Our Testing Services

The Abrasion Resistance test evaluates an insulation's ability to endure rotational abrasion.

Evaluates the abrasion resistance of wire insulation per AS22759.

Evaluates the abrasion resistance of wire insulation at temperature per AS22759.

Evaluates long-term power cable performance under combined environmental stresses per SAE J2031.

Accelerated aging is a test to help predict the long term chemical and mechanical durability of wire/cable insulation materials. Subjected to temperatures in excess of their prescribed rating, insulating materials break down quickly so data that would take months and years to gather can be attained in mere weeks and days.

This test evaluates the accelerated electrical requirements in water of cable per ICEA S-76-474.

The accelerated service test evaluates the performance of a finished cable at electric overload conditions.

Accelerated aging is a test to help predict the long term chemical and mechanical durability of wire/cable insulation materials. Subjected to temperatures in excess of their prescribed rating, insulating materials break down quickly so data that would take months and years to gather can be attained in mere weeks and days.

Assessing thread strength can yield vital data for how much stress a connector has endured. This is particularly important for connectors mounted in shock environments of aircrafts.

The purpose of adherence of plating is to measures the effectiveness of adherence of the applied plating to conductor. Copper conductors are normally plated with pure metal coatings to improve the conductor performance and reduce resistivity.

This test evaluates the adherence test of wire per SS7333.

The Adhesion of Conductors test measures adhesion of each conductor layer of a cable to the cable's dielectric core.

This test evaluates the adhesion of insultion of cable per EN50305.

The adhesion of Nickel coating test evaluates the adherence of a nickel plating to an underlying copper/ copper alloy material.

Adhesion testing of potting/molding compound to metal is designed to assess the bonding strength between the compound used for insulation and sealing and a metal substrate in the electrical assembly. Effective adhesion of the potting compound is essential to the assembly’s durability and protection from external factors.

Adhesion testing of potting/molding compound to Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is designed to assess the bonding strength between the compound used for insulation and sealing and PVC components in the electrical assembly. Effective adhesion of the potting compound is essential to the assembly’s durability and protection from external factors.

Adhesion testing of potting/molding compound to neoprene (rubber) is designed to assess the bonding strength between the compound used for insulation and sealing and rubber components in the electrical assembly. Effective adhesion of the potting compound is essential to the assembly’s durability and protection from external factors.

Life cycling of polyalkene wire is a three step process that starts with placing the wire in a high temperature air circulated oven for a defined period of time. Sustained high temperature exposure is performed followed by mechanical and electrical tests.

The specimens are suspended in a heat chamber without touching one another or the walls for 7 days at the applicable test temperature. After the conditioning period, the specimens are removed from the heat chamber and conditioned at room ambient temperature for 4 hours minimum.

Air leakage testing evaluates the integrity of hermetic and environmental seals on electrical connectors. The ability of a connector to prevent the ingress or escape of gases is essential in aerospace applications.

Verifies the dielectric integrity of shielded automotive cable insulation using an alternate high-voltage test per SAE J2394.

It is no surprise that aircraft components are expected to withstand rapid and extreme changes in altitude without loss of functionality. The altitude immersion test subjects a sample connector to such changes in altitude pressure and assesses its ability to maintain functionality.

Wired, mated, and assembled connectors are tested inside a pressurized chamber with the temperature reduced to simulate an altitude of 100,000 feet. The chamber's internal temperature is reduced to -65 °C and is maintained until the connector temperature stabilizes.

This test evaluates the annealing test for wires used as conductors of conductor per IS 10810.

This test evaluates the application - workmanship of cable per J2394.

The Armor test consists of two smaller tests, Springiness and Toughness. Each is designed to evaluate the durability of armor wire.

Assembly resistance test. Test current is applied at both ends of the EMI shield assembly, with plugs mated or grounding clamps attached to steel rods, to measure electrical resistance.

Fiber optic cable attenuation testing is a procedure performed to measure the loss of signal strength or power as it travels through a fiber optic cable. Attenuation refers to the decrease in the intensity of light signals as they propagate along the fiber.

The purpose of attenuation testing is to assess the quality and performance of the fiber optic cable, ensuring that the signal loss is within acceptable limits. By measuring the attenuation, network operators can determine if the cable meets the required specifications and if any corrective actions are necessary.

The purpose of the attenuation test is to measure the energy lost by transmitting a signal through a cable. The energy loss measurement quantifies the cable's resistance to electrical signal transmission.

The axial concentricity quantitatively measures the concentricity of a wire or cable sample as a TIR (Total Indicator Reading) measurement.

Measures the concentricity and wall thickness uniformity of connector insulation per AS39029.

Measures the concentricity and wall thickness uniformity of connector insulation per AS39029.

The Axial Stability test evaluates the ability of wire/ cable insulation to resist longitudinal dimensional change while cycling between high and low temperatures.

The backshell shield braid to shell conductivity test measures the voltage drop between a connector backshell's shield braid and to either the threads or mounting bracket of the receptacle.

The barometric pressure test evaluates the performance of electrical components at reduced atmospheric pressure such as is expected in high altitude flight.

Coupling components have the potential to undergo high mechanical stress as a result of poor clamping, heavy wire harnesses, and maintenance operations. The intention of the bayonet coupling pin strength test is to assess the strength of the pins in each of the couplings. For this test, a static 50-pound load is applied to the coupling pins to determine if the coupling is structurally sound. The pass/fail conditions are based off of consistent electrical connection and no disengagement of the contact.

This test evaluates the behaviour at low temp of wire per IEC 60811-1-4.

This test is used to determine the insulation elasticity and propagation of damage through the wire/cable insulation.

Evaluates the wire's ability to withstand bending stress by winding around a mandrel under specified tension per ANSI/NEMA WC 27500.

Bending endurance test. Determines the ability of completed cable to withstand repeated smooth, continuous, reversing bending motion at a specified temperature.

Evaluates the optical performance of aerospace fiber optic cables under sinusoidal vibration conditions per EN3745-510.

Evaluates the optical performance of aerospace fiber optic cables under sinusoidal vibration conditions per EN3745-510.

This test determines if a finished wire specimen will block (stick to itself) when subjected to the rated temperature of the specimen. While on an aircraft, wires may be exposed to high temperatures and it important to check if the finished wire specimens are prone to blocking. At the end of the test, we will inspect the wire and examine for adhesion (blocking) of adjacent turns.

Tests environmental stress cracking resistance of cable insulation per ASTM D1693 using a cracking agent solution per ICEA S-81-570.

Bonding compounds are often used as a means of protecting electrical terminations from the moisture and other contaminates. Furthermore, proper adhesion of potting compounds can have a positive impact on component durability to vibration and mechanical shocks. The bondability of insulation to potting compounds test evaluates the adhesion to the wire/cable insulation.

