Experimental Considerations of Tracking Phenomena of Wiring Devices

Abstract

A Large number of human lives are lost in fires every year. Some of them are caused by electrical faults originated in plugs and receptacles. They usually result from overheating at poor connections or dielectric breakdown of insulating materials. This kind of dielectric breakdown is often called as a tracking phenomenon.
In this paper, modified arc tracking tests were conducted on specimens carved out from polyvinyl-chloride-insulated plugs and urea-resin-covered receptacles. Temperature of the specimen and concentration of ammonium chloride solution used for the tests were varied. Leakage currents and energy consumptions were measured and the circumstantial effects on the tracking phenomena were discussed.