Accurate Corona Detector Calibrator

This paper describes an accurate corona detector calibrator for use with test specimens of more than 150 pF. For a wide range of capacitance, built-in calibrators on conventional single-ended corona detectors show errors of two orders of magnitude or more, due to the inductance of their long leads and the single valued calibration coupling capacitors. This portable calibrator is accurate to 10 percent for sample capacitances from 300 pF to above 100 μF. There are three switch-selectable calibration pulse heights. The unit attaches across the test specimen with short leads, and is designed for use with no test voltage present.