This test evaluates the breakdown voltage - twisted wire of wire per IEC 60851-5.

This test evaluates the breakdown voltage - u bend of wire per IEC 60851-5.

This test evaluates the breaking strength and elongation at break for impregnated paper insulation of insulation per IS 10810.

This test evaluates the breaking strength of cloth and tape of wire per MIL-C-20079.

Determines the temperature at which plastics and elastomers exhibit brittle failure under specified impact conditions per ASTM D746.

Cable aging test at 500F (260C). Determines the ability of armored cable with silicone rubber insulation and jacketing to withstand accelerated heat aging.

Cable aging and compatibility test at 257F (125C). Detects degradation due to component incompatibility or prolonged overheating of cable containing thermosetting polyolefin or silicone rubber insulation.

Piezoelectricity refers to the phenomenon where certain materials generate an electric charge when subjected to mechanical stress or pressure. Conducting a piezoelectricity test on a data cable involves evaluating whether the cable exhibits any piezoelectric properties under specific conditions. 

General Test Procedure

1. Assess the voltage differential on the cable prior to mechanical stress. 

2. Apply a static mechanical load on the cable center point and measure the voltage differential.  

3. Compare the measured data with the baseline measurements taken before the stress application. Assess whether the data cable displays any significant piezoelectric properties. If there is a noticeable change in the electrical response during the test, it indicates the presence of piezoelectricity in the cable.

This test evaluates the cable filler removability of wire per MIL-DTL-915.

Evaluates the optical performance of aerospace fiber optic cables under lateral compressive loads per EN3745-512.

This test evaluates the cable retention forces of connector per MIL-PRF-39012.

Cable sealant removability test. Determines whether filler materials can be readily removed from the constituent components of cable.

Cable strength test. Cable is clamped at two points 15 inches apart and a 200-pound weight is suspended at the midpoint for at least 60 seconds.

This test is used to determine the ability of the insulation to withstand the rubbing of one insulation on another in a vibratory environment. Wire's in close contact with other wires can rub on each other on aircraft causing deterioration to the insulation. Different insulation materials have different damage effects to the insulation. The test analyzes the effects of different materials on the test sample.

The fiber optic cable twist-bend test is a procedure performed to assess the mechanical reliability and performance of fiber optic cables when subjected to twisting and bending forces simultaneously.

Knowing the weight of every component on an aircraft, down to the last wire, is vital to good design. This test is to be used to evaluate the weight of a finished cable specimen.

This test measures the capacitance of a cable per unit length. Capacitance is defined as the ratio of voltage between two surfaces divided by their difference in charge.

The Case Insulation Test is a combination of the dielectric withstanding voltage and insulation resistance tests adapted to insulated capacitors.

This test evaluates the change in optical transmittance of a fiber optic cable after exposure to one or more environmental or physical stress tests. It is not typically performed as a stand-alone test, but performed before, during, and after specified mechanical/environmental tests.

This test measures the characteristic impedance of a cable defined as the resistance of a transmission line.

This test evaluates the circuit isolation of harness per CHED-227A.

This test determines the elongation of insulation of a wire in a circumferential direction. This test was developed to measure the resistance of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) insulation to rupture when under a radial stress. Using a power driven apparatus built by Lectromec technicians, a cone shall be driven through the insulation. At the end of the test, the average percent circumferential elongation shall be calculated.

This test evaluates the clarity stability of insulation per AS23053 Rev A.

Coating workmanship test (coated conductors only). A metallurgical cross-section of coated conductors must demonstrate 360-degree metal coating of individual fibers at 400X magnification.

This test determines the resistance of wire insulation to cracking at low temperature while being bent around a mandrel. Using a special cold chamber, we can condition the specimen at the low temperatures that can be experienced during flight and study how it reacts to the extreme conditions. This is a very good way to determine if the wire sample would be able to survive at these typical temperatures. At the end of the test, we will examine for any visible cracks then perform a wet dielectric test for assurance.

Evaluates the performance of wire under low temperature conditions per EN60811.

Measures the cold flow (creep) characteristics of wire insulation under sustained load per BSS7324.

Cold impact testing assesses whether a cable can withstand impact forces after being subjected to low temperatures without cracking and continue to maintain insulation properties.

Cold working test at -4F (-20C). Determines the ability of completed cable to withstand a traveling bend at reduced temperature during shipboard construction or repair.

Evaluates the performance of wire under low temperature conditions per MIL-DTL-915.

The color retention test evaluates an insulation's ability to maintain its color under elevated temperature exposure.

Verifies color-coding durability and resistance to fading or transfer on shielded automotive cable insulation per SAE J2394.

In this test, a contaminate liquid is slowly dripped between two electrodes on the surface of the material. By adding this contamination, electrical conduction between the two electrodes is started and carbonization of the polymer slowly occurs. Once the carbonization occurs and the electrical current exceeds the threshold set on the test, the test is halted, and the voltage is decreased. This continues until sufficient amount of data is gathered to interpolate the number of contaminate drops necessary to achieve the electrical current threshold.

Determines the Comparative Tracking Index (CTI) of solid insulating materials at elevated temperature by applying electrolyte drops between electrodes per IEC 60112.

Determines the compressive properties of rubber or elastomeric materials per MIL-M-24041.

Determines the compression set of rubber compounds using three methods: constant force (A), constant deflection (B), and deflection considering hardness (C).

Insulation concentricity requirement. Insulation on individual conductors shall be uniform in diameter with concentricity not less than 85% for wall thickness >0.025 inch or 75% for thinner walls.

This test evaluates the conductor cross-sectional area of wire per AS6324.

This test determines the diameter of the conductor after the insulation has been removed. This physical test can be very useful when trying to conduct tests or determining if a wire sample can be used in a specific machine. At the end of this test, we will report each measured conductor diameter and the average conductor diameter for each specimen measured.

This test determines a conductor's direct current (DC) resistance at a specified reference temperature (typically set at ambient temperature). There are two methods used to conduct this test known as the Kelvin Bridge Method and the Wheatstone Bridge Method which are used to obtain the resistance of the specimen. Both methods will give similar results, however, the Kelvin Bridge Method is more accurate. At the end of the test, the reported results include the specimen's conductor resistance and the test parameters.

The purpose of this test is to assess the conductor's ability to absorb solder. Soldering is a common method for wiring to connectors on aircraft. Certain conductors plates such as tin and silver are more solderable and thus used for these applications.

Defines requirements and methods for conductor splicing within shielded automotive cable per SAE J2394.

Upon completion of a fabricated wire, it is crucial to ensure that each of the wire's components are suitable for use. Conductor Strand Blocking provides a method to determine if conductor strands will adhere to each other in the finished wire. This test was developed as a process control test for silver coated copper conductors of MIL-DTL-81381 polyimide insulated wires, but it may be applied to other conductors and insulation types when strand blocking is a potential problem.

