customers in more than 130 countries rely on the company's ability to
supply leading edge technology of excellent quality. Broad application
knowledge and extraordinary customer support provided by offices in
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together with a worldwide network of distributors and representatives,
make the company a market leader in its sector.

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