Tan Delta and Capacitance Tester TDC3100

User Manual
(V1.0.5)
 Content

1.Pre-operation Warning………………………………………………………………………………2
2.Summary……………………………………………………………………………………………...2
3.Working Principle…………………………………………………………………………………....3
4.Main Technical Specifications……………………………………………………………………… 4
5.Panel and Button Introduction……………………………………………………………………...5
6.Operation Instructions……………………………………………………………………………....9
7.Wiring Reference………………………………………………………………………………...…13
8.Package List…………………………………………………………………………………………19

1
1.Pre-operation Warning

1) The tester must be connected to earth properly before testing.

2) The HV output terminals should be clean before starting test.
3) The test voltage is very high, so the users must keep enough safe distance from the sample and
high voltage circuit.
4) The tester should be power off when making wiring connections.
5) It is forbid to touch the terminals and cables when testing.
6) Any replacement should be made after tester is power off
7) The tester should not be connected to the live power line at all.
8) The operator or user should get qualification of high voltage electrical test from professional institute.
9) Please do not use the tester in rain, high temperature, large amount of dust environment.
10) If the power supplied by generator, the null line should be grounded. Otherwise, wrong
grounding will be prompted on screen of tester.

2.Summary

Tan Delta and Capacitance Tester TDC3100 is applied to measure the dielectric dissipation factor (tgδ) of
insulating materials in heavy interference site, such as power plants, power substations etc.. It also can be
applied in laboratory for high accuracy capacitance and dissipation measurement. The tester is all-in-one
design, including precision digital bridge, variable frequency voltage controlled power source, booster
transformer, and SF6 high stability standard capacitor. The test high voltage source is generated by internal
inverter of tester, and used for testing the tested objects after boosting. The selected test frequency is 50Hz,
47.5Hz/52.5Hz, 45Hz/55Hz, 60Hz, 57.5Hz/62.5Hz and 55Hz/65Hz, which adopts digital notch filter to
avoid the interference from power frequency electric field. It solves the problem of accurate measurement
under the strong electric field interference. Besides, the tester is suitable for the test occasions when the
generator is used as power supply.
The main features of Tan Delta and Capacitance Tester TDC3100 are as following:
●Large touch screen. The operators only need click touch screen, then can complete all tests.
●Mass storage. The tester can store 200 test results in chronological order, and the operators can view
history data at any time or printed output test results directly via built-in thermal printer.
●Test data management. The operators can copy test results from tester via U disk, then view or save test
results in PC.
●Multiple test modes. The internal high voltage, external high voltage, internal standard, external standard,
GST, UST, self-excitation etc. test methods can selected and used. In external standard and external high
voltage mode, the high voltage dielectric loss can be tested.
●Full tests for CVT. The tester can test C1, C2 dielectric loss and capacitance of full sealed CVT, which

2
achieves the C1 and C2 simultaneous test. The tester also can also test CVT ratio and voltage angle error.
●Test CVT without removing high voltage lead. The tester can accurately measure the dielectric loss and
capacitance of CVT without removing CVT high voltage lead.
●Measuring C0 in CVT GST mode. The tester can measure the dielectric loss and capacitance value of
C0 on the upper end of CVT via GST shield method.
●High speed sampling signal. The inverter and sampling circuit of tester are controlled digitally, and the
output voltage can be adjusted continuously.
●Multiple safety protection. Many protection measures are adopted for tester, such as input voltage
variation, high-voltage current, output short circuit, over voltage, over current and temperature etc., which
ensures safety and reliability of tester. The grounding detection function also is adopted for tester to ensure
that the boost is not allowed without reliable grounding.

3.Working Principle

Under AC voltage, the dielectric will consume part of electricity energy, then this part of electricity energy
will be converted to heat energy and produce loss. This energy loss is called dielectric loss. When AC
voltage is applied to the dielectric, the phase angle difference ψ is generated between voltage and current of
dielectric, the complementary angle δ of ψ is called dielectric loss angle, the tangent δ is called dielectric
loss angle tangent. tgδ value is parameter used to measure dielectric loss. The measuring circuit of tester
includes one standard loop(Cn) and one tested loop(Cx), as shown in Fig.3-1. The standard loop is
composed of built-in high stability standard capacitor and measuring circuit, and the tested loop includes
test object and measuring circuit. The measurement line is composed of sampling resistor, pre-amplifier
and A/D converter. The measuring circuit is used to respectively measure standard loop current, tested loop
current amplitude and phase displacement, then the digital signal processor acquires in real time, finally get
capacitance and dielectric loss tangent value of test object through vector calculation. The anti-interference
measures are adopted into tester for ensuring accurate measurement under the interference of external
electric field.