Conductor stranding is a quality check method to determine the stranding value. The value is determined by the number of strands times the wire gauge of the strands.

Connectors in any application should be designed to withstand regular mating and unmating throughout their service lives. The connector durability test evaluates this ability by performing a large number of mating and unmating cycles on the connector under test.

This test evaluates the connector mechanical strength of rear accessories of connector per EN2591.

The engagement force of a connector contact is an indicator of whether a good electrical connection is made. This test examines the contact engagement forces.

MIL-DTL-26482 compliant connectors must have contact resistance for size 20 is less than30mΩ less than 20mΩ for size 14. Contact resistance is the contribution to the total resistance of a material that comes from the connector.

This test examines the axial force necessary to displace a contact from the proper location when inserted into a connector.

This test evaluates the contact strength 2/ of connector per AS39029.

For this test, a pin installed in the connector is crimped to a wire, and the wire is hung over a mandrel with a weight.  The connector position relative to the mandrel then undergoes one hundred cycles, effectively stressing the installed pin. Two pins are tested per connector, and the pins in question must not become dislodged to pass the test.

The contamination test measures the quality factor (Q) of a test sample. One end of the specimen is cut square, while the other end is prepared to provide the shortest possible connection to the high terminal of a Q-meter, with the shield connected to a ground terminal. After attaching the specimen, measurements are taken with the Q-meter.

This test evaluates the continuious lengths of wire per AS81044.

Verifies the silver coating on copper wire is continuous and free from bare spots or defects per ASTM B298.

The objective of the continuity of the conductor coating is to examine the quality of the conductor plating before it has been subject to stranding or the insulation application process. Further, this examines the durability of the conductor coating to both mechanical and thermal stresses.

The continuity of conductors test examines the conductor for flaws and discontinuities. This is performed by placing a voltage across a wire sample.

This test evaluates the continuous lengths of wire per AS22759.

Also referred to as Contrast of Jacket or Contrast Test. The readability of a wire/cable is of critical importance for the proper installation, maintenance, and repair of the wiring system, thus the reason why UV laser marking of wires has become a widely used technology through the aerospace industry and has several benefits over traditional ink marking of wires/cables. The contrast measurement test examination evaluates the contrast of the UV laser marked area with the unmarked parts of the wire.

This test evaluates the contrast test - premarked of wire per BAC5152.

Coolant resistance test. Sample material is immersed in ethylene glycol conforming to A-A-52624 Type I, Concentration C for 70 hours at 150 +/- 2C, then hardness is measured.

Evaluates the corrosion potential of insulation materials using the copper mirror test per AS23053 Rev A.

Specifies telecommunications outlet/connector requirements including modular jack termination and transmission performance per TIA/EIA-568-B.2.

High voltage spikes onto wires/cables can progressively degrade the insulation performance and lead to an insulation breach and/or create conductive paths through the insulation. In this test, the sample is exposed to a high voltage to determine the corona inception and corona extinction voltage.

Measures the corona inception and/or extinction voltage of cable specimens per MIL-DTL-17.

Measures the corona inception and/or extinction voltage of material specimens per ASTM D3032.

Measures the corona inception and/or extinction voltage of connector specimens per EIA-364.

Evaluates copper corrosion caused by heat-shrinkable tubing materials and copper stability under heat and moisture conditions per ASTM D2671.

Salt Atmosphere (Corrosion) test. Specimens are subjected to a fine mist of salt solution to evaluate the effectiveness of protective coatings and finishes on materials.

This test evaluates the corrosion with copper of insulation per AS23053 Rev A.

Coupling mechanism retention forces test. Adapter body and coupling mechanism are secured to tensile tester jaws and loaded to specified force while coupling mechanism is rotated.

This test evaluates the coupling mechanism retention force of connector per MIL-PRF-39012.

Coupling torque testing evaluates the axial mating force and the torque that must be applied to facilitate full coupling and uncoupling of connectors. It is necessary to ensure that connectors can be properly installed and removed in the intended application without causing damage to the cable or compromising the electrical connection.

This test evaluates the coverage of material per EN6059.

Crack resistance test. The glass braid covering shall withstand bending, cracking, and puncturing of the overlay covering.

Cross-sectional area measurement. Examines a conductor cross-section at 400X magnification, measuring area in at least three locations to determine total cross-sectional area.

Measures the conductor cross-sectional area of shielded automotive cable per SAE J2394.

Cross-talk occurs when a signal traveling through one cable interferes with another generally in a twisted pair cable.

The crush resistance test method measures the capability of wire insulation to withstand an applied load, simulating the damage that may occur when insulated wire is crushed between two flat surfaces.

Fiber optic cable crush testing is a procedure used to evaluate the resistance of fiber optic cables to crushing forces or pressure. It aims to determine the cable's ability to withstand external pressure without experiencing significant deformation, signal loss, or damage to the fiber.

This test evaluates the curl of wire per MIL-W-81822.

This test evaluates the current overload - high current version of wire per BSS7324.

This test evaluates the cyclic flexing - performed at different temp of material per EIA/TIA-455.

In practice, the energy stored in capacitors will dissipate and discharge through the dielectric. The leakage rate is based on a combination of factors that include: the dielectric material, component age, use, temperature, and applied voltage. The DC leakage test is a test that helps to identify the long-term power storage capacity of capacitors and is often included as part of capacitor qualification test plans.

This test is to measure the direct-current (dc) resistance of resistors, electromagnetic windings of components, and conductors. It is not intended that this test apply to the measurement of contact resistance.

Evaluates the resistance of cable to crush or deformation damage per J2394.

This purpose of this test is to evaluate the performance of a cable after installation of plastic cable ties. On aircraft, improper installation of cable ties can cause deterioration to the cable over time.

This test determines if a finished wire specimen will block (stick to itself) or flaring of layers when subjected to the rated temperature of the specimen. While on an aircraft, wires may be exposed to high temperatures and it important to check if the finished wire specimens are prone to blocking or delamination. At the end of the test, we will inspect the wire and examine for adhesion (blocking) and delamination (separation of layers) of adjacent turns.

This test evaluates tape wrapped insulation for sealing between wraps after thermal stress.

The Lectromec DelTest™ is a patented technology that has been used by commercial and military organizations to support their maintenance efforts and maximize the service life of their investments. The DelTest™ identifies breaches in wires that often go undiagnosed until an event happens.

This test evaluates the density of wire per IEC 60811-1-3.

A conductor's resistance changes with temperature and is dependent on the conductor's material properties. In this test, the wire is submerged in a oil bath with a temperature accuracy of 0.2C. The bath is progressively heated to the target temperature and the change is conductor resistance is captured at multiple temperature during the test.

