An ever-increasing appetite for electrical energy by industrial, commercial, and household consumers has resulted in a continuously growing demand for transmission capacity and improved reliability of electricity supply.
All newly manufactured components of electricity networks (like cables) undergo various types of tests to ensure their reliability and longevity. The tests follow specifications set out in national and international standards. Of all systems in electricity generation and distribution, cable systems must satisfy possibly the widest range of test requirements.
Cable testing provides information about the cable’s global condition (e.g., the cable’s overall insulation system), and will reveal localized problems, such as poor joints and terminations; it will also reveal localized weak spots in the insulation
When to test electric cable
Field testing of medium voltage and high-voltage electric cable is required for various reasons, such as acceptance after installation, charting the gradual deterioration of insulation over time, verification of splices and joints, and for special repairs. Various cable tests are carried out to spot potential failures before they can cause severe outages.
Electrical Cable test equipment provides access to all of the technology needed to make informed cable management decisions through the different stages of the cable’s life cycle. Newly laid cables may be tested to reveal any faults arising from transportation or installation.
Power cables in service and older PE/XLPE insulation cables may require testing to assess aging, particularly water-free growth, which causes sections of the cable to weaken.
If circuit breakers and other protective equipment connected to a circuit opens persistently, testing of the cables in the circuit becomes imperative as part of the procedures for fault identification.
Process of Testing HV and MV Electric Cable
When testing electric cables, the following guidelines are very important:
Safety Consideration
When testing Electric cables, personnel safety is most important. All cable and equipment tests should only be performed by qualified persons on isolated and de-energized systems, except where otherwise specifically required and authorized.
There are cases in which switches may be connected to a cable end and serve to isolate the cable from the rest of the system. Exercise extreme caution after de-energizing power cables as they are capable of holding large capacitive charges, use the correct PPE and electrical safety tools to properly discharge cables before and after testing.
Choose of equipment
This depends on the type of test to done on the cable. Method to be used depends greatly on the age and type of cable system installed. Types of test and equipment to be used are listed below.
Equipment:
Baur Viola TD
Hvinc PFT503
Tests:
Power factor / dissipation factor (tan delta) test
Partial discharge test
Very low frequency (VLF) test
Hipot test
Insulation resistance test
Testing of the HV and MV cable
After strict adherence to the safety procedures and guidelines, the test Engineer will apply a certain test voltage to the cable under test. The test result is now compared with factory standard reference table according to IEEE standard.
PowerPro HV and MV Cable testing Prowess
Powerpro Company Limited provides field testing of medium- and high-voltage cables, sales of cable testing equipment’s from OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and training.
Generation of test report and recommendations.
Remarkable servicing with expert precision.
We are equipped with cable testing Equipment, and highly skilled and well-trained staff to deliver accurately on your cable testing.
Please contact us via hello@powerpro.ng for more information. Our experts will be waiting to assist you.