Fig.3-1 schematic diagram

3
4.Main Technical Specifications

1)Test Standard: IEC60247

2)Internal HV output: 0.5~12kV
Output accuracy: ±(reading×1%)
Resolution: 100V
Maximum output current: 200mA
Capacity: 2000VA
3)Self-excitation Power Source: AC 0~50V/15A
4)Dielectric Dissipation Factor(tgδ) Measurement
Measuring range: no limit
Accuracy: ±(reading×1%+0.040%)
Resolution: 0.001%
5)Capacitance (Cx) Measurement
Measuring range: 15pF < Cx < 300nF
Cx < 60nF @12kV
Cx < 150nF @5kV
Cx < 300nF @1kV
Cx <300nF for CVT test
Accuracy: ±(reading×1%+1.00pF)
Resolution: 0.001pF(4 valid digital)
6)CVT Ratio Test(suitable for CVT with accuracy class 1.0 or 3.0)
Measuring range: 10~10000
Accuracy: 1%
7)Frequency
Single frequency: 50Hz or 60Hz
Double frequency conversion: 45Hz /55Hz, 47.5Hz /52.5Hz, 55Hz /65Hz, 57.5Hz /62.5Hz
8)Built-in thermal printer
9)USB interface
10)Data storage: 200 test results can be stored into tester.
11)Power Supply: customized(AC 220V/230V/120V/127V±10%, 1-phase), 50Hz/60Hz
12)Environmental Condition
Storage temperature: -20℃~60℃
Operating temperature: -10℃~50℃
Humidity: <90%
13)Dimension of host: 350mm x270mm x270mm
Weight of host: 23kg
14)Safety Qualifications and EMC
Safety: designed in accordance with IEC61010-1
EMC: light industrial IEC 61326

4
5.Panel and Button Introduction

Fig.5-1
1)Emergency Stop Button
2)Reset Button
3)U Disk Interface
4)Power Switch
5)Power Supply Input
6)Cn Socket
7)Cx Socket
8)Touch Screen
9)Ground Terminal
10)ES Terminal(self-excitation output) Fig.5-2

5
11)Thermal Printer
12)HV Output Terminal
5.1 Emergency Stop(E-Stop) Button and High Voltage Indicator Light
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-1
Function: during testing process the tester outputs high voltage, in case of emergency the high voltage
output need to be switched off, you can press down this emergency stop button to cut off the high voltage
output from tester immediately. The built-in indicator light in this button can be used as indicator when
high voltage outputting.
5.2 Reset Button
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-2
Function: reset the tester.
5.3 U Disk Interface
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-3.
Function: the stored data into tester can be exported to U disk for storage.
Attention: during data transmission process it is prohibited to pull out U disk. Only when the data
transmission is completed and there is prompt on LCD screen, then you can pull out the U disk. Otherwise,
it may damage U disk.
5.4 Power Switch
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-4.
Function: turn on the switch and power on the tester. Turn off the switch and turn off the power supply to
the tester. This power switch should be turned off immediately, and unplug the power cord in case of an
emergency.
5.5 Power Supply Input Socket
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-5.
Function: power supply for tester.
Wiring connection: use a standard socket to connect to mains supply or generator.
Attention: one fuse is installed into power socket. Once the input voltage exceeds the maximum allowed
value, the fuse will be burned to protect the tester.
5.6 Standard Capacitor Input Cn Socket
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-6.
Function: external standard test signal.
Wiring connection: when doing external standard test, the cable core is connected to the test end of
standard capacitor, the shielding layer of cable is connected to the shielding layer of standard capacitor. The
standard capacitor connection method is same for external standard test, whether it is UST or GST
connection. This method is used for external high voltage standard capacitor to measure high voltage
dielectric loss.
5.7 Tested Object Low Input Cx Socket
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-7.
Function: input test signal of test object when using UST method.
Wiring connection: the center of socket will be connected to core wire of black signal wire, and the metal
shell will be connected to shielding layer of black signal wire. When using UST method, the core wire will
be connected to low voltage signal end of tested object. If the low voltage signal end of tested object has

