VLF Training

MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABLE TESTING
USING
VERY LOW FREQUENCY (VLF)
AC TECHNOLOGY
Michael T. Peschel
High Voltage, Inc.
Copake, NY. USA
www.hvinc.com
06/28/24 1
This Can Be Prevented
In-service failures cause great damage to faulted cables and

adjacent cables. Not so if failed under a VLF test.
06/28/24 2
Water & Electrical Trees, Installation Damage,
Splice Material or Workmanship Defects, Post
Repair Verification, etc. VLF It!
We are testing to cause defects
to fail during the test rather
than in-service.
Cause failure, locate the fault,
make the repair, and be left
with a good cable.
If a cable can’t hold 2 – 3Vo,
find out now and make repair.
06/28/24 3
WHAT IS VLF?
A VLF instrument is just an AC hipot but
with an output frequency lower than 50/60 Hz.
Very Low Frequency: 0.1 Hz and lower.

By decreasing the frequency, it is possible to
test miles of cable with a small and affordable unit.
Models range from 0.1 – 0.01 Hz.
06/28/24 4
VLF Explained
Xc = 1
2 x pi x f x C
The lower the frequency, the higher Xc (capacitive reactance).
The higher Xc (or resistance across the power supply output),
the lower the current/power needed to apply a desired voltage.
At 0.1 Hz, it takes 600 times less power to test a cable, or any other high
capacitance load, than at 60 Hz. At 0.01 Hz, 6000 times higher
capacitive loads can be tested than at 60 Hz.
06/28/24 5
60 Hz vs. 0.1 Hz
At 60 Hz. a 1 μF cable has an Xc of 2.65 kOhms.

At 22 kV, it requires 8.3 amps of current to test.
Total power supply rating must be 183 kVA.
At 0.1 Hz, the Xc is 1.59 megohms.

At 22 kV, the current needed is 14 mA.
Total supply power needed is .304 kVA.
(22 kV is the typical test voltage for 15 kV cable)
06/28/24 6
60 Hz. vs. 0.1 Hz.
60 Hertz 0.1 – 0.02 Hertz
50 kVAC @ 3 kVA 40 kVAC @ 1.2 kVA

Can test ~ 50’ of cable Can test ~ 6 miles of cable
06/28/24 7
WHY TEST WITH AC VOLTAGE?
• DC voltage testing damages insulation.
• DC voltage testing is often ineffective.
• Cables are designed to carry AC voltage.
• They are factory tested with AC voltage.
• Cables operate under AC voltage stress.
• Cables should be tested with AC voltage.
06/28/24 8
VLF rapidly grows defects to failure
VLF is non-destructive to good insulation
VLF is destructive to defective insulation and
accessories. VLF is the best splice checker
VLF with Tan Delta offers an excellent non
destructive diagnostic test.
06/28/24 9
Won’t There Be Near Fault
Defects Left After Testing?
Very few if test is performed correctly.
Far less than when DC testing
Far less than if no testing is performed
At 3Vo for 30 minutes, >95% of defects will
clear. At 60 minutes nearly 100%
No better odds from any other method
06/28/24 10
XLPE Tree Growth Rate
Per IEEE 400-2001
Test voltage Growth rate at 0.1-Hz

factor sinusoidal test voltage
(V/Vo ) (mm/h)
2 2.3
3 10.9-12.6
4 58.3-64.2
5 336
A 15kV 133% cable has an insulation thickness of 5.9 mm.
In a 30 minute test, nearly all defects will grow to failure.
06/28/24 11
There is no better way than an AC stress test to
verify if a cable can reliably hold service voltage.
Cables often see 2x normal voltage in service.
If a cable holds 3x normal voltage during a
VLF test, you can be sure of its integrity.
VLF testing is especially useful for

testing after installation or repair.
06/28/24 12
North American Standards For
VLF Testing Of Cable
• IEEE 433-1974 covers VLF testing for rotating machinery.
• IEEE 400-2001 overall cable testing standard sanctions
VLF testing of cables.
• IEEE 400.2 sub-standard specific to VLF cable testing
06/28/24 13
IEEE P400.2/D3
Guide for Field Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems
Using Very Low Frequency (VLF)
Prepared by WG C18 of the
Insulated Conductors Committee of the
IEEE Power Engineering Society
Copyright 2000 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

345 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017, USA
All Rights Reserved
06/28/24 14
IEEE VLF Std 400.2/D3 (11/03)
Recommends test voltage of 3V0
(V0 equals line-to-ground voltage).
Test duration is 15 – 60 minutes.
Recommendation is for 30 minutes. Most
defects are exposed in first 10 minutes, longer
testing is optional to expose minor cable faults.
06/28/24 15
Suggested IEEE Field Test Voltages
For Shielded Power Cable Systems
Using Sine Wave Output VLF
---------------------- 0.1 Hz Test Voltage --------------------
System Voltage Installation Acceptance Maintenance
phase to phase phase to ground phase to ground phase to ground
kVrms kVrms/kVpeak kVrms/kVpeak kVrms/kVpeak
5 9/12 10/14 7/10

