White Paper: Design
Application Brief: Metrology Engineer Standardizes on Vitrek 4700 for HV Measurement Accuracy & Traceability
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This case study highlights how a metrology and quality engineer standardized on the Vitrek 4700 Precision High Voltage Meter to improve accuracy, efficiency, and traceability in high-voltage testing. Facing the limitations of traditional DMMs and external voltage dividers—such as limited voltage range, manual calculations, and increased risk of error—the customer adopted the Vitrek 4700 with HV Smart Probes. By storing calibration data directly in the probes, the system enables direct, traceable measurements up to 140 kV without reference tables or manual corrections. The result is faster testing, improved consistency, better low-frequency performance, and increased technician confidence in both production and field service environments.
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Overview
This two-page case study highlights how a global electrical insulation test equipment provider standardized on the Vitrek 4700 Precision High Voltage Meter to enhance high voltage (HV) measurement accuracy, efficiency, and traceability in production and calibration processes.
Ken Sams, the company’s Metrology and Quality Assurance Engineer, faced traditional challenges with HV measurement using standard digital multimeters (DMMs), which typically support only up to 1,000 V DC or AC. Above this range, technicians relied on voltage dividers, which introduced measurement complexity due to impedance issues, inaccurate divider ratios, cumbersome non-linearity correction tables, and external computations. These factors increased the risk of human error, slowed workflows, and impaired traceability and accuracy—critical concerns given the company’s global operations in high power cable and insulation testing markets.
The Vitrek 4700 HV Meter, combined with HVL-series Smart Probes™, offered a comprehensive solution to overcome these limitations. Key advantages include direct ±0.03% accuracy up to 10,000 V, with the HV Smart Probes extending measurement capability up to 140 kV DC. Unlike conventional probes with fixed, approximate divider ratios, the Vitrek probes store exact calibration data internally, enabling “plug and play” use that measurably improves accuracy and reduces operator workload by eliminating manual referencing and calculation errors. The system also supports low-frequency measurements down to 0.1 Hz, addressing the customer’s need to test very low frequency (VLF) devices without relying on non-traceable DC sampling workarounds.
The unit’s portable, compact design suits field technicians who handle critical service calls worldwide—for example, testing equipment outputting 25 kV to 140 kV—and the color touchscreen interface simplifies operation with real-time displays of AC/DC values, crest factor, and frequency. Automated communication interfaces (Ethernet, RS-232, GPIB) further streamline integration into production and calibration workflows.
Despite initial resistance from technicians accustomed to traditional divider methods, the Vitrek 4700’s intuitive interface, improved accuracy, and real-time feedback gained full acceptance, enhancing technician satisfaction and operational efficiency. Annual calibrations performed at Vitrek’s ISO 17025 certified lab ensure ongoing traceability and compliance, with rapid turnaround times facilitating consistent production schedules.
In summary, the Vitrek 4700 and its intelligent HV probes modernized the customer’s high voltage measurement practices—delivering unmatched accuracy, ease of use, traceability, and field portability—thereby safeguarding product quality and brand credibility across demanding industrial applications.