Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) Testers
ED&D CTI test equipment supports the evaluation of tracking resistance and surface breakdown behavior of solid insulating materials under controlled electrical stress and contaminant exposure. This product family includes the TRK-01 Digital Comparative Tracking Index Tester for testing programs associated with IEC 60112, UL 746A, and ASTM D3638, as well as broader insulation-coordination and material-selection workflows tied to IEC 60335 and related product safety standards.
Built for CTI / PTI Evaluation
The TRK-01 is intended for labs evaluating whether insulating materials resist carbon-path formation under contaminated electrical stress conditions.
Complete Test Function in One Platform
The tester integrates the core features needed for comparative tracking workflows, including electrodes, controlled drop release, current limiting, and adjustable test voltage.
Relevant to Material Selection
CTI data helps support material grouping, insulation coordination, and product safety decisions where resistance to tracking matters.
Tell us your governing standard, voltage range, and material-evaluation goal, and we can help identify the right CTI tester configuration.
CTI Testing for Tracking Resistance of Solid Insulating Materials
Comparative Tracking Index testing is used to evaluate how resistant a solid insulating material is to the formation of a conductive carbonized path, often called tracking, when the surface is exposed to electrical stress and a conductive contaminant. In standards-driven practice, CTI / PTI testing is used to compare materials under a controlled method rather than to make a broad, stand-alone statement about every end-use condition.
In practical product safety work, CTI testing is relevant when selecting or qualifying plastics and other insulating materials used in electrical products. Tracking resistance data can influence how materials are grouped and how they are used in insulation systems, creepage-distance decisions, and product design.
ED&D’s TRK-01 Digital Comparative Tracking Index Tester is designed as a complete CTI platform with the major functional elements needed for the test, including electrodes, controlled drop release, drop counting, adjustable current limiting, and adjustable test voltage. Based on your supplied product information, the standard model adjusts to 600 V, with a 1000 V model also available.
Where solution conductivity matters: conductivity measurement is useful for preparing, checking, and documenting the conductive liquid used during CTI workflows, especially where a lab, customer specification, or internal quality procedure requires verification of the test solution before use.
Where conductivity does not stand alone: a conductivity reading by itself does not establish CTI validity. Meaningful CTI results still depend on the full test setup, including the prescribed solution preparation, electrode condition and geometry, drop delivery, voltage / current settings, specimen preparation, specimen cleanliness, and the applicable failure or acceptance criteria.
Important standards note: CTI equipment supports the test method, but it does not by itself establish a material’s suitability for every end use. Final engineering decisions still depend on the exact standard, specimen preparation, contaminant conditions, voltage level, acceptance criteria, and how the result is used within the broader insulation system.
How This Page Is Organized
- TRK-01 Tester: equipment features, voltage capability, and standards positioning
- TRK-CM1 Conductivity Meter: support instrument for checking conductive solution condition and documenting lab setup
- Why CTI Testing Matters: where tracking resistance fits into safety and material-selection decisions
- Applications: insulating-material evaluation workflows for product safety labs and manufacturers
TRK-01 Digital Comparative Tracking Index Tester
TRK-01 CTI Tester
TRK-01 Digital Comparative Tracking Index Tester is used to test an insulating material’s resistance to tracking. In this context, tracking refers to the formation of a carbonized conductive path on the surface of an insulating material as a result of repeated flashover activity under contaminated conditions.
The tester is configured as a complete test platform and includes electrodes, an electronic control for releasing conductive drops, a drop counter, adjustable current limiting, and test-voltage adjustment to 600 V. A 1000 V version is also available, based on your supplied product information.
The unit is described as a precision-machined, stainless, industry-standard style tester for complete CTI workflows. Please specify 120 V or 240 V when ordering.
The strongest standards anchors for this type of equipment are IEC 60112 for PTI / CTI determination, UL 746A for polymeric-material evaluation using CTI methods, ASTM D3638 for CTI testing of electrical insulating materials.
TRK-CM1 Conductivity Meter
The TRK-CM1 Conductivity Meter is a support instrument intended for use with the TRK-01 CTI Tester. It measures conductivity, resistivity, and salinity and is useful for checking and documenting the condition of the conductive liquid used in CTI lab workflows.
This portable waterproof meter supports lab and field use with automatic data logging, self-diagnostic function, and PC / printer output for rapid review and record keeping. The supplied package includes the meter, Model 9382-10D Electrode, soft case, strap, batteries (LR6, 2 pcs), and instruction manual.
In practice, the meter is best understood as a solution-verification and documentation tool. It helps a lab confirm that the prepared conductive liquid is consistent with the intended procedure or internal control practice.
What it helps control: solution preparation checks, incoming solution verification, repeatability between runs, troubleshooting of abnormal results, and documented lab practice for CTI workflows.
