Test Categories for Characterization of Sliding Electrical Contacts

For sliding electrical contacts a variety of material combinations and principles are being used. Field tests with real slip rings in real applications have the advantage that real load and environmental conditions are used. However, these tests are complex and expensive. This is also the case if real slip rings are investigated in the laboratory with full load at a variety of climatic conditions e.g. within a climate chamber. On the other hand tribometer technology exists that is relatively easy to set-up and additional parameters such as friction force of individual contacts can be measured. This paper presents different configurations of test categories in an exemplary screening test sequence that elucidates how new material combinations can be efficiently developed.