KNOWLEDGE VAULT TECH BRIEF
Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Testing
Part 7 – IEC 60156 for New and
In-service Mineral Insulating Oil
In Parts 1-6 of our series, we discussed testing insulating oils for dielectric breakdown voltage. Aside from a brief
description of the IEC method, we have so far provided information on just the two ASTM standard methods, D877
and D1816. In the final installment regarding this topic, we are going to discuss the IEC method from Standard 60156,
including values used in IEC standards for unused and in-service mineral oil. Let’s start with a brief review of the
differences in how this method is run.
Standard 60156 uses electrodes that are similar geometrically to the VDE electrodes used in ASTM D1816. The spherical
electrodes are spaced 2.5 mm apart, and the rate of voltage increase is 2,000 volts per second. The method in Standard
60156 allows the optional use of an impeller, operating in similar fashion to the one described for D1816, except that it
operates at 250 to 300 rpm. The IEC method also allows use of a magnetic stirrer operating at a similar rate, if there
is no significant chance that magnetic particles will be removed from the oil. The presence of magnetic particles would
affect dielectric breakdown in the transformer, so removal of those particles by the stirrer during the analysis would yield
unrepresentative values.
Values for dielectric breakdown voltage obtained on purified and installed oil using the IEC 60156 method are typically
considerably higher than those obtained using the two ASTM methods. Frequently, for properly maintained transformers,
the breakdown voltage from the test may exceed the maximum reportable by the instrument. Many dielectric meters
report a maximum voltage of 60 kV. This is generally sufficient for evaluating new oil from a supplier or in-service oil. For
oil being processed for installation, or if a more precise value is required for in-service insulating oil, use of a dielectric
breakdown voltage instrument that measures to higher values is advisable.
Conditions that affect the IEC method dielectric breakdown voltage determination are essentially the same as those that
affect the D1816 dielectric measurement. The test is sensitive to moisture, oxidation of the oil, and contamination of
the oil by non-dielectric materials and suspended particles. Dissolved gas content of the oil may also affect the results
obtained by this method, as is the case with D1816, but the depression of the dielectric breakdown voltage values is not
as significant for the IEC method.
IEC lists 60156 values in two Standards. The international industry specification for unused oil is IEC 60296, Fluids for
electrotechnical applications – Unused mineral insulating oils for transformers and switchgear. In that Standard, the
specification calls for unused oil, as received in bulk from the supplier, to have a minimum dielectric breakdown voltage
value of 30 kV, as determined by 60156. This Standard also indicates that the oil received from the supplier must
measure a minimum value of 70 kV after vacuum filtration in the laboratory. These values are from the fourth edition of
the Standard, dated 2012.
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KNOWLEDGE VAULT TECH BRIEF
Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Testing
Part 7 – IEC 60156 for New and In-service Mineral Insulating Oil (con’t)
Dielectric breakdown voltage is also addressed in IEC 60422, Mineral Insulating Oils In Electrical Equipment –
Supervision and Maintenance Guide. For new oil in new equipment after filling but prior to energizing, the Standard lists
acceptable values for dielectric breakdown voltage as indicated in this table:
Minimum Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Values Using 60156
Equipment 72.5 > 72.5 > 270 kV
Voltage kV kV
170 kV
Dielectric > 55 > 60 > 60
kV
IEC 60422 also lists Good, Fair, and Poor values for oil in transformers that are in service. These values for dielectric
breakdown voltage are indicated in this table:
In-service Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Values
For Mineral Oil-filled Transformers Using 60156
Equipment 72.5 > 72.5 > 270 kV
Voltage kV kV
170 kV
Good kV > 40 > 50 > 60
Fair kV 30-40 40-50 50-60
Poor kV < 30 < 30 < 60
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KNOWLEDGE VAULT TECH BRIEF
Dielectric Breakdown Voltage Testing
Part 7 – IEC 60156 for New and In-service Mineral Insulating Oil (con’t)
For in-service transformers, IEC 60422 includes recommendations for continuing normal monitoring if 60156 values are
Good according to the table above. If values are Fair, more frequent sampling and cross checking with other tests is
recommended. Those other tests include moisture content, particle count distribution, dissipation factor or resistivity, and
acid number. If values are Poor, the Standard recommends that the oil be reconditioned to return it to good condition.
This information is from the fourth edition of the Standard, dated 2013.
As is the case with other methods of determining dielectric breakdown voltage, the test is sensitive to the temperature
of the oil being tested. In order to obtain reproducible and valid results, the test should not be run on hot oil out of an oil
processor or in-service equipment.
This ends our discussion of dielectric breakdown voltage determinations.
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