Non-Linearity Tests with Digital Recorder used for Impulse Voltage Measurements

Abstract

The forthcoming IEC 60060-1 mandatorily requires a curve fitting technique and FFT in determining impulse voltage waveform parameters. The digital recorder befitting to the technique is a multi-purpose type which is characterised by high sampling rate at the cost of vertical resolution. As a multi-purpose recorder, the linearity tests defined by IEC 61083-1 cannot be carried out by its manufacturer. It is users who have a responsibility of digital recorder's linearity. This is a clear contrast to the cases with a conventional exclusive recorder, whose linearity tests have indirectly been performed by the manufacturer. Authors completed a series of software packages which confirm if a given digital recorder fulfils linearity tests defined by IEC 61083-1. Four (two TDS5052, one TDS5052B and one TDS3052) multi-purpose digital recorders have been tested using the developed packages and it is confirmed that TDS3052, which has been used in the international comparative test, failed to satisfy the requirements in IEC 61083-1. The software developed by the initiative of Special Committee for Standardisation of High-Voltage Measurements is proposed to be distributed and used as Japan's standard.