ASTM D 877/D877M : 2013

1.4.1.1Procedure A is used to determine the breakdown voltage of liquids in which any insoluble breakdown products easily settle during the interval between the required repeated breakdown tests. These liquids include petroleum oils, hydrocarbons, natural and synthetic esters, and askarels (PCB) used as insulating and cooling liquids in transformers, cables, and similar apparatus.

1.4.1.2Procedure A may be used to obtain the dielectric breakdown of silicone fluid as specified in Test Methods D2225, provided the discharge energy into the sample is less than 20 mJ (milli joule) per breakdown for five consecutive breakdowns.

1.4.2.1This procedure is used to determine the breakdown voltage of liquids in which any insoluble breakdown products do not completely settle from the space between the disks during the 1–min interval required in Procedure A. Procedure B, modified in accordance with Section 17 of Test Methods D2225, is acceptable for testing silicone dielectric liquids if the requirements of 1.4.1.2 can not be achieved.

1.4.2.2Procedure B should also be applied for the determination of the breakdown voltage of liquid samples containing insoluble materials that settle from the specimen during testing. These may include samples taken from circuit breakers, load tap changers, and other liquids heavily contaminated with insoluble particulate material. These examples represent samples that may have large differences between replicate tests. The use of Procedure B will result in a more accurate value of breakdown voltage when testing such liquids.

1.4.2.3Use Procedure B to establish the breakdown voltage of an insulating liquid where an ASTM specification does not exist or when developing a value for an ASTM guide or standard. Procedure A may be used once the single operator precision of 13.1 has been demonstrated.