At Tru-Amp, we know how important it is to have reliable cables and conductors in your manufacturing or production facility. That’s why we offer a range of cable testing and conductor testing services to customers across 26 states.
What is Cable Testing?
A cable test is done to determine the faults in a cable assembly. It allows for easier detection of any issues affecting its performance, such as insulation breakdown, faulty connectors, or damaged shielding. Overall, cable testing is paramount in ensuring the efficiency of your cable systems, as well as preventing potential downtime and costly repairs.
The importance of a cable test:
- Quality: Checking the cable’s quality is the primary reason for a cable test. It ensures that the cable meets industry standards and specifications.
- Conformity: A cable’s conformity can be checked through cable testing, ensuring it’s suitable for its intended use and meets all stringent requirements.
- Functionality: The cable’s functionality is tested to confirm it can carry the intended electrical signals without interruptions or failures.
What is Conductor Testing?
Conductor testing is critical to cable testing, as it focuses specifically on the conductor or wire within a cable assembly. It involves verifying the conductor’s conductivity, resistance, and insulation and specifying possible defects.
The advantages of conductor testing:
- Safety: Conductors are often exposed to high voltages, so a cable test is necessary to guarantee proper insulation and safety measures.
- Reliability: By testing the conductivity and resistance of a conductor, any potential issues can be recognized and addressed before they cause disruptions in the operation.
- Efficiency: Performing regular tests on conductors helps maintain your electrical systems’ efficacy for optimal and continuous performance.
Cable and Conductor Testing Services
Cables and conductors are essential for the efficient and safe operation of electrical and electronic devices and systems. Our cable and conductor testing services ensure these components operate and perform as intended. These cable testing include ground resistance testing, insulation resistance testing, and DC high potential testing.
What Is Ground Resistance Testing?
In electrical systems, grounds create safe outlets for electricity to flow, minimizing or eliminating the risk of equipment damage, fire, and shock. Given their importance, periodic cable tests are vital to ensure they are working. The International Electrical Testing Associates mandates a three-year schedule for ground electrode testing, but annual inspections are often recommended for regular facility maintenance programs.
Our ground resistance cable testing services involve examining ground rods and their connections to verify they provide resistance within the acceptable range per the customer’s industry and facility demands.
Typical applications of ground resistance testing:
- AC substations
- Lightning protection systems
- Ground Grids
- Industrial plants
What Is Insulating Resistance Testing?
Electrical systems use insulation to ensure current follows the correct course through a circuit. Our insulation resistance (IR) cable testing services monitor the flow of electrical current to detect potential abnormalities or failures in the insulation before it fails altogether and leads to expensive or dangerous equipment malfunctions.
Insulation resistance testers are frequently used to test the electrical devices, parts, and equipment used in industrial plants, buildings, and facilities. The primary purpose is to ensure they don’t cause electrical shocks or short circuits due to degradation.
Typical applications of ground resistance testing:
- Motors
- Transformers
- Switchgear
- Ground Grids
Types of Ground Tests:
- Fall of Potential
- Point-to-Point
- Ground Fault Testing
- Ground Fault Systems Testing
What Is DC High Potential (Hipot) Testing?
This stress cable test measures the dielectric strength of a system’s insulation to ensure it can withstand high voltage levels. We apply a voltage much higher than the system’s standard operating levels to monitor its reaction and ability to withstand the voltage safely.
A DC hipot tester provides a more accurate reading of the leakage current as it only reads the real current. Therefore, it’s a helpful cable testing process since it can discern advanced or emerging weaknesses in the insulation structure before they become serious and lead to failure during service.
Typical applications of DC hipot testing:
- Cables and wires
- Generator stator windings
- Switchgear insulation systems
- Very low voltage devices to high voltage equipment
Schedule your cable or conductor testing service today!
Doing a cable test is paramount during the installation of new cables and troubleshooting your existing ones. It analyzes the system and finds glitches or faults, which may affect your production processes and cause profit loss due to unexpected downtimes.
Routine cable and conductor testing helps protect your equipment, your employees, and your business. To learn more about the services available at Tru-Amp or schedule a cable test appointment, contact us today.
