Leak Test Of Encapsulated Systems With The Test Medium Compressed Air

Joachim Lapsien

Abstract

Encapsulated test parts, like microswitches, clocks, relays, sensor systems, lamps, electronic control units are used in diverse industrial applications. Therefore these components have to fulfill a variety of requirements. This includes leak tightness against dirt and moisture (e.g. IP 67), as the penetration of liquids can cause serious malfunction. In the definition of the IP protection classes a description how to perform a suitable laboratory test is given. In the production line, this laboratory test cannot be transferred and used. Widespread is the use of the test medium compressed air for the 100 % inline leak testing in industrial production lines. The test medium compressed air can be used down to an air leak rate of 10-3 mbar*l/s (depending on the test part). As waterproof usually an air leak rate of 10-2 mbar*l/s is assumed. By encapsulated test parts the inside of the test part cannot be filled with pressurized air. These test parts are tested in a hood, which is put under pressure. The pressure decay caused by a leakage into the internal volume of the test part is detected with high resolution. The concept of this test method and specific details to be considered are described.

Keywords

Leak test, leak tightness, IP protection classes, leak test, end-of-line test, encapsulated test parts, compressed air, differential pressure method.

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IMEKO-TC10-2020-006.pdf

DOI

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IMEKO TC

TC10 - Measurement for Diagnostics, Optimization and Control

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