6
shielded pole(such as shielded loop of low voltage end), the shielding layer can be connected to the
shielded pole. If no shielded pole, the shielding layer will be vacant.
Attention
1)In the process of starting the test, it is strictly prohibited to pull out the plug to prevent that the current of
tested object passes through the operator’s body.
2)When using standard dielectric loss tester or standard capacitor to test UST mode accuracy, the full
shielding plug should be used to connect dielectric loss device or standard capacitor. Otherwise, the
exposed core wire may be interfered to cause the error.
3)During the test, the core wire of socket should be connected to the low voltage end of tested object
without resistance. Otherwise, it may cause the fluctuation of measured data.
4)Under strong interference condition, when removing test leads, the cables should be disconnected in
grounding state to prevent inductive electric shock.
5.8 Touch Screen(LCD screen should avoid long time exposure to sunlight, avoid heavy extrusion and
sharp scratches)
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-8.
Function: full touch screen(120mm×90mm) for display.
5.9 Grounding Terminal
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-9.
Function: protection grounding of tester.
Attention: the tester is equipped grounding protection inside. Before testing, the operator need to ensure
reliable grounding. Otherwise, the tester will automatically generate protection without boost.
5.10 ES(self-excitation output)
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-10.
Function: self-excitation output. The tester will output to one end of transformer, and another end of
transformer is grounded. When using self-excitation mode to measure dielectric loss of CVT, connect
self-excitation coil(da) of CVT to provide high voltage power for CVT test, and dn is grounded.
Attention: due to large current of low voltage output, the tester should be connected to secondary winding
of CVT via dedicated cable, and the contact should be good. If select UST or GST mode to do test, this
self-excitation output must be off.
5.11 Printer
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-1-11.
Function: print test results.
Attention: this printer is automatic thermal printer, and the width of print paper is 55mm. When replacing
the print paper, please use dedicated thermal printer paper. Firstly press down the lower convex button, the
printer cover will automatically bounced, then put print paper into the cabin and leave a little paper
outside, finally close the printer cover.
5.12 High Voltage Output Socket
Installation position: shown as Fig.5-2-12, protection door outside.
Function: variable frequency high voltage output, measure current of test object in GST mode, high voltage
end of internal standard capacitor.
Wiring connection: the center of socket is connected to core wire of red high voltage cable, and the metal
shell is connected to shielding layer of red high voltage cable. When selecting UST mode, the core wire and

7
shielding layer can apply voltage to high voltage end of tested object as applied voltage wire. When
selecting GST mode, only the core wire can apply voltage to high voltage end of tested object(if the high
voltage end of test object has shielded pole, the shielding layer can be connected to shielded pole; if no
shielded pole, the shielding layer will be vacant.).
Attention
1)In the process of starting the test, this socket with high voltage has electric shock hazard, and it is
absolutely forbidden to touch the high-voltage socket and the related equipment.
2)When using standard dielectric loss tester or standard capacitor to measure the accuracy of UST mode,
the full shielding plug should be used to connect the dielectric tester or standard capacitor. Otherwise, the
exposed core wire may be interfered to cause the error.
3)During the test, the core wire of socket should be connected to high voltage end of tested object without
resistance. Otherwise, it may cause the fluctuation of measured data.

8
6.Operation Instructions

6.1 Main Interface

Power on the tester, firstly show the welcome interface,

then enter main interface shown as Fig.6-1.

Fig.6-1
Attention: after starting test, in case of emergency please press down E-Stop button to stop immediately,
but do not press down RESET button.

6.2 General Test

Fig.6-2 Fig.6-3
Firstly use test leads to connect the tester and tested object according to the corresponding wiring
connection tips, then click the main interface "GST/UST" option to enter the next level of general test
menu(shown as Fig.6-2). Then you can click on the button "Settings" to set the test parameters(shown as
Fig.6-3).
Click on each item that you want to set, then click button "Up", "Down" or "Sel."(Select) to modify the
item. Click on the button "Save" to save the modified parameters after completing the modification, and
return to general test interface. Click button "Exit" to quit the modification and return to general test
interface.
After setting the relevant parameters, then press button "Start Test" and hold on 2 seconds to begin test.
During the test, the voltage value will rise to the set value according to previous selected test voltage, then
remain unchanged, and then begin test automatically. After starting the test, the frequency will vary to the
corresponding frequency to test according to previous selected test frequency. The test result will be shown
as Fig.6-4 after completing the test. The test result can be saved into tester automatically, or can be printed
out via clicking on button "Print".

9
 Fig.6-4
Attention: for parameters setting and wiring connection, please refer to chapter 7.

6.3 CVT Test

Figure 5—5
Fig.6-5 Fig.6-6
Firstly use test leads to connect the tester and CVT according to the corresponding wiring connection tips,
then click on "CVT test" option on main interface to enter the next test menu (shown as Fig.6-5), and then
you can click on button "Settings" to set parameters(shown as Fig.6-6). Click on each item that you want to
set, then click "Up", "Down" or "Sel."(Select) to modify the item. Click on the button "Save" to save the
modified parameters after completing the modification, and return to CVT test interface. Click button
"Exit" to quit the modification and return to CVT test interface.

