High voltage test terminal having a shock-absorbing insulator

A high-voltage test terminal, comprising:

• a first conductor;
• a second conductor;
• a shock-absorbing insulator disposed between said first and second conductors;
• and
• first and second blades movably connected to said second conductor, said first and second blades being electrically connected to said first conductor in a first position and electrically isolated and mechanically disconnected from said first conductor in a second position, a first fastener threadably connecting each of said first and second blades to said first and second conductors in said first positions and said first fasteners being threadably disconnected from said first and second conductors and moving with said first and second blades to said second positions.

A method of field testing electrical apparatus, comprising:

• connecting a test terminal having a shock-absorbing insulator between a high voltage bus and the electrical apparatus to be tested;
• positioning a blade of the test terminal in a closed position for normal operation of the electrical apparatus with a fastener connected to the blade;
• moving the blade of the test terminal to an open position to electrically isolate the electrical apparatus from the high voltage bus, the fastener moving with the blade;
• and
• conducting both electrical and mechanical tests of the electrical apparatus after moving the blade to the open position, the shock-absorbing insulator protecting the test terminal from shocks and vibrations resulting from the electrical and mechanical tests.