Insulation resistance test

Trade jargonOhio homeowner glossaryCC-BY-4.0

TL;DR

An insulation resistance test is the megohmmeter measurement that applies a DC test voltage, commonly 500 or 1000 volts, between conductors and ground to verify that wire and equipment insulation still blocks leakage current, with healthy readings in the megohm range and above. Electricians run it on feeders after damage or flooding, on motors showing nuisance tripping, and solar installers test PV string wiring where a low reading reveals chafed conductors before they arc.

Definition

What it means

An insulation resistance test is the megohmmeter measurement that applies a DC test voltage, commonly 500 or 1000 volts, between conductors and ground to verify that wire and equipment insulation still blocks leakage current, with healthy readings in the megohm range and above. Electricians run it on feeders after damage or flooding, on motors showing nuisance tripping, and solar installers test PV string wiring where a low reading reveals chafed conductors before they arc. It finds degradation that a continuity tester cannot see.

Category

Where it sits in the glossary

Insulation resistance test is part of the Trade jargon group inside the ProFix Directory glossary. Browse every term in this category from the glossary index.

Why this matters for Ohio homeowners

Why Ohio homeowners should know it

This is a term Ohio homeowners encounter when reading contractor quotes, hiring paperwork, or inspection reports. Understanding it well enough to ask one good follow-up question is usually all the protection a homeowner needs.

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License: CC-BY-4.0 — quote freely with attribution to ProFix Editorial Team / ProFix Directory.

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