Wet Arc Propagation Resistance

The wet arc-resistance test for wire insulation provides an assessment of the ability of an insulation to prevent damage in an electrical arc environment. In service, electrical arcs may originate from a variety of factors including insulation deterioration, faulty installation, and chafing. It has been documented that results of an arc-propagation test may vary slightly due to the method of arc initiation. Therefore, a standard test method must be selected to evaluate the general arc-propagation resistance characteristics of an insulation. This test method initiates an arc with droplets of saline solution. The arc-propagation resistance is defined by the length of arc-propagation damage along the wires and by the extent of damage to all adjacent wires undamaged by the water droplets.

The test also evaluates the ability of the insulation to prevent further arc-propagation when the electrical arc is re-energized.

There are several variations on the Wet Arc Propagation Resistance test that may be elected for a client's specific needs. These include, but are not limited to:

• Limited testing (fewer number of trials performed)
• Testing with harnesses prepared by client
• Larger wire gauges (gauges larger than 20 AWG)
• Harness preparation only (no testing)

These conditions may impact pricing, please inquire for details.

See also: Dry Arc Propagation Resistance