Reverse Current Leakage

The purpose of a diode in an electrical circuit is to ensure that current is only allowed to flow in the correct direction. In other words, it acts as a conductor in one direction and as an insulator in the other. The reverse current leakage test evaluates this function by applying a reverse-biased voltage to […] Read more

Safety Wire Hole Pullout

Safety wires are responsible for maintaining the position of a cable/ wire harness on an aircraft and must be able to endure forces due to turbulence or repeated maintenance. This test evaluates the ability of a connector to withstand pulling forces from a safety wire at the location of the safety wire hole. A standard […] Read more

Mutual Capacitance

This test measures the funtional capacitance between a pair of insulated wires within an multi-pair cable. Capacitance measurements are made between the two conductors under test and between each conductor and the components not under test (shield, other conductors) shorted together. These values are then used to calculate the mutual capacitance for the pair within […] Read more

Mutual Inductance

It is critical that signal-carrying conductors within a larger cable construction each be able to effectively perform their separate functions without electrical interference. A source of electrical interference can distort a signal carried on a wire, drastically affecting the functionality of the system. The mutual inductance test measures the effectiveness of the insulation on inner […] Read more

Nitric Acid Immersion (Acid Resistance)

The Nitric acid immersion test determines the ability of a wire’s insulation to resist breakdown in the presence of a strong acid. Test samples are submerged in red fuming nitric acid for a duration of 8 hours. Resistance to the acid is determined via a wet dielectric test – any dielectric breakdown is considered a […] Read more

Nominal Electric Resistance per Unit Length

This test is used to calculate the nominal resistance per length based on the resistivity and cross-sectional area of the round wire sample. Read more

Outer Conductor Integrity

The outer conductor integrity test is designed to evaluate the ability of an outer conductor material to withstand heat exposure and subsequent soldering. Samples are placed into an oven at the specified temperature for no less than 1 hour and 30 minutes. After the heat exposure, samples are maintained at room temperature for no less […] Read more

Jacket Color

Insulation color is often used to identify a wire or cable’s system or function(s). The jacket color test evaluates the characteristics of an insulative jacket’s color as compared to the limitations specified in the applicable standard. This testing procedure applies the Munsell Notation of color categorization in which colors are defined by hue, value, and […] Read more

Heat Distortion

The heat distortion test evaluates the ability of an insulator or jacket to maintain its physical structure without deformation under elevated temperature conditions. Distortion of the insulation or outer jacket can create an uneven insulative surface on a conductor; areas with reduced insulation coverage are more susceptible to damage. Distortion also increases the possibility for […] Read more

Flexibility

The flexibility of a wire/cable is dependent on a combination of the conductor and insulation constructions. Wire/ cable constructions with more conductor strands are often better able to endure flexing without breaking whereas more rigid constructions are more likely to crack or break over periods of excess mechanical stress. The flexibility of a wire or […] Read more

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