This test evaluates the determination of the susceptibility of silver-plated copper wire and cable to "red-plague" corrosion of material per ECSS-Q-ST-70-20C.

This test is typically used as a process control test to ensure that the measured diameter of a manufactured wire is within the range provided in the wire/cable specification. The wire/cable is measured in several locations and the average diameter is reported. For non-uniform cables, such as with twisted pairs, measurements are made both for the minimum and maximum diameter.

Determines the volume resistance and volume resistivity of solid insulating materials using DC methods per IEC 62631-3-1.

Dielectric breakdown testing is performed to assess the ability of insulation material to tolerate high-voltage stress without electrical breakdown. The test measures the maximum voltage a wire can withstand before puncture of the insulation occurs, making the insulation unable to inhibit current flow through the failure region.

The dielectric constant measures the material's ability to store electrical energy, while the power factor assesses the dissipation of energy. Both parameters are essential for ensuring the reliable performance of the insulation in electrical applications.

Determines dissipation factor, permittivity, and DC volume resistivity of wire and cable filling compounds that are solid at room temperature per ASTM D4872.

Evaluates the dielectric withstand capability of insulation per AS6070.

The dielectric is perhaps one of the most referenced tests when examining wires. The reason is that it tests the most important part of the wire insulation: determine if the wire insulation is free of breaches (or has been sufficiently degraded such that a high voltage would breach any weak points in the insulation). The basics of the test are that the entire wire, except for an inch at both ends, is placed in a water bath (with salt and wetting agent) and a high voltage potential is placed between the conductor and the return electrode in the water bath. If there is a failure in the insulation, then there will be a noticeable current flow. Dependent on the test method used, the pretest soak time, voltage amplitude and type (AC or DC) will vary.

In particular, this test method examines the performance at different pressures (altitudes). As the atmospheric pressure decreases, so too does the required maximum service voltage to be used in testing.

This test evaluates the differential scanning calorimeter (dsc test) of wire per EN3475.

The dimensional stability test determines the protrusion or contraction of the insulation with respect to the outer conductor on both specimen ends.

The purpose of this test is to measure the dimensions such as gauge and diameter of a cable. The dimensions of a cable determine the amount of electric current or wire rating a wire can carry.

The drip test is an evaluation of the filler material inside a cable and its tendency to drip from the cable at elevated temperatures.

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The test evaluates a wire's ability to prevent arc-propagation to other wires in the sample harness.

Electrical connectors are expected to connect and disconnect regularly without degradation for routine activities such as maintenance, replacement, and troubleshooting. The durability test evaluates the ability of an electrical connector to withstand mating and de-mating for a large number of repetitions.

The durometer hardness test is, simply put, a durometer measurement of the hardness of jacket material. The test determines if the jacket material is of adequate harness for use in cable construction.

The dust test evaluates an electronic component's ability to endure an atmosphere laden with dry dust. A component sample is placed in a chamber where circulating fans move the dust laden air at a specified speed.

The dynamic cut-through test is designed to assess the cut-through force of a wire/cable specimen. The wire/cable specimen is compressed under a the fine edge of a jig until contact is made between the wire/cable conductor and the test jig. The pass/fail criteria for this test is based on the wire/cable's specification.

This test measures the degree to which the core conductor of a cable is off-center. In cable design, efforts should be made to ensure the conductive core of a cable is as centered as possible to ensure insulative uniformity throughout.

When using connectors in wire system design, the regular and consistent contact between contacts on both sides of the connector is crucial. To determine this, the electrical engagement test examines the mating length of the connector contacts.

This test evaluates the electrical insulating materials used under severe ambient conditions – test methods for evaluating resistance to tracking and erosion of insulation per IEC 60587.

This test evaluates the electrical overload of wire per JES292.

This test evaluates the electrical properties - resistance per section of wire per 8201000-8201010.

This test evaluates the electrical properties - wire diameter per section of wire per 8201000-8201010.

Electrical Wire Insulation Flammability (Test 4). Determines whether wire insulation will self-extinguish and not transfer burning debris when exposed to ignition.

Whether through contamination during maintenance actions, ingress from degraded seals, or other degradation, the fluid ingress into a connector can cause degradation and impact reliability. To assess this, the electrolytic erosion test measures the propensity of connectors to erode when contaminants are present and the connector is in use.

The test consists of introducing a salt-water contaminant to a connector, mating the connector, then energizing the pins for 40 hours at 60 volts. Upon completion, the contacts are examined under magnification for erosion to the base metal.

Measures the surface transfer impedance of metallic cable screens using the triaxial method, characterizing shielding effectiveness per IEC 62153-4-3.

Measures the surface transfer impedance of the cable screen using the tri-axial method to characterize EMC shielding effectiveness per ISO 19642-2.

This test determines if the wire insulation can withstand a temperature aging test for a time period at a temperature greater than the temperature rating of the insulation. The wire must then withstand the bend and wet dielectric tests after the thermal exposure in order to pass. The purpose of the test is to ensure that the insulation will not fail if exposed to extreme heat which may occur while during flight. At the end of this test, we will know which specimens passed or failed by reporting the results of the bend and wet dielectric tests.

Tests building wire insulation properties after accelerated aging per NEMA WC 53 Section 4.11.9.

Measures the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness of connector per EIA-364.

Measures the thermoelectric power (thermal EMF) generated between resistance wire and copper connections per ASTM B267.

This test evaluates the environmental cycling (dual wall) of splice per ESLU5T-1A263-AA.

This test evaluates the environmental cycling (single wall) of splice per ESLU5T-1A263-AA.

Environmental stress crack tests a sample ethylene plastic's susceptibility to cracking as a result of environmental stress and the presence of selected chemicals (soaps, oils, detergents, etc.).

This test evaluates the environmental test of wire per SS7333.

A polarized capacitance bridge is used to measure equivalent series resistance of a capacitor. The Pass/ fail criteria are determined by the product specification sheet.

Samples are visually inspected at 3X magnification to identify defects in the contact(s). A sample will fail the examination if the presence of metal cracks or peeling of the plating is observed.

This test evaluates the examination-wired contacts of connector per AS39029.

This test evaluates the expansion range of material per EN6059.

The external bending moment test evaluates a mated connector's ability to maintain circuit continuity under physical bending. Improperly secured harnesses can place a strain on connectors, a particularly common occurrence in tight areas where perfect routing and strain relief are not possible.

Evaluates the performance of harness under high temperature conditions per SC-X15110F.

This test evaluates the eyelet air pressure of splice per ESLU5T-1A263-AA.

This test is a visual examination of particular categories of wire. A Lectromec technician will thoroughly inspect the wire, without magnifying aid, to identify any kinks, cracks, damage, or other abnormalities of the wire.

