>>Motor QC Products

AWA tester reports a Hi-Pot trip on ALL three phase motors selected with a certain test ID. This occurs right at the start of the test. If I restart the AWA application, select a different test ID; the AWA appears to work properly. What could the problem be?

Answer:

Check the test ID you have created. Select the test ID and look to see if the test ID has been altered to use the “2 Lead” resistance method. (Number of leads to test, Fig.1)

The “2 lead” method is designed to allow testing of 2 terminal coils such as fields and inter-poles, or single phases of three phase motors. Test lead 3 of the AWA is deliberately left in the safety ground position during such a test for operator safety. The AWA will then detect the test lead 3 ground path through the delta or wye connected three-phase motor and stop the test.

If you set the resistance test number of leads to three, it will then set test lead 3 active, and it will then properly perform the test.

Conclusion: 

A three phase motor should not be tested with a test ID created for a two terminal device, unless the object of the test is to test only one phase of the motor at a time.