How to Choose the Right BAUR VLF Test System: frida TD vs viola TD vs PHG TD/PD
Choosing the right BAUR VLF test system depends on three main factors: cable voltage class, diagnostic requirements, and how mobile the testing team needs the solution to be.
For users who need a portable VLF platform for lower-voltage medium-voltage work, the frida and frida TD are the most compact options in this group. BAUR positions frida and frida TD as portable devices for cable testing, cable sheath testing, and, in the TD version, dissipation factor measurement, Monitored Withstand Test (MWT), and optional partial discharge measurement with the PD-TaD 62. The platform offers up to 26 kVrms output and supports VLF cable testing with 3 x U0 for cables up to 15 kV, while frida TD adds MWT with 3 x U0 for cables up to 15 kV. Its compact form factor and approx. 22 kg weight make it the logical choice when mobility is a top priority.
If the application requires higher voltage capability while still keeping a field-oriented design, the viola and viola TD move into a stronger performance class. BAUR describes viola TD as a portable VLF tester and diagnostics device with up to 44 kVrms / 62 kVpeak output, and it supports cable testing and MWT with tan delta on medium-voltage cables up to 35 kV. Compared with frida TD, viola TD brings higher output voltage, higher output current, and larger capacitive load capability, making it better suited for utilities and contractors who need a more capable portable system for broader MV cable fleets.
The choice becomes clearer when tan delta and MWT are central to the testing strategy. Both frida TD and viola TD combine cable testing and dissipation factor measurement in one device, and both support automatic testing and diagnostic sequences. BAUR states that the dissipation factor measurement with 0.1 Hz VLF truesinus® provides differentiated information on the ageing condition of paper-insulated mass-impregnated and PE/XLPE cables, and can help distinguish between new, slightly damaged, and severely water-tree-damaged PE/XLPE cables. In practical terms, that means TD-equipped systems are the better choice when the customer wants more than a pass/fail withstand test and needs condition-based maintenance insight.
For users who need the highest diagnostic depth or need to work across larger cable systems and higher voltage classes, the PHG 70 / PHG 80 TD / PD platform is the strongest option. BAUR describes the PHG family as a universal, flexible, modular, extendable VLF test and diagnostics system. The base PHG models are used for cable and sheath testing of medium-voltage cables up to 50 kV, while the TD versions add dissipation factor measurement and the TD PD versions add partial discharge testing. BAUR specifically notes that the PHG TD models support dissipation factor measurement on medium-voltage cables up to 50 kV operating voltage, and the TD PD systems add PD level, PD quantity, PD inception/extinction voltage measurement, and PD phase resolving for fault classification.
The PHG platform is also the right answer when PD diagnostics are a required part of the workflow, not just an optional add-on. In the uploaded files, frida and viola can be expanded with the PD-TaD 62, but the PHG TD PD models are purpose-built around a more complete modular diagnostic concept. BAUR also describes VLF truesinus® in the PHG documentation as the only voltage shape in this context that enables reliable voltage testing together with precise dissipation factor and partial discharge measurement, thanks to its load-independent, symmetrical, and continuous waveform. For customers who want one voltage source supporting VLF test + TD + PD with strong reproducibility, PHG has the clearest technical positioning.
Another practical difference is system size and deployment style. The frida TD is a compact, single-piece portable unit at about 22 kg. The viola TD is still portable, but it is a two-part system with an HV part of 57 kg and an operating unit of 19 kg, making it more of a high-performance field unit than a one-person carry tool. The PHG is a much larger modular system, with the HV generator alone at about 160 kg and total system weight starting from 250 kg, and BAUR explicitly notes it is suitable for installation in cable test vans. This means the choice is not only about test voltage; it is also about whether the user needs a backpack-style field workflow, a transportable high-output field unit, or a vehicle-based diagnostic platform.
In simple terms, the lineup breaks down like this:
For utilities, service providers, and cable diagnostics teams, the best BAUR choice is not just about buying the highest-voltage unit. It is about matching the platform to the testing strategy. If the goal is simple portable VLF, frida is the fit. If the goal is portable VLF plus MWT and tan delta, viola TD gives more headroom. If the goal is full diagnostic depth with TD and PD in a modular high-performance platform, PHG TD PD is the strongest solution in this group.
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