As a process to improve the insulation performance of VIs (Vacuum Interrupters), AC voltage conditioning is generally adopted by many manufacturers. Although the insulation performance is enhanced easily with AC Voltage conditioning, it has limitations when high recovery voltage is required due to high voltage rate or capacitive current switching. In particular, impurities such as oxides segregated on the electrode surface can be removed not by the energy level of the voltage conditioning but by the higher energy level achieved by the current conditioning process In this article, the current conditioning was carried out in various conditions and its validity was examined. The current conditioning was processed by changing the amplitude of applied current, arc time, the number of tests, and frequency. The insulation performance and the status of contact surface were checked as well. We concluded that as the applied charge quantity and the conditioning coverage area increase, the conditioning effect is much higher.
