Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse

voltages and fast rising currents

• A simple resistance
potential divider
consists of two
resistances R1 and R2
in series (R1 >> R2) (is
shown in fig). The
attenuation factor of
the divider or the
voltage ratio is given by
Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents
• The divider element is
connected through the
coaxial cable to the
oscilloscope.

• The cable have surge

impedance Z0 and this will
come in parallel with
oscilloscope input
impedance (Rm and Cm)

• Rm - 1 MΩ,
Cm - 10 to 50pF
Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents
• For high frequency and
impulse voltages, the
attenuation factor is given by

• To avoid the frequency

dependence of the voltage
ratio, the divider is
compensated by adding an
additional capacitance C1
across R1
Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents

• Time constant of both the arm

should be same.

• Usually probes are made with

adjustable values of Cm, so that Cm
can include any stray capacitance
including that of cable.
Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents
 Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents

• For exponential slope (or) the rising portion of the wave, the
time constant is given by

• This will be too large, when C1 is greater than the required

compensation

• For under compensation, charging time will be too high.

Resistive Potential Divider for very low impulse
voltages and fast rising currents
Resistive Potential Divider for HV Impulse Measurement
(above 100 kV)

• For voltages above 100 kV, R1 is

no longer small in dimension
and is usually made of a number
of sections.

• The total series resistance R1 is

made of n resistors of value R’1
and R1 = nR’1
Resistive Potential Divider for HV Impulse Measurement
(above 100 kV)
• Cg – terminal to ground
capacitance of each
resistive element, R’1
Cs – capacitance between
each terminal section.

• The inductance of each

element (L’1) is not shown
in fig. and is usually small
when compared with Cg, Cs,
R’1

• This divider produces non-linear

voltage distribution along its length
and acts as a R-C filter for applied
voltages.
Resistive Potential Divider for HV Impulse Measurement
(above 100 kV)
• By arranging guard rings, the
distortion in the circuit is
reduced.
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• A pure capacitance divider for high voltage measurements and
its electrical equivalent network without stray elements is
shown in Fig.
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• The ratio of the divider

• Capacitance C1 is formed between

the h.v. terminal of the source
(impulse generator) and that of
the test object or any other point
of measurement

• The CRO is located within the

shielded screen surrounding
capacitance C2
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• C2 includes the capacitance used,
the lead capacitance, input
capacitance of the CRO, and other
ground capacitances

• The advantage of this connection

is that the loading on the source is
negligible; but a small disturbance
in the location of C2 or h.v.
electrode or the presence of any
stray object nearby changes the
capacitance C1, and hence the
divider ratio is affected.
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• A standard air or compressed gas
capacitor is used which has coaxial
cylindrical construction.

• Accurate ratios that could be

calculated up to 1000:1 have been
achieved for a maximum impulse
voltage of 350 kV, and the upper
frequency limit is about 10 MHz.
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• C1 to consist of a number of
capacitors C’1 in series for the
given voltage V1.

• The voltage distribution along the

capacitor chain is non-linear and
hence causes distribution of the
output wave

• The equivalent circuit is similar to

that of a string insulator unit used
in transmission lines
Capacitance Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• The ratio error is constant and is
independent on frequency as
compared to resistance dividers

• C1 << C2 and Cg << C1

• Voltage Ratio

• Error less than 5 % when

C1 = 3*Cg
Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
• R-C elements in series (or) parallel

• Capacitance in parallel with each R’1

employed for voltage divider of rating
2 MV

• R-C series connection preferred for

voltage divider of rating up to 5 MV
with response time less than 30 ns.

• The low voltage arm R2 is given “L

peaking" by connecting a variable
inductance L in series with R2
Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement
 Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement (for > 2MV and above)
The criteria required to assess the dividers are:

(i) The shape of the voltage in the test arrangement should be

transferred without any distortion to the L. V. side,

(ii) Simple determination of transfer behaviour should be ensured,

(iii) They should be suitable for multipurpose use, i.e. for use with
a.c. power frequency voltages, switching impulse voltages as
well as with lightning impulse voltages.

This condition necessitates that the dividers should have broad

bandwidths.
 Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement (for > 2MV and above)
• The requirements for broader bandwidths are generally met
by

(a) Optimally damped R-C dividers, or

(b) Under damped or low damped R-C dividers.

• The high voltage arm of such dividers consists of series R-C

units while the secondary arm is usually an R-C series or
parallel circuit.
 Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement (for > 2MV and above)
For optimally damped dividers

• where L1 is the inductance of the high voltage lead and the H.V.
portion of the divider, Cg is the equivalent capacitance to
ground.

• R1 = 400 to 1000 ohms.

For under damped divider

𝑳
𝑹𝟏 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓 𝒕𝒐 𝟏. 𝟓 √
𝑪𝟏

• L is the inductance for the complete measuring loop and C1 is

the capacitance of the H.V. part of the divider. R1 = 50-300
ohms
Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement (for > 2MV and above)
Mixed R-C Potential Divider for HV Impulse
Measurement (for > 2MV and above)
 Different connections employed with
Potential Divider
(Refer book for Fig 7.38)

Possible Errors are

• R2 ≠ Z0

• Capacitance of the cable and CRO shunting R2 and hence

introducing distortion

• Attenuation (or) voltage drop in the surge cable Z0

• Ground capacitance effect

Different connections employed with Potential
Divider
Low-Voltage arms for measuring systems connected
to Voltage Dividers
• The mode of connection and the layout arrangement of the
secondary arm of the divider is very critical for the distortion
less measurement of fast transients.

• The L.V. arm of the divider itself introduces large distortions if

not properly connected.

• The surge impedance of the cable is 𝑍0 = 𝑳

𝑪
and travel time is
given by 𝑇0 = 𝐿∗𝐶

• In case of resistive divider, R2 = Z0. The surge impendence Z0 and

resistance R2 forms the integral part of the cable.
Low-Voltage arms for measuring systems connected
to Voltage Dividers
• Z0 = 50 to 75 ohms (for signal cable)

• In practise, signal cable do have losses due to skin effect at high

frequencies and hence becomes Z0 complex quantity.

• The matching of R2 with Z0 should be done at high frequencies

considering cable resistance, length of the cable, and shield
wire taken.
Low-Voltage arms for measuring systems connected
to Voltage Dividers
• For capacitive dividers,

• Ck is the cable capacitance.

𝐶𝑘
• An initial overshoot ∆𝑉 = will appear. This is small or
𝐶1 +𝐶2
negligible for medium / low length cables and high values of C2
Low-Voltage arms for measuring systems connected
to Voltage Dividers
Low-Voltage arms for measuring systems connected
to Voltage Dividers