Transformer Oil Analysis
Dissolved gas and oil quality analysis for power transformers, detecting insulation breakdown and developing electrical faults before an outage.
How it works
Transformer oil is both an insulator and a coolant — and like any other lubricant, it carries a chemical record of what's happening inside the transformer. Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) can reveal arcing, overheating and insulation breakdown long before it shows up as a trip or a failure.
VibroCon samples transformer oil on site and submits it for laboratory analysis, interpreting dissolved gas ratios, moisture content and dielectric strength against recognised transformer condition standards, so you know whether a transformer needs attention, monitoring, or is safe to run on.
What our transformer oil analysis covers
- Dissolved gas analysis (DGA) for arcing, overheating and partial discharge
- Moisture content and dielectric strength testing
- Furan analysis for paper insulation ageing, where required
- Oil quality trending against transformer condition standards
- Root cause interpretation of abnormal gas signatures
Signs it's time for transformer oil analysis
A transformer due for its periodic oil test
Unexplained trips or protection operations on a transformer
A transformer approaching or past its expected service life
Pre-purchase or commissioning verification of a transformer's condition
Common questions about transformer oil analysis
What is dissolved gas analysis (DGA)?
A test that measures gases dissolved in transformer oil — different fault types (arcing, overheating, partial discharge) produce different gas signatures, letting us diagnose developing problems from a single oil sample.
How often should transformer oil be tested?
Typically annually for most distribution transformers, with more frequent testing for critical or ageing units — we'll recommend an interval based on your transformer's age and criticality.
Can a bad DGA result mean the transformer is about to fail?
Not necessarily — some results indicate developing issues that need monitoring, others indicate more urgent findings. We interpret the result and tell you which one you're dealing with.