As an alternative to the TGA-B portable partial discharge instrument, the PDAlert instrument is an alternative method of measuring stator winding partial discharges caused by Inverter Fed Drives (IFDs).
Adjustable speed drives (both DC and AC) challenged motor manufacturers to design insulation systems capable of withstanding repeated voltage impulses. These thousands of fast rise time voltage surges per second can lead to stator failure. Partial Discharge Inception Voltage testing is a method to measure insulation system capability to withstand voltage impulses.
When combined with certain surge testers, PDAlert instrument also enables users to determine PD inception and extinction voltage off-line. The PDAlert instrument outputs analog signals to display the partial discharge on a high speed digital oscilloscope.