In a hipot test, the correct connection is Black lead to the + terminal and Red lead to the - terminal.

• A. Positive to + and Negative to -
• B. Red to + and Black to -
• C. Black to - and Red to +
• D. Black to + and Red to -

Answer: (D)

In hipot testing, the leads have a defined polarity because the tester’s readings and safety features are referenced to that polarity. The black lead being connected to the positive/high-voltage output and the red lead to the negative/return means the device under test is energized in the way the instrument is designed to measure leakage current and insulation integrity. Following this convention keeps readings consistent in sign and interpretation and ensures the tester’s safety interlocks and trip thresholds operate as intended.

Swapping the leads would reverse the polarity relative to the instrument’s reference, which can invert readings or cause the test to behave unpredictably, potentially masking insulation issues or triggering improper safety responses. That is why the configuration with black to + and red to - is the correct, standard setup.