High voltage and insulation testing are used to ensure that electronic products are safe when using high voltage. These tests are important to ensure products functionality under all conditions. High voltage testing is used to test how good a product's insulation can withstand a high voltage. The insulation is the material that separates the electrical parts in a product from each other and if the insulation is not sufficient, an electrical leak or short circuit can occur, which can result in product failure. Insulation tests are used to ensure and document that materials' insulation performance meets the defined requirements.

The insulating ability, for example, in PCB laminate or prepreg can be reduced, for example, due to contamination in the material.

Dedicated test coupons (e.g. according to IPC-2221) are typically used for high voltage and insulation tests.

High Voltage and Insulation test can, for example, be used for examination and analysis of:

• Components
  • Analysis of the insulation performance of electronic components, e.g. capacitors and semiconductors
• Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)
  • Analysis of the electrical resistance of the laminate to high voltage (AC: 0-5KV, DC 0-6KV)
  • Analysis of the laminate's electrical insulation performance (50KO - 200GO)A
  • nalysis of the design used in relation to electrical isolation performance

Example of standards for high voltage and insulation test:

• IEC 62368-1 (EN/IEC 60950-1)
• MIL-STD-202
• IPC-TM- 650 Method 2.5.7
• IPC-TM- 650 Method 2.5.7.1
• IPC-TM- 650 Method 2.5.7.2
• IPC-6012
• ECSS-Q-ST-70-60C