Episode 1 Column
The first three episodes focus on withstanding voltage testers (hipot testers). These testers are essential for evaluating the safety of electrical products. However, they are not very popular among engineers, and some people may have never even seen or used one. As we will explain in more detail later, using these testing devices is a legal requirement for manufacturers in order to comply with safety standards, especially when producing electrical products intended for global markets. Despite their importance, withstanding voltage testers (hipot testers) often do not receive much recognition. Unlike popular measuring instruments such as oscilloscopes, there are likely few engineers who are fond of withstand voltage testers, though KIKUSUI’s developers might be an exception.
We wanted to feature the withstand voltage testers in this comic because they are known mainly by engineers responsible for quality assurance. Using these devices requires knowledge of applicable safety standards and a certain amount of know-how is needed to interpret them. It is also challenging to keep up with the standards as they are revised frequently. However, in this field, it is not advisable to think that just because a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, we should leave everything to the experts. We want people to know at least the basics of testing (risks of electric shock, safety standards, etc.), as well as the testing equipment and its role.
The first episode begins with a description of the tragic accident that occurred in the United States. I first heard about it in 2018 and was a bit surprised, thinking, “Can a smartphone cause a deadly electrocution?” According to the report, the cause of this tragedy was an extension cord with a damaged sheath that was brought to the bathroom, not a USB (5V). It made me realize that such accidents can happen anywhere. When I was a young man (just starting out as a salesman), I had to help install an AC power supply at a customer’s site. I forgot to turn off the breaker on the distribution board, and a large spark flew at the connection terminal of the 200V power supply. Fortunately, I did not get seriously electrocuted, but I remember that because of the electric shock, my fingers were numb for a while. At that moment, I realized how dangerous electricity can be. Many people know that electricity can be harmful but do not understand what exactly is dangerous about it. Therefore, in the comic, Utsugi explains the danger of electric shock using a smartphone accident as an example. He emphasizes that there is no use in just being scared. We ought to be careful.
In the second and subsequent episodes, the section chief of quality assurance, called “the devil,” will explain safety measures that protect users from various hazards. He will also discuss the withstanding voltage testers (hipot testers), which are used to ensure the safety of electrical products.