Fig.6-7 Fig.6-8
After setting the relevant parameters, then press button "Start Test" and hold on 2 seconds to begin
test(shown as Fig.6-7). During the test, the voltage value will rise to the set value according to previous

10
selected test voltage, then remain unchanged, and then begin test automatically. After starting the test, the
frequency will vary to the corresponding frequency to test according to previous selected test frequency.
The test result will be shown as Fig.6-8 after completing the test. The test result can be saved into tester
automatically, or can be printed out via clicking on button "Print".
Attention: for parameters setting and wiring connection, please refer to chapter 7.

6.4 CVT Ratio Test

Fig.6-9 Fig.6-10

Firstly use test leads to connect the tester and CVT

according to the corresponding connection tips, then
enter CVT test menu. In parameter setting, select
"CVT ratio test" and then return to "Start Test"
interface(shown as Fig.6-9), press button "Start"
to measure(shown as Fig.6-10). The test result
will be shown as Fig.6-11 after completing the test.
The test result can be saved into tester automatically,
or can be printed out via clicking on button "Print".
Fig.6-11

6.5 Test Data

Fig.6-12 Fig.6-13
In main menu click button "Data" enter the data management interface(shown as Fig.6-12), click "View
Data" enter the data menu(shown as Fig.6-13). Press “Up” or “Down” to move the cursor keys to the data
item that you want to view(the saved date in tester are arranged according to the measured time sequence;

11
the 000 data is the latest data, 199th data is the oldest data.), then click on the corresponding data to enter
data print. In this menu, you can press key Up or Down to the corresponding serial number of data, then the
data can be printed.

6.6 Settings

Fig.6-14 Fig.6-15
When you turn on the tester, click on "Settings"(shown as Fig.6-14) to enter time setting interface. Enter
the number of time menu(Fig.6-15), move the cursor to the item that you want to modify, then press key Up
or Down to adjust "Hour", "Minute", "Second", and then click “Save” to save modified time. If click “Exit”,
the setting will be quitted, and return to main interface.
Attention: all steps in the case of improper settings or need to change again, you can press button Exit to
return to the previous step. If you can not return via pressing button Exit, then you can press button RESET
to return to the main menu.

12
7.Wiring Reference

7.1 UST Mode

7.1.1 Internal HV--Internal Standard Cn--UST mode

7.1.2 Internal HV--External Standard Cn--UST mode(must set the capacity of external standard Cn)

7.1.3. External HV--Internal Standard Cn--UST mode

13
7.1.4 External HV--External Standard Cn--UST mode(must set capacity of external standard Cn)

7.2 GST Mode

7.2.1 Internal HV-- Internal Standard Cn --GST mode

7.2.2 Internal HV--External Standard Cn--GST mode(must set the capacity of external standard Cn)

7.2.3 External HV--Internal Standard Cn--GST mode

14
7.2.4 External HV--External Standard Cn--GST mode(must set the capacity of external standard Cn)

7.3 GSTg Mode

7.3.1 Two-Winding Transformer Test in GSTg Mode

1) CHG+CHL

15
2) CLG+CLH

7.3.2 Bushing Test in GSTg Mode

C1+C2

16
7.4 CVT Test
7.4.1 CVT C1 and C2

7.4.2 CVT C1 or C2

7.4.3 Measure dielectric loss and capacitance of CVT without removing CVT high voltage lead: CVT
self-excitation method(voltage ≤2kV)

17
7.4.4 Measure dielectric loss and capacitance value of C0 on the upper end of CVT via GST shield
method(voltage ≤2kV)

7.4.5 CVT Ratio Test

Attention
1)All connection dotted lines are the shielding layers of cables and all solid lines are core wires of cables.
2)Please use matched test cables supplied together with tester. Generally test cables can be used commonly,
but this tester is a highly-precise measuring instrument, so please use the matched test cables as much as
possible. Otherwise, the precision of measured results may be affected by the attribute difference of test
cables.
3)Please refer to Panel Instruction for cable usage of each socket and terminal.

18
8.Package List

Item Quantity(pcs) Item Quantity(pcs)

Tester 1 CVT self-excitation 1
power cable(green)
HV Test cable(red) 1 Power supply cable 1
LV test cable(black) 1 User manual 1
Grounding Cable 1 Fuse & print paper 2

19