High Voltage Test facility campaign report 2017

This report describes the main activities carried out at the High Voltage Padova Test Facility HVPTF in 2017. According with the Work Program (WP) 2017, the activities were focused mainly in: - Studying of the X-ray spectra to investigate the nature of the physical phenomena which occurs during the high voltage conditioning - Implementing an effective automatic procedure to define a reproducible high voltage test Method - testing alternative conditioning techniques to treat the electrode surfaces before applying the DC high voltage in high vacuum - comparing of breakdown voltage statistics from QST labs and HVPTF - calibrating the Voltages measured by the high voltage power supplies - Extending the duration of the High Voltage tests - Concluding the HV tests of a post insulator prototype foreseen in WP2016 As usual, activities concerning ordinary maintenance on the vacuum plant and controlling system have been done during the year.