Method and device for the detection of damage in the insulation of electrical components, particularly of lines and cable harnesses

A partial discharge detecting device for detection of damage in insulation in at least one of lines and cable harnesses, comprising;

• at least one hermetically sealed test chamber surrounding an area of the line or cable harness to be inspected, the test chamber being sealed off before detection of discharge, a voltage being applied to at least one supply lead of an electrical structural element or a conductor of the line and an external counter-electrode or a further conductor of at least one of the structural element and the cable harness;
• an outlet provided on said at least one test chamber;
• a vacuum pump connected to said outlet;
• an air and test gas inlet provided on said test chamber whereby an internal atmosphere of the test chamber is at least partially substituted by a test gas or test gas mixture having a lower disruptive discharge voltage than that of air;
• and
• a test voltage lead-in provided on said test chamber whereby pre-discharges or discharges are at least one of electrically, optically, acoustically and chemically dectatable.

A partial discharge detecting device for detection of damage in insulation of at least one of lines and cable harnesses, comprising:

• a test enclosure composed of two sealing connectable casing components which surround an area of the line or cable harness to be inspected, the test enclosure being sealed off before detection of discharge, said casing components at least partially covering the line or the cable harness in between each casing, and wherein pre-discharges or discharges within the test enclosure are at least one of electrically, optically, acoustically and chemically detectable;
• seals connected to a face side of the casing components, wherein said seals engage the line or the cable harness;
• a gas inlet and an outlet provided on said casing components whereby an internal atmosphere of the test enclosure is at least partially substituted by a test gas or test gas mixture having a lower disruptive discharge voltage than that of air;
• and
• an electrode provided on internal walls of the casing components whereby a voltage is applied to at least one supply lead of an electrical structural element or a conductor of the line and an external counter-electrode or a further conductor of at least one of the structural element and the cable harness.