How to measure the insulation resistance of PacDrive 3 components on an installed machine acc. IEC 60204?

The isolation resistance test is not mandatory and must be carried out at the installer's discretion.
The aim is essentially to determine creepage paths due to contamination that can arise during assembly.

To measure the insulation resistance of Schneider Electric's PacDrive 3 components on an installed machine, follow the guidelines from IEC 60204 - Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines. Here's a summary of the key points (detailed information can be found in the standard):

1. Test Method: Apply 500V DC between all shorted power lines (AC lines, DC bus, motor lines…) and PE (Protective Earth). The result should be greater than 1 MOhm, except for components like slip rings, where the value should be greater than 50 KOhms. Specifically designed measurement equipment should be used for this measurement.
2. Testing on Machine Sections: The insulation resistance test can be performed on different sections of the machine. This is also recommended for machines with PacDrive 3 components, as the installation of several PacDrive 3 components in parallel, can reduce the insulation resistance < 1 MOhm.
3. Overvoltage Devices: Overvoltage devices that may trigger during the test can be bypassed or the test voltage of 500V DC can be reduced to prevent them from triggering.

The power supplies and drives from the PacDrive 3 portfolio must meet the requirements of the product standard IEC 61800-5-1 - Adjustable speed electrical power drive systems. In this standard no insulation resistance is required.
Insulation resistance measurements were carried out on our devices, even if these are not required by the product standard. Following values were obtained:

• Drives (Lexium 62, Lexium 52, Lexium 62 ILM): Approximately 50 MOhms.
• Lexium 62 Power Supply: Approximately 1.7 MOhms.

Please note that the insulation resistance value for the Lexium 62 Power Supply is close to the specified limit of 1 Megaohm in IEC 60204. If additional devices are connected in parallel, the overall system value may fall below the required threshold.

It is essential to select test sections in a way that ensures the resistance value does not drop below 1 MOhm.

Released for:Schneider Electric USA