Clinton Instrument Company

Pinhole Detection Specialists

Clinton Instrument Company, the world leader in spark testers for the wire and cable industry, has expanded its high voltage pinhole detection technology to include new quality control tools for manufacturers of plastic- and dielectric-coated materials. A Clinton pinhole detection system performs a 100% inspection on the manufacturing line, insuring product reliability and averting further processing of substandard material.

Clinton engineers are available to discuss your pinhole detection application. Call us, send us samples, or submit a product questionnaire to get started.

The Theory

The insulating or coated test material is positioned between a grounded plane and a charged electrode, which applies a regulated, non-destructive voltage potential to the opposite surface of the product. Good quality material insulates the test potential from ground.

When a defect is found, an arc discharges from the electrode through the fault site to the grounded plane. The equipment detects this discharge and indicates the fault.

About the Company

The Clinton Instrument Company was founded in 1952 by Henry H. Clinton, inventor of the patented 3kHz High Frequency Sine Wave design that would radically modernize test methods for wire and cable insulation. A pioneer in pinhole detection technology, Clinton remains in the forefront of research and development in this specialized area. Over 50 years of experience have yielded numerous patented designs for the specific pinhole detection requirements of a diverse world market.