15 18/25 20/28 16/22
25 27/38 31/44 23/33
35 39/55 44/62 33/47
Test voltages are generally 2.5 – 3 time the line-to-ground system voltage.
06/28/24 The above per IEEE400.2/D3 dated 11/03. 16
The World View Of VLF
DC not recommended by cable companies

on cables >5 years & in moist environments
IEEE 2 – 3Vo for 15-60 minutes
30+ minutes @ 3Vo recommended.
Germany 3Vo for 60 minutes
Over 35 countries
Japan 3Vo for 15 minutes have purchased
the HVI VLF
Malaysia 3Vo for 60 minutes
06/28/24 17
VLF CableCheck
Model VLF-25CM
0 - 25 kV Peak
0.1 Hz @ 0.4 μf Load
~ 4000 ft of 15 kV Cable
Single Piece Design
ONLY
Weight: 69 lbs/30 kg
06/28/24 18
VLF AC Hipot
Model VLF-4022CM
0 - 40 kV Peak
0.05 Hz @ 2.2 μf Load
0.02 Hz @ 5.5 μf Load
Controls: 50 lbs/22 kg
HV Tank: 72 lbs/31 kg
06/28/24 19
VLF AC Hipot
Model VLF-6022CM
0 - 60 kV Peak
0.05 Hz @ 2.2 μf Load
0.02 Hz @ 5.5 μf Load
Controls: 55 lbs/25 kg
HV Tank: 100 lbs/45 kg
06/28/24 20
VLF AC Hipot
Model VLF-12011CM
0 - 120 kV Peak
0.1 Hz @ .55 μf Load
0.05 Hz @ 1.1 μf Load
0.02 Hz @ 2.75 μf Load
0.01 Hz @ 5.5 μf Load
Weight: 565 lbs/257 kg
06/28/24 21
Other VLF Models
VLF-50CM 0 – 50 kV @ 50 μF @ 0.01Hz 0.1 – 0.01 Hz
Tests up to 50 kilometers of cable.
VLF-65CM 0 – 65 kV @ 2.2 μF @ 0.1Hz 0.1 – 0.01 Hz

0 – 65 kV @ 22 μF @ 0.01Hz
VLF-200CM 0 – 200 kV @ 0.55 μF @ 0.1Hz 0.1 – 0.01 Hz

0 – 200 kV @ 5.5 μF @ 0.1Hz
06/28/24 22
Cables Included
e si stor Ground hook

R
HV output
from tank 2 test leads for
Cable connectors capacitance
measurement
hook or clamp
06/28/24
Phase jumpers Interconnect Scope bnc 23
with grounds
VLF Hand Truck
06/28/24 24
VLF-4022CM
VLF-4022CM
06/28/24 25
06/28/24 26
How to VLF Test

VLF testing is easier than DC testing.

Isolate cable ends like with DC testing, although no
cleaning and bagging is necessary.

Connect VLF HV lead to conductor – ground to shield.

Apply HV to cable.

There are no leakage currents to read. Test is go/no-go

Wait the desired test time.

If cable holds, test is over. De-energize.

If cable fails, make repairs and repeat test, or replace.

Most models can test all three phases at once, saving time.
06/28/24 27
Operating
Instructions
1. Select Frequency
3. Rotate to zero
6. Rotate to
raise voltage
5. Press HV On
4. Press Main Power 2. Turn to mA
06/28/24 28
What is Cable Failure Indication?
Thermal overload on panel will trip

Voltmeter will indicate breakdown
06/28/24 29
Questions?
06/28/24 30
Thank You
Mike Peschel - High Voltage, Inc.
www.hvinc.com
06/28/24 31
06/28/24 32

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MEDIUM VOLTAGE CABLE TESTING

In-service failures cause great damage to faulted cables and

Very Low Frequency: 0.1 Hz and lower.

At 60 Hz. a 1 μF cable has an Xc of 2.65 kOhms.

At 0.1 Hz, the Xc is 1.59 megohms.

60 Hertz 0.1 – 0.02 Hertz

50 kVAC @ 3 kVA 40 kVAC @ 1.2 kVA

Test voltage Growth rate at 0.1-Hz

VLF testing is especially useful for

Copyright 2000 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

5 9/12 10/14 7/10

DC not recommended by cable companies

VLF-65CM 0 – 65 kV @ 2.2 μF @ 0.1Hz 0.1 – 0.01 Hz

VLF-200CM 0 – 200 kV @ 0.55 μF @ 0.1Hz 0.1 – 0.01 Hz

e si stor Ground hook

4. Press Main Power 2. Turn to mA

Thermal overload on panel will trip

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