What it does not replace: the conductivity meter does not replace the CTI test method itself. It does not control electrode geometry, droplet formation and delivery, test voltage, current limiting, specimen conditioning, surface cleanliness, or the applicable end-point / failure criteria.
Configuration note: if your workflow is driven by a specific in-house protocol, customer specification, or higher-voltage variant, confirm the required voltage range, method details, and any solution-verification requirements before ordering.
Why Comparative Tracking Index Testing Matters
Tracking resistance matters because insulating materials in service may be exposed to moisture, contamination, and sustained electrical stress. Under those conditions, a material with poor tracking resistance may form a conductive surface path that degrades insulation performance or contributes to failure risk.
CTI testing is therefore useful for comparing materials under a defined method. It helps engineers and safety teams evaluate how a material behaves under repeatable contaminated-electrical-stress conditions, but it should still be interpreted within the context of the complete test method and the intended product application.
| Testing Consideration | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Tracking resistance | Helps compare how well insulating materials resist formation of a conductive carbonized path under contaminated electrical stress. |
| Material grouping | CTI results are commonly used in material-classification and insulation-coordination frameworks tied to creepage-distance decisions. |
| Product safety design | Supports selection of plastics and insulating materials for components exposed to voltage and contamination risk. |
| Quality control | Can support internal comparison, incoming-material review, and repeatability checks when the same method is used consistently. |
| Solution verification | Checking the conductive liquid can improve lab consistency, but it is only one part of the overall CTI method and should not be treated as the sole determinant of test validity. |
Selection guidance: choose a CTI platform when your lab needs to evaluate insulating materials under the specific surface-tracking conditions used in IEC 60112, UL 746A-related workflows, or ASTM D3638 material testing. Add a conductivity meter when your lab also needs a practical way to verify and document solution condition as part of repeatable CTI setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CTI testing used for?
CTI testing is used to compare the resistance of solid insulating materials to surface tracking under electrical stress and contamination. It supports material evaluation, insulation-coordination decisions, and product safety design.
What standard is most closely associated with CTI testing?
IEC 60112 is the core international method for determining proof tracking index and comparative tracking index of solid insulating materials.
Is CTI the same as PTI?
No. IEC 60112 covers both comparative tracking index and proof tracking index. They are related but distinct results within the same test-method family.
How does UL relate to CTI testing?
UL 746A includes material evaluation methods that use comparative tracking index (CTI) data as part of insulation system and material performance assessment. CTI values are commonly determined using methods such as IEC 60112.
Why does ASTM D3638 matter here?
ASTM D3638 is an ASTM CTI method for electrical insulating materials and is relevant where customers work within ASTM-based materials programs or want an additional domestic reference point.
What voltage range does the TRK-01 support?
Based on your supplied product information, the standard TRK-01 adjusts to 600 V, with a 1000 V model available.
Why would a lab use the TRK-CM1 conductivity meter with the TRK-01?
The TRK-CM1 helps a lab check and document the condition of the conductive liquid used in CTI workflows. It is useful for setup verification, consistency between runs, and record keeping.
Does the conductivity meter determine whether a CTI result is valid?
No. The conductivity meter is a support tool. CTI validity still depends on the full method, including solution preparation, electrode condition, drop delivery, voltage and current settings, specimen preparation, and the applicable failure criteria.
Send your applicable standard, target voltage range, material-evaluation requirement, and whether you need solution-verification instrumentation with the tester.
Typical CTI Tester Applications
ED&D CTI testers are used in materials laboratories, electrical safety labs, polymeric-material evaluation programs, product design and qualification workflows, and quality-control environments where tracking resistance of insulating materials must be measured in a repeatable way.
Depending on the workflow, these applications may align with IEC 60112, UL 746A, ASTM D3638, and broader material-use decisions connected to IEC 60335 and other electrical product standards.
- Evaluation of plastics and insulating materials for tracking resistance
- Support for insulation-coordination and material-grouping decisions
- Comparison of material performance under contaminated electrical stress
- Qualification of material plaques and equipment-part samples
- Internal engineering review of insulating material choices
- Laboratory investigation of flashover-driven surface degradation
- Quality-control checks on materials and fabricated parts
- Support for appliance and electrical product development programs
- Repeatable CTI / PTI testing in standards-driven lab environments
Where the conductivity meter fits: the TRK-CM1 is most useful when the lab wants a practical way to verify and document solution condition during preparation, incoming checks, troubleshooting, or repeatability control.
Method note: meaningful CTI results depend on the exact test method, contaminant preparation, electrode condition, specimen preparation, drop application, electrical settings, and end-point criteria required by the governing standard or customer procedure.