Low-Cost Low-Power Test-Bed for Experimental Investigation of Common-Mode Chokes for High-Power Applications

A low-cost method for experimental investigation of common-mode chokes for reducing high-frequency motor ground-currents of inverter-based drive systems of several hundred kW is presented. It provides a powerful tool during the design stage of such chokes to verify their predicted performance. The method draws from the mainly capacitive behavior of machines at very high frequencies. Results of experimental tests for drives with peak ground-current amplitudes of more than 60 Amperes, carried out on a 4 kW test-bed, are presented. They confirm the feasibility of such tests as well as the capability of small, inexpensive, single-turn chokes to effectively reduce the ground-current.