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Why does mains transient tester only get up to 1600V when set for 2kV?

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joeqsmith:
Recent post provides a link to a decent paper on transient testing.   Burst and surge are covered.   
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/current-transformer-for-esd-testing/msg5587677/#msg5587677

From the paper:

--- Quote ---IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: Some of these tests involve electrically hazardous conductors (e.g. mains), and/or
hazardous voltages or energies. These tests can be dangerous, and all appropriate safety precautions must be
taken. If you aren’t sure what safety precautions are needed, ask an expert.
--- End quote ---

Which is why I would never promote anyone attempt to construct such a generator or use it without having the proper education.   I assume that those with that education could construct and operate such a generator safely.   

floobydust:
As a kid I played with ignition coils, neon sign transformers and they educate you very well.
But today? These generators are so expensive, no budget left for training. Electroboom is popular getting zapped. I can't imagine how you can train people on these. If the IQ is low, no amount of yelling will work. I had to work pretty hard to make sure no one got hurt doing the testing. We had a CDN so mains follow-through energy was present which is another level for damage that can happen.

The old Waterfall model for product development, where you test only at the end of a project, certification is a "formality", is your basic disaster. Many companies crash and burn doing this and I delight in watching the engineers facing doing a total redesign, at the last minute. Product development doesn't work that way (Waterfall) unless you have the old guard doing the work.
I would do intermediate stage testing with open boards, no enclosure yet. Basic learning and checking .

Automotive load dump just rented an EmTest and shrapnel was not an issue, it's low voltage in comparison.

joeqsmith:
Load dump was a fair amount of energy and with low voltage electronics could do some decent damage.  The amount of testing we perform for new designs that sit on the AC mains is very small compared to what we did while I worked in automotive.       


--- Quote ---The old Waterfall model for product development, where you test only at the end of a project, certification is a "formality", is your basic disaster. Many companies crash and burn doing this and I delight in watching the engineers facing doing a total redesign, at the last minute. Product development doesn't work that way (Waterfall) unless you have the old guard doing the work.
--- End quote ---

I wouldn't say it's a disaster to have enough products on the market that the majority of your test time is spent running audits.  The amount of time spent testing new designs is small by comparison.  Did the companies you work for not conduct audits?  Did you only test new products being developed?   I worked at a company that followed the one and done model.    Your take on early testing is similar to other places I have worked.   I would say we carry this idea of early testing into other parts of the design, basically designing them to be tested.       

We have a fairly large AC generator that we can switch in for the 50/60Hz.  The surge/burst generator has a CDN as well.  We have damaged stuff that was on the backside of the network.   :-DD   

joeqsmith:

--- Quote ---Electroboom is popular getting zapped.
--- End quote ---

Once in a while someone will point out one of his videos to me.  I've seen a few, like that Jacob's ladder tipping over, blab on Walter Lewin and his spark gap transmitter.  I was a big fan of Photonic Induction but I really don't watch a lot of electronic/electrical channels.  Andy's channel was very entertaining as he was playing with things I am never going to see.   

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