SVG Commissioning Test Checklist

An SVG commissioning test checklist should prove that the installed unit is correctly connected, safely configured and able to respond to the measured reactive-power duty. It should not be a collection of green status lights. Start with the approved one-line diagram, model wiring drawing, protection study, CT schedule and manufacturer startup procedure. Record the as-left settings, load state, instruments, test limits and responsible person. If a test cannot be performed safely or the required evidence is missing, mark it open instead of assuming the result.

Commissioning stages

Commissioning is easier to audit when divided into document review, dead inspection, control and measurement verification, first energization, functional tests and performance acceptance. Each stage should have a hold point. Do not energize a stage with an unresolved safety or wiring defect merely to “see whether it works.”

O CNBYG SVG product family supplies the product context. The exact model manual, drawing and project specification control the test sequence.

Checklist table

Document and safety hold point

Check that the installed model, voltage, frequency, phase/wire system and enclosure match the approved design. Confirm the latest one-line and wiring schedule show the actual CTs, breaker, isolation point, neutral treatment and communications. Review the protection settings and any changes made during installation. Resolve contradictions before proceeding.

The team should identify the electrical boundary, lockout/tagout method, stored-energy discharge time, test instruments and emergency response. Only qualified personnel should perform electrical testing. This article is a planning checklist, not permission for energized work. Use the manufacturer’s manual and the site’s safety rules.

Dead inspection

Inspect mounting hardware, rails, enclosure panels, door operation, cable entries, terminals, protective bonding, labels, barriers and unused openings. Confirm the module or wall unit is in the approved orientation and has the specified service space. Remove shipping blocks only according to the manual. Check fans, filters and vents for obstruction.

Verify cable size, termination, torque record and segregation of power, CT, control and communication wiring. Confirm CT secondary circuits are closed and correctly terminated. Check phase labels and neutral conductors without disturbing a live circuit. Photograph the as-installed arrangement for the asset record.

O SVG installation requirements checklist provides the preceding installation checks. Commissioning should document that each one was actually inspected.

Image: illustrative pre-energization inspection of a closed wall SVG.

Verify CTs and controller inputs

A wrong CT ratio, phase, polarity or location can make a healthy SVG respond incorrectly. Compare each CT nameplate and terminal with the schedule. Verify continuity and phase identification using the approved method. Confirm the controller’s voltage reference and phase sequence. If the design includes neutral or unbalance compensation, verify the corresponding measurement path.

Use a known safe load state to check direction. With the SVG disabled, compare controller measurements with an independent instrument at the same boundary. A mismatch is a hold point. Do not tune around incorrect wiring. Record the instrument model, time, load state, ratios and measured phase relationships.

First energization

Follow the model’s sequence for auxiliary power, control power and main power. Observe input voltage, current, fan operation, display state, alarms, communications and temperature. Keep the initial load stable and document the production condition. If the unit trips, preserve the exact code, settings revision and surrounding measurements before resetting.

Check that the SVG starts in the intended mode and that enable/disable, remote stop and interlock signals behave as designed. A “ready” indication is not proof of reactive compensation. The SVG reactive-current guide explains the response quantity to compare.

Functional tests

Test the reactive-power command with the SVG enabled under a representative inductive state. Confirm output direction, measured power factor, source current and voltage. If capacitive operation is required, test it separately within safe and approved limits. Test minimum load, peak load and a changeover that reflects the process.

Verify current limit and priority behavior when other functions share capacity. Check alarms for overtemperature, overcurrent, communication loss and sensor fault where the model supports them. Test the response to an approved stop or upstream protection action. Confirm recovery follows the documented procedure and does not erase the event record.

Image: illustrative review of synchronized traces; actual acceptance data must come from approved instruments.

Performance acceptance

Define the measurement point before testing. It may be the SVG connection bus, a feeder or the PCC. Use the same instrument locations, averaging, duration and load-state descriptions for baseline and post-commissioning records. State whether the target is power factor, reactive current, voltage support, unbalance or another project metric.

Include at least the operating cases that drove sizing. Record real power, reactive power, current, voltage, power factor, SVG output, ambient condition and relevant harmonic or unbalance measurements. A single favorable reading cannot prove performance across the operating range. If the target is not met, check CT inputs, capacity, priority settings, network condition and load change before changing parameters.

O APF and SVG before-and-after method can help structure comparable evidence. For harmonic limits at a PCC, consult IEEE 519-2022 and the project agreement.

When a result fails, classify the cause before changing a setting. A low power factor may come from insufficient current capacity, incorrect CT polarity, a changed load, a voltage condition or a control priority. A temperature alarm may reflect airflow, ambient or overload rather than a commissioning parameter. Preserve the failed trace, then retest one change at a time. This creates evidence for the owner and avoids hiding a design problem behind repeated tuning.

For parallel modules, record each module’s output share and alarm state during the same load case. Check that a disabled module does not leave the remaining units above their permitted duty. For a four-wire or unbalance function, add phase and neutral records to the acceptance package. These extra fields make later troubleshooting much faster.

Closeout and training

Export the final settings, firmware, alarm history and communication configuration. Archive the as-built one-line, wiring schedule, protection settings, CT data, raw traces, test report, photographs, deviations and sign-off. Record serial or asset identifiers and any spare module or fan details. Make clear which values are measured and which are assumed.

Train operators on normal status, alarms, permitted reset actions and escalation. Do not teach them to open a power-electronic enclosure or bypass an interlock. Set the first maintenance review date and preserve a baseline so future changes can be distinguished from commissioning behavior.

Use a clear punch-list rule: each open item should state the condition, risk, temporary control, responsible person and closure evidence. A cosmetic label issue may have a different disposition from an unresolved CT polarity or protection setting. The commissioning manager should approve any conditional acceptance and set a deadline for retest. Once the item closes, update the as-left report rather than leaving two conflicting versions in circulation.

Keep the signed report with the equipment asset record and note the next review date.

Record the approved acceptance boundary beside every final result.

Neutral video: power electronics testing context

This IIT Roorkee lecture introduces shunt active-filter operation and is provided as neutral background for understanding controlled compensation. It is not a commissioning procedure.

Perguntas frequentes

What is the most important SVG commissioning check?

Verify the measurement boundary, CT ratio, location, polarity, phase order and controller inputs before judging performance. Incorrect inputs can make every later result misleading.

Can commissioning use only the SVG display?

No. Compare the display with independent, approved measurements at the defined point and record the load state. The display alone cannot prove a site-wide result.

What should happen if an alarm appears during startup?

Preserve the exact code, time, settings and measurements, follow the model procedure and escalate to qualified personnel. Do not repeatedly reset and erase evidence.

What makes a commissioning report useful?

It links each test to a document revision, instrument, load state, measured result, limit, decision and responsible sign-off. It also includes the final settings and raw evidence.

Commissioning outcome

An SVG commissioning test is complete when safety, wiring, measurement, control, performance and closeout evidence agree. A signed checklist without raw measurements is incomplete; a good report makes the installation repeatable and maintainable.