Abstract: In this paper, three typical discharge models of high voltage switchgear are designed, needle plate discharge, air gap discharge and suspension discharge.Based on the UHF measurement method to measure the discharge patterns of each electrode model in the process of discharge development, the changes of waveform patterns during the development of partial discharge were studied, and the discharge patterns of the three models were compared and analyzed to find out the characteristics of each discharge pattern. Finally, the type of discharge model can be judged by the characteristics of the waveform diagram, and the stage of discharge development can be judged and confirmed, which provides timely and effective information for the fault warning of the high voltage switch cabinet.