This test evaluates the finished wire diameter of wire per MIL-W-81822.

This test evaluates the fire proof test of wire per JES292.

This test evaluates the fire resistance test of wire per JES292.

Evaluates the flame resistance of harness per MIL-M-24041.

Flammability is perhaps one of the most common and most important tests performed on aerospace wiring. In general, a length of the wire/cable under test is placed in a draft-free chamber and hung free over a high-temperature flame for 30seconds - 15 minutes (specification dependent). A piece of tissue paper is placed under the sample to catch falling debris.

Evaluates the flame resistance of wire at a 60-degree angle per BSS7324.

SAE Test Method: In this test, the specimen is flexed 180Deg between two mandrels until there is a break in electrical conductivity of the conductor. The pass/fail criteria of is based on the particular specification, typically set at a minimum threshold for the number of flexing cycles with conductor loss.

This test evaluates the ability of a terminated wire sample to maintain its structural integrity under conditions of repeated stress at the point of termination. The location of a crimp termination on a wire is more likely to experience conditions of mechanical stress than other locations along the length of the wire. It is crucial in the design of any electrical system for terminations on wires to be physically dependable, particularly in aerospace applications where regular maintenance and movement-related stresses are common.

The flexibility of a wire/cable is dependent on a combination of the conductor and insulation constructions. There are two methods covered by the EN3475 flexibility test, the appropriate method is determined based on the size of the cable under test.

European Test Method: In this test, the specimen is flexed 180Deg between two mandrels until there is a break in electrical conductivity of the conductor. The pass/fail criteria of is based on the particular specification, typically set at a minimum threshold for the number of flexing cycles with conductor loss.

The fluid absorption test evaluates the ability of a cable sleeve to prevent absorption of external fluids. Testing is performed using fluids as identified in the sample's product specification.

Specifies the standard test fluids and methods for evaluating fluid resistance of aerospace electrical and optical components per EN 3909.

Specifies the standard test fluids and methods for evaluating fluid resistance of aerospace electrical and optical components per EN 3909.

Evaluates the resistance of material to fluid exposure per BMS 1352.

Tests the resistance of insulation to degradation from immersion in specified automotive fluids per SAE J2394.

This test evaluates the fluorine off-gassing of wire per AS22759.

Folding test. A cable specimen is folded 180 degrees transversely and pressed between smooth metal plates at specified pressure for 15 minutes, then unfolded and re-pressed.

The forced hydrolysis test places wire/cable specimen in a high-temperature water bath for an extended duration to evaluate the durability of a wire insulation in high-humidity conditions. Depending on the particular wire specification needs, the test may be required to run for thousands of hours. After the prolonged exposure, the sample is then examined and exposed to a dielectric voltage withstand (DVW) test.

Forward voltage testing of aircraft wire involves measuring the voltage drop across a diode or semiconductor junction in a cable when a forward-bias current is applied. An increase in forward voltage drop may be an indicator of an electrical component that is soon to fail.

Tests strand separation resistance of bonded copper conductors by inserting into a blind hole and bending 90 degrees per ASTM B470.

Components that degrade in fuel exposed environments, when located inside of the fuel tank, may break off and create FOD that clogs fuel pumps. Thus, it is necessary to verify the performance of any secondary support product prior to use in these environments.

The purpose of the fungus resistance test is to determine the susceptibility of a specimen to fungus growth on the insulation. To do this, short sections of the specimen are exposed to a variety of common molds/fungus for several weeks then visually examined. A passing specimen will show no fungus growth on the insulation, a failed specimen will show some level of fungus growth susceptibility.

This test evaluates the fungus resistance of optical fiber and cable of cable per TIA/EIA-455-56.

To insure interchangeability between connectors, the mechanical configuration of connectors must remain consistent. The gauge location test verifies connector geometry. A standard test gauge (a test device shaped to particular dimensions) is installed in a connector cavity and the axial location of the front of the gauge is measured against a set reference location to test conformance. The pass/fail criteria for this test is based off of the particular measurements and configuration of the connector under test.

Applicable test instruments, or test gauges, are installed in three randomly selected cavities in each connector.  An axial load is applied to individual test gauges in both directions slowly until the maximum load is reached. The displacement of the gauge tool with respect to the connector is reported.

Grind testing of cable assemblies with molded or potted components evaluates those components for physical irregularities. The potted component is ground down and visually examined with magnification for flaws such as voids or pits which may be caused by poor molding or potting procedures or materials.

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.

The heat resistance test evaluates the ability of an insulative sample to maintain tensile strength after undergoing an elevated temperature exposure.

The heat shock test evaluates the ability of an insulative material to endure elevated temperature conditions. Slight variations in test setup exist between the test standards covered by this listing and should be considered before choosing which standard best suits your needs.

The bust duct test simulates the condition where a high-temperature, high-pressure air line has ruptured near a wire harness. The test objective is to determine how long the wire/cable can be exposed to these harsh conditions without impacting the insulation reliability.

Evaluates the performance of harness under high temperature conditions per CHED-227A.

Evaluates the performance of harness under high temperature conditions per SC-SA15110 Rev G.

Evaluates the performance of material under high temperature conditions per MIL-STD-810.

Evaluates the performance of material under high temperature conditions per EN6059.

For this test, contacts are removed and crimped to a wire and then reinstalled. An initial measurement of the axial location is made with an axial load, a specified weight is suspended freely from the contact, and a monitoring circuit connected that senses discontinuities. The connectors are then placed within an oven at elevated temperature.  Upon completion and at room temperature, the axial location is re-measured with the same axial load for any discrepancies.

Evaluates power cable thermal aging performance under extended high temperature exposure per SAE J2031.

Evaluates the performance of wire under high temperature conditions per AS654.

Detects faults and thin spots in high-temperature hook-up wire insulation using a high-frequency or impulse spark test per NEMA HP-3.

High temperature aging test. A cable specimen is bent around a 0.25-inch mandrel, loaded with weight, and aged at elevated temperature to evaluate long-term thermal performance.

Evaluates the resistance of wire to fluid exposure per AS654.

Exposure to humidity is among the most common means of electrical equipment degradation. The humidity testing offers a means of assessing the potential for a in-service connector and/or crimped contact degradation due to heat and humidity. The problems are most pronounced on components with significant imperfections in the component plating. This test seeks to assess the impact of high relative humidity at various temperatures.

The humidity resistance test evaluates the impact of prolonged heat and humidity exposure to wire/cable insulation.

This test examines a connector's resistance to corrosion, and entrance of moisture, long-term durability in high moisture environments. This test method identifies several means of testing a connector in humid conditions.

This test evaluates the hydrolytic stability of harness per MIL-M-24041.

