Application Note

Calibrator check

Author
Dr.-Ing. Kay Rethmeier | kay.rethmeier@omicron.at
Date
Sep, 2008
Related OMICRON Product
MPD 600
Application Area
Calibration
Version
v2.0
Document ID
ANP_10032_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

Check calibrator with FFT-function .....................................................................................................3

Start the calibrator check .....................................................................................................................4

Calibrator 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.

OMICRON 2013

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Short Cut
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Connect calibrator directly to the PD input of the MPD by short coax-cable

Set the charge division factor to 1
Check injected charge level
Check pulse in time-domain
Check horizontal FFT curve
Check dependence of the measuring center

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 switching off a power transformer immediately or declare its condition as safe for
ongoing operation. It is obvious that errors 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 and the Charge
Calibrator has to work probably. For new calibrators this is guaranteed by the ISO 9001 ff
certificated OMICRON Quality Assurance System including detailed calibration documents.
However, due to unpredictable impacts like mechanical damages or poor battery power level
the calibrator could be affected. Therefore it is necessary to check the functionality of your
calibrator from time to time, regarding to IEC 602700:2000 (Chapter 7).

Check calibrator with FFT-function

OMICRON integrated a FFT-Analyzer into the PD-Measuring software to check the frequency
spectrums a fast and simple way. Over the whole analogue frequency input range of 20 MHz
a pulse can by analyzed regarding to its spectral components.

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Start the calibrator check

Just connect the output port of the calibrator to the PD input port of the MPD 600 acquisition
unit by a short coax-cable, as to be seen in figure 1.

Figure 1: Connect Calibrator and MPD

As a next step select the Q-Card and set the Division Factor in the charge calibration menu
manually to 1 (fig. 2).

Figure 2: Set Charge Devision Factor to 1

Set the Measuring Center Frequency to 1 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. Six PD events for 50 Hz (see black Arrows in fig. 3) will
be visible in the main measuring window; the QIEC reading should fit to the selected output charge of the
calibrator (see red mark in fig. 3).

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

Use the Time-Window to visualize the pulse (blue mark in fig. 3). The pulse-width and the
amplitude will depend on the selected charge level, polarity and on the type of calibrator
(CAL542 A-B-C-D). The oscilloscope settings can be changed in the PD-Card.
The frequency spectrum of the calibration pulse should be flat and linear up to a certain
cut-off frequency. Choose the FFT-Window and compare it with the curve exemplarily shown in
figure 4.

Figure 4: Check Flat and Horizontal FFT Curve up to Cutt-Off

Please remember that any calibrator will only inject the displayed charge level if the FFT curve
is horizontal from nearly 0 MHz up to the selected measuring center frequency. Regarding to
IEC 60270:2000 (Chapter 6.1 figure 5) the upper cut-off frequency of your calibrator
has to be higher than the selected bandwidth of the PD measuring system.

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Figure 5 shows the FFT-curve of a calibrator NOT DESIGNED TO BE USED over the whole
frequency range

Figure 5: Non-flat FFT Characteristic

Due to "Einbrche" notches in the frequency spectrum at 7 MHz the calibrator cannot inject
the displayed charge level at these frequencies. THE CALIBRATION WILL BE UNVALID in this
case; the PD measurements will led to FALSE RESULTS. This calibrator can only be used in a
frequency range of 0 MHz up to 2 MHz, which may be sufficient for many cases.

Calibrator OK?
As a High Quality Supplier of High-End PD Measuring Technique OMICRON expects that
Your CAL 542 will pass this system check at any time. In the unlikely event of greater derivations,
or if you are even 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 status of your calibrator.
To gain reliable PD measuring results we recommend to invest these few minutes to check
your calibrator 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
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