Cable Testing 101 – The Basics

The phrase cable testing is quite self-explanatory, but just what exactly does this vital service entail?

Cable testing is the process whereby professional electrical contractors run diagnostics on electrical systems and large-scale circuits to diagnose any issues along the chain of electrical flow, as well as pinpointing exactly where the fault is – and even deducing the type of cable fault.

Without cable testers, we’d find ourselves without power much more often than we currently do.

So, lets take a look at cable testing basics – specifically high voltage cable testing…

High Voltage Cable Testing

While continuity tests are done to measure good current flowing from one point to another, high voltage cable testing actually does the opposite – it ensures that current is NOT flowing where it shouldn’t be flowing.

When the tester picks up a current flow that is higher than it should be between two points, the cable insulation is brought into question.

So, high voltage cable testing checks for sufficient isolation between parts of an electrical circuit. This isolation keeps everyone safe and ensures the efficient operation of the circuit.

High voltage cable testing is extensively used to find:

• Conductive/corrosive elements on the conductors
• Braided shielding
• Stray wire strands
• Compromised cable insulation
• Terminal spacing issues

Types of High Voltage Cable Testing

There are three main types of high voltage cable testing procedures. These are dielectric breakdown testing, dielectric withstanding testing, and insulation resistance testing:

Dielectric breakdown cable testing seeks to determine how much voltage can be applied between cables before their insulation fails. This will tell the tester what the voltage capacity of that particular cable is.

Dielectric withstanding cable testing determines the length of time a cable can withstand a specific voltage being passed through it.

Finally, insulation resistance cable testing determines whether a cable’s insulation is sufficient to resist the voltage required to pass through the cable itself.

Cable Testing in KwaZulu-Natal

Do you require the expertise of a professional cable tester in KwaZulu-Natal? Grant Laatz has been in the electrical contracting industry for over 20 years, and has the skills to test your cables, identify faults, and repair them. Get in touch with Laatz Electrical for more information on our cable testing capabilities!