TDAcompact

The TDAcompact simultaneously samples the AC current drawn by the device under test and the current drawn by a reference capacitor. Subsequently, the two current traces are evaluated and the capacitance, the tanδ, and the level of the high voltage are calculated. The unit continuously displays and refreshes these results.

Therefore, the instrument does not require any user interaction as with the traditional Schering Bridge, nor does the refresh of the display take that long as with automatic adjusting bridge type analyzers. The basic resolution of the tanδ measurement is 10-4, which fulfills the requirements for rotating machine testing as well as for testing on mass-impregnated cables.

The TDAcompact is designed as a stand-alone instrument. To measure the two currents the basic configuration of the TDAcompact comes with a standard capacitor, that has a built-in shunt capacitor, in combination with an external shunt. Optionally, the unit can be supplied with further shunt capacitors. Generally, the TDAcompact is with digital fiber-optic links to the precision shunts, which allow operation on any potential including the high voltage connection of the device under test. The measuring frequency can vary between 20 and 500 Hz or is fixed to 0.1 Hz (VLF). Upon request, Power Diagnostix can supply complete portable tanδ testers including the high voltage transformer.

Besides the stand-alone field test application of the TDAcompact, the instrument can also become a part of a larger and automated test system. Using the software HVpilot, the instrument will be read according to a pre-programmed test sequence. Besides tanδ measurements, such automated test systems further include partial discharge measurements and so-called step tests.