HiPot and Earthing in new Workplace - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: travLTTL
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 12:44:59 am
content: Just need a little more insight. Started a new role in QC in a electromechanical manufacturer thats been around since the 50's. Delighted to see the tried and true Chroma 19073's!An Engineer got popped while sitting next to me and prompted me to look over to the rear of the device... the Earth was unpopulated out of the back. . . So I bring this up to management.. its creating quite a fuss and I am being painted as a "shit stirrer"...I would like some insight on this as I believe that these devices should be tied properly to "earth" and that a simply 'Merica 3prong power connection doesnt satisfy proper safety standards...

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 01:00:57 am
content: Did anyone read the manual?Why and how was your colleague "popped"?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 01:12:10 am
content: Well regardless of the actual problem, I will give you advice. If someone in a factory says you are shit stirring but does not explain why what you propose does not work or why its unnecessary its just some drone that is scared for productivity or is really scared of getting attention for some reason. You won't usually get more advice then "yer over thinken'"Best not to get hung up on those people or worse of all take what they say to heart lolOf course they don't want people touching the wiring because even if its wrong someone learned the 'right' way to deal with the problem and its likely to cause a problem if it gets fixed and that would require so called 'learning' which is frowned uponSO you probably discovered the first workplace 'political realities' todayMy belief about that ground terminal is that it might be a extra measure of protection to independently bond that, because if you have say a single high gauge well crimped wire there bonded to a true electrical ground, it will be a better connection then what ever is in that IEC cable ground pin.And also you saw a sign of workplace dysfunction, i.e. this depends on if you reported a electrical injury or if you just reported shoddy wiring. There might be unauthorized personnel, voided safety measures, managers that never do something having to do something, etc. It's kind of like calling the police IRL. It could be warranted but it could also be some rat behavior.. but I will just give you the benefit of the doubt that seeing someone get zapped by a high voltage test equipment is pretty scary and that you probably did the right thing even if the wiring is fine, people should not be being zapped like that.Maybe someone just needs to tell that dude to work slower or ask someone for operating instructions lol. And if they don't know WHY something happened like a electrical injury, having a electrician check it out might be a good idea. And it could be some 'desk jockey' breaking into the labs to do tests they have no clue about ( I see this one sometimes )

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 01:22:13 am
content: Quote from: travLTTL on March 21, 2025, 12:44:59 amIfthe outlet is wired correctly, itshouldbe fine. That's a big if though. 🤷 You can try an outlet tester to see if it at least pretends to be wired correctly.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 01:28:56 am
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on March 21, 2025, 01:22:13 amUsually that grounding screw indicates its either really sensitive equipment, or dangerous equipment.

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 02:19:08 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on March 21, 2025, 01:28:56 amMaybe, but some places require a separate grounding screw for an external ground connection. Like when their outlets don't have an earth ground at all. Many devices absolutely require a ground connection to function safely, but wall outlets can't always be relied on for that.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 05:41:45 am
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on March 21, 2025, 02:19:08 amThe only problem is that the grounding 'screw' on this instrument is pretty weak. IMO thats not a good connector for a safety ground, because you should have a fairly tight bolt. A thumb screw?.. its still has its benefits over just the plug, but I would want that tightened down with a big screw driver, not just twisted with the fingers... even if it is knurled. I say like a 3/16 bolt should be used for that kind of thing.None the less, it should still be better then a IEC cable that can have a broken wire inside, you just don't know what is going on in there .

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 03:16:27 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on March 21, 2025, 05:41:45 amThat's why you need to test outlets and cables. Your separate ground wire can break also. Cables are cables. That said, I've never had an IEC cable with a broken ground that wasn't broken on purpose.

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 05:20:08 pm
content: Quote from: travLTTL on March 21, 2025, 12:44:59 amHow did he got popped, earth do not really help if he behaves unsafe.Earth may not really protect you, it may even make the issue worse, that depends on how you get your fingers on the voltage.When I got my hipot tester the first thing I did was enable remote safety/turnon and made a box with two push buttons and placed it at some distance to the test object. This means I need a hand on each button to run a test. That way I will never have my hands near the object I test.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 11:21:23 pm
content: Quote from: HKJ on March 21, 2025, 05:20:08 pmThe high - pot tester is a bit special IMO because it involves energizing a big metal chassis or metal chassis assembly if you are working on larger equipment. It really does need a 'test setup' unless you are just testing small objects, but it also depends on the test level.And, some equipment is very specific about how long you are allowed to test it, some engineers consider it a 'wear' test, particularly for things that also deal with water... like if you do a 10 second high pot test instead of a 1 second high pot test they might start saying things have been 'degraded' . I have seen a rather expensive part get dismantled and remade right after it was made because someone got concerned about improper high pot testing.... based on where it was to be used, and the reliability requirements, someone said that they can't approve it anymore because it was biased for too long IIRC.