In this paper the previously developed method of partial discharges (P
D) recognition is applied to evaluate PD in HV devices. Using conventi
onal discharge detection (bandwidth similar to 400 kHz) the patterns o
f PD were studied. Satisfactory results in the past, when analyzing di
scharges in artificial models, have shown that using the shape of phas
e-position distributions the origin and the type of discharges can be
studied. By means of unambiguous statistical operators like skewness,
kurtosis, number of peaks etc. quantitative information about the disc
harge source can be obtained. In the case of an unknown defect a combi
nation of these operators is compared to the same set of operators for
a known configuration. In this way a statement can be made on the cha
racter of a discharge source. The use of this technique in evaluating
different discharges in HV cable and in 400 kV SF6 insulation confirms
the usefulness of the new approach.