Topic summary
IEC 60112
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Comparative Tracking Index.
Details
The test method does not work well for voltages below 125VAC as the solution does not evaporate between successive drops. The test method has an upper limit of 600VAC; higher voltages are currently not covered by the standard. In the recent version of the standard the evaluation of the test method at higher voltages (above 600 V) is stated as a target for the future. In principle, tests at higher voltages should be possible as the breakdown voltage of air at 50 Hz is larger than 40 kV at 4 mm. However, arching between the electrodes might increase at higher voltages and might have an impact on the test result. Therefore, this needs to be further evaluated before the maximum voltage in the standard can be increased. In addition, dependent standards such as IEC 60664 would need to be changed as well in case a new material class for higher voltages is introduced in IEC 60112.