A high-voltage switch tester is a key device used to measure the mechanical characteristic parameters of high-voltage circuit breakers (such as opening and closing time, speed, stroke, synchronicity, bounce, etc.). It is widely used in power systems for factory inspection, preventative testing, and condition-based maintenance of various types of circuit breakers, including those with low oil content, high oil content, vacuum circuit breakers, and those using sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
This instrument typically features an integrated portable design with a built-in adjustable DC operating power supply (e.g., DC 30–270V). It supports internal or external triggering to control the circuit breaker's operation and records the movement of the moving contact through a multi-channel high-speed data acquisition system. During testing, the break signal line must be connected to the main contacts of the circuit breaker, a displacement sensor (linear or rotary) must be installed to measure the stroke and speed, and the triggering method, test duration, speed definition, and other parameters must be correctly set.
The testing procedure generally includes:
Pre-operation preparation: Check the instrument's appearance and the integrity of its accessories. Ensure the testing environment is dry and free from strong electromagnetic interference. The circuit breaker under test must be de-energized and safety warnings must be in place.
Wiring and Parameter Settings: Connect the disconnected wires according to phase sequence (yellow-green-red corresponds to phases A/B/C), short-circuit the lower end and ground; connect the opening and closing control lines to the coil terminals; fix the sensor and connect it to the sampling port; set the sensor type, triggering method (internal trigger recommended), test duration (e.g., 250ms), etc.
Test Execution: The "Automatic Test" mode can be selected, and the instrument will automatically complete the opening and closing operations and collect data such as time, speed, stroke, bounce, and synchronization; manual closing or opening tests can also be performed separately.
Data Processing: Test results can be graphically displayed on the LCD screen (e.g., S-T curve, V-S curve), supporting waveform analysis, printout, and can be stored or exported to a computer for further comparison and analysis.