Hydrostatic (open end) test. Determines the ability of cable intended to pass through watertight bulkheads to prevent longitudinal flow of high-pressure water.

Through the service life of an aircraft there are thousands of electrical thermal cycles. Those connectors subjected to external conditions maybe become icy during flight. This ice resistance test examines a connector's performance in icy conditions.

This test evaluates the identification of product legibility of insulation per AS23190 revD.

Immersion test. Determines the effectiveness of the seal of component parts by immersing them in liquid at widely different temperatures to detect defective terminal assemblies or seams.

The ability of aircraft wire/cables to effectively prevent fluid leakage is essential to protecting sensitive electrical components and avoiding damage by corrosion. The immersion leak detection test evaluates the effectiveness of seals and the airtightness of a wire or cable assembly.

Impact resistance testing evaluates a cable’s ability to withstand mechanical impacts, ensuring it can maintain its structural and electrical integrity in the presence of potential physical shocks.

The impulse dielectric tests can be thought of a production line means of checking for insulation/jacket breaches in wires/cables. In this test, a voltage is placed on the specimen and the specimen is pulled under a 'chain mail' curtain connected to ground. The test is performed at a higher voltage than the standard dielectric tests performed on wires/cables, but this is necessary given the short duration of the voltage differential across the insulation/jacket.

This test method evaluates an insulating solid’s resistance to surface tracking and erosion caused by contaminants in the presence of electrical stress.

Evaluates the outgassing characteristics of connector per AS39029.

This test evaluates the insuilation state of sinter of wire per AS22759.

The ASTM B267provides requirements and suggestions in the use of insulated wire coverings such as silk, nylon, cotton, and glass which can be verified at Lectromec.

Measuring the insulation concentricity and wall thickness is a quality assurance test that can identify uniformity issues. Wires with non-uniform insulation (or cables with non-uniform jackets) will have an unbalanced insulation wall thickness that can make the wire/cable more susceptible to mechanical or electrical failure. This test can be performed on wire gauges ranging from 30AWG to 0000AWG and one wholly tape wrapped and extruded constructions.

In this evaluation, the insulation construction of a wire sample is validated by a visual examination at 2x magnification.

This test is to be used to evaluate the cross-linking of certain types of wire insulation.

This test evaluates the insulation damage test of wire per SS7333.

Detects faults, pinholes, or thin spots in primary wire insulation using a 2kV AC spark test per SAE J1128.

Measures hot creep and hot set of cable insulation under load at elevated temperature per ICEA S-81-570.

This evaluation ensures that the insulation layers are applied with the required amount of overlap to provide adequate protection and electrical insulation.

This test determines the insulation resistance of a finished wire sample. Insulation resistance is of interest in high impedance circuits and as an insulation process quality control test. When used as part of a wire/cable environmental testing, prolonged thermal exposure, and/or extended high voltage testing, changes in the insulation resistance can be used as an indicator of insulation deterioration.

This test examines the insulation resistance between connectors pins and the resistance between pins and the connector shell. This test is necessary to identify any manufacturing defects or specimen contamination. The pass/fail criteria conditions for this tests are connector specification specific and have a pin-to-pin and pin-to-shell resistance over 1MOhm.

The insulation shrinkage test objective is to evaluate a wire/cable’s insulation propensity for shrinkage with exposure to elevated temperature.

This test evaluates the insulation state of sinter of wire per AS22759.

Determines temperatures and heats of transitions of fluoropolymers (PTFE, PVDF, PCTFE, PVF) by differential scanning calorimetry for identification, crystallinity, and characterization.

The insulation stripping test evaluates the ability of insulation to be stripped from a wire sample without causing damage to the conductor.

This test provides tensile property data on extruded electrical wire insulation removed from the wire/cable specimen. Identifying the insulation's tensile properties are useful to determine the ability to withstand mechanical stresses the wire/cable may experience in service conditions.

The insulation volume resistance test verifies that the amount of leakage current from a wire sample is within the acceptable range for a particular application by determining the resistivity of the insulation sample.

This test is to be used to determine whether a specimen will crack when wrapped upon itself or around a mandrel.

This test evaluates the isolation (electrostatic/electromagnetic) of harness per MIL-C-83501.

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.

The jacket flaws test (or spark test) aims to identify any defects in a wire/ cable's outer insulation that would allow an amount of leakage current.

Tearing Strength test for cable sheath. Determines the resistance to tear of sheath compounds using a shaped specimen tested on a tensile machine.

The life cycle test (also referred to as the 'Multi-day heat aging test') seeks to assess short-term elevated temperature exposure to a wire/cable above the sample's temperature rating.

This test evaluates the loss of mass in an air oven of wire per IEC 60811-3-2.

During the degradation process of ETFE and XL-ETFE, fluorine gas is released from the insulation into the environment. This test seeks to quantify the amount of off-gassed material.

Low pressure test at maximum rated temperature. Evaluates cable performance under reduced atmospheric pressure conditions at elevated temperature.

Evaluates the performance of harness under low temperature conditions per SC-SA15110 Rev G.

Evaluates the performance of harness under low temperature conditions per CHED-227A.

Low Temperature test purpose. Evaluates effects of low temperature conditions on materiel safety, integrity, and performance during storage, operation, and manipulation.

Low-temperature conditioning and capacitance change with temperature. Capacitors are conditioned at -55C with rated voltage for 48 hours, then capacitance is measured at multiple temperatures.

Low temperature flex-life test. Cable assembly with molded sections or heat-shrunk transitions is aged in oven, then conditioned at low temperature and subjected to flex cycling.

Low temperature operation test. Relay is subjected to specified low temperature for 48 hours, then pickup voltage, dropout voltage, and contact voltage drop are measured.

Evaluates the performance of insulation under low temperature conditions per SAE J2031.

Evaluates the performance of wire under low temperature conditions per AS654.

Evaluates power cable flexibility and insulation integrity after conditioning at low temperature per SAE J2031.

Magnetic permeability testing measures a connector's ability to become magnetized when subjected to a magnetic field. This property is essential in applications where electromagnetic interference or compatibility is a concern.

The connector is mated and de-mated a dozen or more times. After the mating and de-mating cycles, the installation and removal forces are recorded for each of the contacts.

Tests strand separation resistance of Type III (heavy bonding) conductors by wrapping six turns around a mandrel per ASTM B470.

The long-term readability of wire/cable identification is important for supporting EWIS maintenance operations. A wire/cable with an easily identifiable circuit identification will make it easier to identify the correct circuit in need of evaluation/repair/replacement. If the identification has worn off, then debugging operations may require removing more equipment and/or demating more connectors.
The marking durability test seeks to evaluate the wire/cable identification after abrasion. The pass/fail criteria are based on the individual wire/cable specification but is primarily focused the readability of the wire/cable marks.

