Megger | Working Principle Types History Uses of Megger

History of Megger

The Megger has been in use since 1889 and became popular in the 1920s. Although its basic function has remained consistent, recent advancements have significantly enhanced its design and safety features, making modern Meggers easy to use and highly reliable.

What is Megger?

Over time, the insulation resistance (IR) of an electrical system can deteriorate due to environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and dust, as well as electrical and mechanical stresses. Regularly checking the IR is crucial to prevent dangerous failures or electric shocks.

Uses of Megger

A Megger measures electrical leakage in wires, providing reliable results by passing an electric current during testing. It is primarily used to verify the insulation quality of various devices such as motors, cables, and generators. While it may not pinpoint the exact location of insulation failures, it effectively indicates the levels of leakage current and moisture in the system.

Types of Megger

This can be separated into mainly two categories:-

1. Electronic Type (Battery Operated)
2. Manual Type (Hand Operated)

But there is another types of megger which is motor operated type which does not use battery to produce voltage it requires external source to rotate a electrical motor which in turn rotates the generator of the megger.

Electronic Type Megger

Important parts:-

1. Digital Display :- A digital display to show IR value in digital form.
2. Wire Leads :- Two nos of wire leads for connecting megger with electrical external system to be tested.
3. Selection Switches :- Switches use to select electrical parameters ranges.
4. Indicators :- To indicates various parameters status i.e. On-Off. For Example Power, hold, Warning, etc.

Note: – Above construction is not similar for every megger, it difference appears manufacture to manufacture but basic construction and operation are same for all.

Advantages of Electronic Type Megger

• Level of accuracy is very high.
• IR value is digital type, easy to read.
• One person can operate very easily.
• Works perfectly even at very congested space.
• Very handy and safe to use.

Disadvantages of Electronic Type Megger

• Require an external source of energy to energies i.e. Dry cell.
• Costlier in market.

Hand Operated Megger

Important parts:-
Analog display:- Analog display provided on front face of tester for IR value recording.
Hand Crank:- Hand crank used to rotate helps to achieve desired RPM required generate voltage which runs through electrical system.
Wire Leads:- Used same as in electronic tester i.e. For connecting tester with electrical system.

Advantages of Hand Operated Megger

1. Still keeps important in such high-tech world as it’s an oldest method for IR value determination.
2. No external source required to operate.
3. Cheaper available in market.

Disadvantages of Hand Operated Megger

1. At least 2 person required to operate i.e. one for rotation of crank other to connect megger with electrical system to be tested.
2. Accuracy is not up to the level as it’s varies with rotation of crank.
3. Require very stable placement for operation which is a little hard to find at working sites.
4. Unstable placement of tester may impact the result of tester.
5. Provides an analog display result.
6. Require very high care and safety during use of the same.

Construction of Megger

Circuit Construction features :-

1. Deflecting and Control coil : Connected parallel to the generator, mounted at right angle to each other and maintain polarities in such a way to produced torque in opposite direction.
2. Permanent Magnets : Produce magnetic field to deflect pointer with North-South pole magnet.
3. Pointer : One end of the pointer connected with coil another end deflects on scale from infinity to zero.
4. Scale : A scale is provided in front-top of the megger from range ‘zero’ to ‘infinity’, enable us to read the value.
5. D.C generator or Battery connection : Testing voltage is produced by hand operated DC generator for manual operated Megger. Battery / electronic voltage charger is provided for automatic type Megger for same purpose.
6. Pressure Coil Resistance and Current Coil Resistance : Protect instrument from any damage because of low external electrical resistance under test.

Working Principle of Megger

• Voltage for testing produced by hand operated megger by rotation of crank in case of hand operated type, a battery is used for electronic tester.
• 500 Volt DC is sufficient for performing test on equipment range up to 440 Volts.
• 1000 V to 5000 V is used for testing for high voltage electrical systems.
• Deflecting coil or current coil connected in series and allows flowing the electric current taken by the circuit being tested.
• The control coil also known as pressure coil is connected across the circuit.
• Current limiting resistor (CCR and PCR) connected in series with control and deflecting coil to protect damage in case of very low resistance in external circuit.
• In hand operated megger electromagnetic induction effect is used to produce the test voltage i.e. armature arranges to move in permanent magnetic field or vice versa.
• Where as in electronic type megger battery are used to produce the testing voltage.
• As the voltage increases in external circuit the deflection of pointer increases and deflection of pointer decreases with a increases of current.
• Hence, resultant torque is directly proportional to voltage and inversely proportional to current.
• When electrical circuit being tested is open, torque due to voltage coil will be maximum and pointer shows ‘infinity’ means no shorting throughout the circuit and has maximum resistance within the circuit under test.
• If there is short circuit pointer shows ‘zero’, which means ‘NO’ resistance within circuit being tested.

Work philosophy based on ohm-meter or ratio-meter. The deflection torque is produced with megger tester due to the magnetic field produced by voltage and current, similarly like ‘Ohm’s Law’.
The torque of the megger varies in a ration with V/I, (Ohm’s Law:- V = IR or R = V/I). Electrical resistance to be measured is connected across the generator and in series with deflecting coil.
Produced torque shall be in opposite direction if current supplied to the coil.

1. High Resistance = No Current :- No current shall flow through deflecting coil, if resistance is very high i.e. infinity position of pointer.
2. Small Resistance = High Current :- If circuit measures small resistance allows a high electric current to pass through deflecting coil, i.e. produced torque make the pointer to set at ‘ZERO’.
3. Intermediate Resistance = Varied Current :- If measured resistance is intermediate, produced torque align or set the pointer between the range of ‘ZERO to INIFINITY’.

Connection Diagram of Megger for Testing