Breakdown voltage
Updated 2026-10-27
Data records
- Breakdown voltage is the voltage at which an insulating material or an insulation system loses its insulating property and a conductive path forms through it, marked by a sudden rise in current and a collapse of the applied voltage. A withstand test is set below it, and a ramp or breakdown test raises the voltage until it is reached.
- In very low frequency and direct voltage hipot practice the test set measures and records the load capacitance, the insulation resistance, the current, the frequency, the voltage, the breakdown voltage and the test duration, so the voltage at which a specimen failed is captured as part of the test record.
Elsewhere in the family
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Circuit Breaker Reference
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Electrical Testing Reference
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Motor Testing Reference
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Revenue Metering Reference
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Switchgear Testing Reference
- Dielectric Withstand related entry on Transformer Testing Reference
Sources
- Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy, Electrical Testing Reference editorial taxonomy of test methods, 2026-10 edition, Electrical Testing Reference. Held as: Own observation.
- HV Diagnostics product page, VLF/DC Hipot Testers, web page edition, HV Diagnostics. Held as: Public page. Publisher page
Changelog (4 entries)
| Date | Revision | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.breakdown-voltage.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.breakdown-voltage.definition) | |
| 2026-10-27 | created (gloss.breakdown-voltage.usage) | |
| 2026-10-27 | review_status unreviewed -> software_reviewed (gloss.breakdown-voltage.usage) |
Cite this page
Cite the governing standard for the fact itself; cite this page as the finding aid.
"Breakdown voltage." Test Instrument Reference. 2026-10-27. https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/breakdown-voltage/.
Test Instrument Reference, Breakdown voltage (Oct. 27, 2026), https://www.testinstrumentreference.com/glossary/breakdown-voltage/.
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organization = {Test Instrument Reference},
publisher = {Test Instrument Reference},
year = {2026},
note = {last substantive change 2026-10-27}
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