Effects of an insulating support in AC electric field measurement

This paper examines the effect of an insulating support which is essential for measuring electric field strength in the space. Various affecting parameters are analyzed for a model arrangement of a free-body meter put on the top of a vertical insulating column, such as relative permittivity and the dimensions of the column and the probe (field-sensing electrodes) of the meter used. The paper also presents experimental and numerically calculated results for the output increase of a practical electric field strength meter caused by the presence of a support. These characteristics are discussed with an equivalent circuit diagram consisting of electrostatic capacitances and by considering the field distortion caused by the insulating column.<
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