Tests the durability of printed identification markings on electrical insulating materials by rubbing with a weighted eraser per AS5942.

Tests the physical properties of cable jacket material including tensile strength, elongation, and aging properties per SAE J2394.

Tests the physical properties of insulation material including tensile strength, elongation, and aging properties per SAE J2394.

The ability of a connector to mate and unmate regularly throughout its service life is essential to the maintainability of an electrical system. The mating/unmating forces tests this durability by performing repeated cycles of mating and unmating on the connector under test.

Mating characteristics test. After insertion of an oversize pin a specified number of times, contact engagement/withdrawal forces are measured using a gauge with a force-indicating dial.

Mechanical life (endurance at reduced load) test. Relay is cycled at 25% of rated resistive load for 4x (under 25A) or 2x (25A+) the minimum operating cycles.

Tests the tensile strength and elongation of battery cable insulation, both initial and after air oven aging per SAE J1127.

Tests the tensile strength and elongation of primary wire insulation before and after aging per SAE J1128.

Tests the tensile strength and elongation of primary wire insulation at elevated temperature per SAE J1128.

Evaluates the ability of connector to withstand mechanical shock per EIA-364.

This test evaluates the melt flow index of material per IS 10810.

Evaluates the ductility and soundness of copper bus bar by bending around a specified mandrel without cracking per ASTM B187.

This test evaluates the mould growth of material per EN6059.

This test measures the funtional capacitance between a pair of insulated wires within an multi-pair cable.

The mutual inductance test measures the effectiveness of the insulation on inner conductors within a cable to resist cross-talk induced by adjacent signal-carrying conductors within the same cable.

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 test failure.

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

The notch test is a test that examines the propagation of nick in the top layer of a wire. Small notches are common during installation or maintenance of wires, and this test evaluates how well the insulation can withstand mechanical stresses after incurring a notch.

Evaluates the resistance of material to fluid exposure per ASTM D471.

This test evaluates the optical cable - cable torsion of connector per EN2591.

The overload resistance test, also known as the smoke resistance test, is designed to examine the durability of the wire insulation under extended periods of internal heating caused by over-current conditions.

Measures the corona inception and/or extinction voltage of connector specimens per EN2591.

This test evaluates the permanence of manufacturer's marking of wire per EN3475.

Permanence of printing (conductor insulation) test. Determines the ability of printed information on insulated conductors to remain legible under repeated abrasion.

Permanence of printing (jacket) test. Determines the ability of printed information on jacketing material to remain legible under repeated abrasion.

Measures the temperature coefficient of resistance for electrical resistance wire alloys used in wire-wound resistors per ASTM B267.

This test evaluates the persulphate test of conductor of conductor per IS 10810.

A phase constant is a physical property of a propagating sine wave representing the shift in phase the wave experiences while travelling along its path. This test measures the phase constant of a twisted pair cable as a value of radians per length.

Phase delay is a measure of the delay in time a signal is emitted and when it is received at the other end. It is important that signal carrying cable adhere to a minimum phase delay to ensure timely and accurate function of the relevant system(s).

Specifies insulation physical properties including tensile strength, elongation, and retention after air oven aging per ICEA S-81-570.

Verifies minimum elongation requirements for nickel-chromium heating element alloy wire (20% for AWG 39+, 10% for AWG 40-44) per ASTM B344.

Physical tests (aged) on insulation and jacket. Determines through tension measurements whether insulating and jacketing materials have been properly processed, before and after artificial aging.

Composite connectors (Class J and M) provide the benefit of a lightweight construction with limited drawbacks. To verify the connector plating in high temperature operation conditions, the plating adhesion test is performed.

For this test, the connector under evaluation is immersed in oil at its operational temperature.  It is then quickly cooled to room temperature by immersion in a solvent or ice water. The connectors are then removed and visually examined for any separation or loosening of the plating.

The test is used to determine how thorough the plating process has been performed on conductor specimen when coiled around a mandrel and immersed in an oxidative accelerant.

The post test examination is a visual assessment commonly used after stressing the sample connector. This is an encompassing visual examination of physical nonconformities and possible effects of previously applied testing. This test is typically performed without the aid of magnification.

Power rating (CW) engineering information. Describes the maximum continuous wave power-handling capability of the coaxial cable without overheating or dielectric breakdown.

This test evaluates the press-in force of material per IEC 60532-5.

This test evaluates the pressure test at high temp of wire per EN60811.

This test evaluates the pressure test at high temp of wire per IEC 60811-3-1.

This test evaluates the property degradation of harness per MIL-M-24041.

The property retention test evaluates the mechanical properties of a specimen of finished insulated wire before and after 1000 hours of thermal aging.

This test is a visual examination of a tape-wrapped PTFE jacket intended to identify any evidence of delamination.

Pull test. Cable assemblies are subjected to a static load applied between the connector and cable to verify mechanical integrity of the termination.

The pulse response time test determines the ability of a completed cable for data transmission to propagate a square wave signal with the desired speed and accuracy.

This test evaluates the puncture of cable per ICEA S-81-570.

This test evaluates the qualification tests of insulation per AS23190.

Radio Frequency (RF) leakage testing of aircraft TEM (transverse electromagnetic wave) transmission lines involves assessing the cable’s ability to contain and prevent unwanted RF signals from leaking out or interfering with nearby electronic systems.

The Rapid Change of Temperature test evaluates the ability to withstand a series of rapid temperature changes without diminishing its performance.

Evaluates the susceptibility of extruded polymeric cable insulation to water tree degradation under electrical stress per ASTM D6097.

The chemical composition of a wire's insulation degrades at elevated temperature; this test provides data to establish curves describing the rate of degradation with respect to the exposure temperature.

Resistance-Temperature Characteristic test. Determines the percentage change in DC ohmic resistance per unit temperature difference (temperature coefficient of resistance).

Evaluates the long-term oxidation resistance and durability of nickel-chromium heating element alloys under repeated thermal cycling per ASTM B344.

Determines the fluid resistance of aerospace fiber optic cables using two methods: occasional contamination and extended contamination per EN3745-411.

The Resistance to Electrical Arc test evaluates the efficacy of sleeving/ insulation to protect wires from damage due to electrical arcing.

This test evaluates the ability of cable insulation to resist flame propagation when exposed to fire. For a high-quality cable insulation, the flame should extinguish quickly and not spread along the length of the cable.

In this test, a sample is exposed to a variety of aerospace fluids. The duration and temperature of the exposure varies and is defined by the selected test standard.

Tests the resistance of power cable insulation to degradation from fuel immersion per SAE J2031.

Resistance to Heat, Oxygen, Air, Light, and Ozone (General). Determines relative resistance of rubber insulating and jacket compounds to deterioration by heat, air, light, oxygen, and ozone.

