Automatic measurement of the electric strength of liquid dielectrics

In response to the need for closer control in direct-stress electrical breakdown investigations in dielectric liquids, an improved test method has been developed. A high-voltage power supply is arranged to give an output voltage which is a slow, linear ramp function of time. The voltage is reset automatically on breakdown, and a recorder and thyratron by-pass circuit complete an automatic system which is capable of making the large number of closely controlled measurements needed for a statistical study.