Tracking Index Test Machine from SCR ELEKTRONIKS is a popular product for checking compliance of solid insulating material as per IEC 60112, UL 746A, ASTM D3638 and DIN 53480.
The equipment is commonly used to determine the resistance to tracking in insulating parts supporting live parts used for electrical accessories such as MCBs, switches, sockets, plugs, starter holders, connectors etc. The CTIT indicates the relative behavior of solid electrical insulating material with regard to their susceptibility to surface tracking when exposed, under electric stress, to water and other environmental contaminants. With a high voltage applied between two platinum electrodes, the solid insulating part is placed such that there is a 4mm gap between the electrodes touching the insulating material under test. The high voltage is settable up to 600V or 1200V depending on model. Drops of contaminant are poured on to the electrodes while voltage is applied. With time, it’s evaluated on the criteria outlined in IEC 60112 or the equivalent national standard with which the insulating material is required to comply with.
The CTI test provides an accelerated simulation of conditions of surface discharges and possible resulting tracking and failure (typically a “short”) in equipment using insulating materials. This test also provides a means to compare insulating materials performances under wet and contaminated conditions. This test apparatus is covered in IEC 60112 and commonly referred for various devices in many standards such as IEC 60335 – 1, IEC 61058 – 1 , IEC 60065, IEC 60669 – 1, IEC 60884 – 1, IEC 60950 – 1, IEC 61010 – 1 , IEC 60598 – 1,IEC 60320 – 1 IEC 60898 – 1, IEC 60400, IEC 60238, IEC 60730 – 1, UL746A , ASTM D3638 and DIN53480.