This test evaluates the ability of a wire or cable to withstand extended exposure to hot water while connected to a relatively low voltage source.

This method is intended for use in determining the effect of oil on oil-resisting insulation and sheath of insulated wire and cable. The procedure may be used for determining the resistance of insulation and sheath to oil at any desired temperature. The tensile strength and elongation, or other characteristic used for determining the degree of deterioration is determined immediately after exposure of the material.

In the resistance to ozone test, a sample is placed in a heated enclosure with an atmosphere containing a prescribed amount of ozone; typically the ozone count is in the parts per billion range. After the exposure, the sample is removed and visually inspected for cracks. For a sample to 'pass' the test, no insulation cracks should be detected during the post-exposure visual inspection.

In the resistance to pinch test, the specimen is placed perpendicularly across a steel rod then compressed under an anvil. The force on the specimen is slowly increased until the insulation is breached and a conductive path is formed between the specimen's conductor and the test apparatus. The pass/fail criteria are product specific.

This test evaluates the resistance to probe damage of connector per EIA-364.

Tests the resistance of power cable insulation to degradation from salt water immersion per SAE J2031.

Resistance to solvents test. Capacitors are tested per MIL-STD-202-215. Brushing is not required.

Resistance to solvents test. Relays are tested per MIL-STD-202 method 215 with all markings brushed. One sample tested with each solvent solution.

Resistance to Solvents test. Verifies that markings/color coding remain legible and protective coatings are not degraded when exposed to cleaning solvents.

Measures the longitudinal shrinkage of insulation insulation after heat exposure per AS23053 Rev A.

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 the sample and measuring for any reverse current.

This test measures the ability of a high frequency connector to withstand a specified RF voltage and frequency.

RF transmission loss (attenuation) test. Measures the signal loss of the cable over specified frequency ranges using swept or fixed frequency techniques.

Determines the tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of copper bus bar, rod, and shapes per ASTM B187.

Determines the compressive properties of rubber or elastomeric materials per ASTM D575.

Determines the adhesion strength of rubber to rigid substrates using tension (A), 90-degree stripping (B), or conical specimen (C) methods per ASTM D429.

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.

Salt Fog test. Determines the effectiveness of protective coatings and finishes on materials and the effects of salt deposits on physical and electrical aspects of materiel.

Salt fog test. Three samples of size 26 uninsulated conductor are placed on PTFE mandrels and exposed to salt fog environment, with DC resistance measured before and after.

Evaluates the corrosion resistance of connector under salt fog exposure per EIA-364.

Salt water immersion test. Cable undergoes a 30-day immersion cycle (16 hours immersed, 8 hours removed) in sea water with no fresh water rinse permitted.

This test evaluates the sampling for visual and dimensional examination of wire per MIL-I-22129.

This test evaluates the scoring of cable per ICEA S-81-570.

This test assesses the wire/cable's insulation durability to sharp edges at ambient temperature. The sample is abraded until there is electrical conductivity between the scrape abrasion jig and sample under test.

This test assesses the wire/cable's insulation durability to sharp edges at eleveated temperature. The sample is abraded until there is electrical conductivity between the scrape abrasion jig and sample under test.

This test evaluates the screen pushback capability of wire per EN3475.

Measures the screening attenuation of the cable shield using the absorbing clamp method per ISO 19642-2.

Measures the DC resistance of the cable screen (shield) to verify compliance per ISO 19642-2.

This test evaluates the quality of a sealing component part. This test may identify defects in the sealing material or due to the manufacturing process used to form the seal.

The Seamless or Smooth Surface Verification test is a process control test used to ensure that smooth wrapped tape insulation has properly annealed without a visible outer edge or observable internal wrapping lines.

This test evaluates the secant modulus of insulation per AS23053 Rev A.

Tests six types of mechanical abuse on cable insulation: sharp impact, blunt impact, abrasion, crush, puncture, and scoring per ICEA S-81-570.

Determines the tensile strength and elongation properties of wire per IEC 60811-1-2.

Determines the tensile strength and elongation properties of wire per IEC 60811-1-1.

Aerospace connectors are expected to withstand regular mating and unmating during maintenance, component replacement, etc. It is important that a connector be adequately secured when in use, but not so tightly mated as to hinder the ability to unmate for maintenance. The shell spring finger force test evaluates the force required to engage and separate two mated connectors.

This test measures the resistance between each grounding contact and the shell of a connector. This quality is imperative to the functionality of the connector as current leakage between contacts and the shell can lead to severe malfunction.

For several applications, it is necessary to have a conductive connector shell. For example, harnesses that contain EMI sensitive circuitry are typically shielded and need good grounding and EMI protection as the signals pass through connectors.

Shield coverage is determined by a mathematical formula as defined in AS85485 dependent on the physical properties of the cable shield.

Evaluates the ability of connector to withstand mechanical shock per MIL-PRF-39018.

Shock (Specified Pulse) test. Determines suitability of component parts when subjected to shocks from rough handling, transportation, and military operations using half-sine and sawtooth waveforms.

This test evaluates the shore a hardness of harness per MIL-M-24041.

Tests short-term heat ageing of automotive cable at elevated temperature for 240 hours per ISO 19642-2.

Measures longitudinal shrinkage of insulation or jacket material by immersion in 90°C water for 24 hours per UL 2556.

Production testing requirements including DC resistance, cross-sectional area, physical/aging tests, and jacket tests per ANSI/ICEA S-94-649.

This standardized test method is used to determine the specific optical density of smoke emitted by solid materials and assemblies during exposure to a controlled radiant heat source.

The smoke resistance test places a high current through the wire/cable to determine if the insulation/jacket will produce smoke. The current is increased on the specimen until the conductor temperature reaches the rated insulation temperature.

Toxicity testing of aircraft wire is crucial to assess the potential health hazards associated with the combustion of wire materials, particularly the release of toxic gases. Gas samples from combustion of materials under test are captured and chemically analyzed for specified gaseous components.

The Solder Contacts test as defined in MIL-DTL-26482 follows the procedure of a Solderability test in accordance with MIL-STD-202 but with a few different requirements.

This test evaluates the solvent resistance test for wraparound sleeves of wire per SS7333.

This test evaluates the solvent resistancne test for laser, injet, sleeve makes & heat shrink of wire per SS7333.

This test evaluates the specific gravity of material per ASTM D792.

This test evaluates the specific gravity of harness per MIL-M-24041.

This test evaluates the specific gravity of insulation per AS23053 Rev A.

Measures the temperature rise of splice under current loading per ESLU5T-1A263-AA.

This test evaluates the standard test method for coefficient of compressive strength of material per ASTM D695.

This test evaluates the standard test method for coefficient of linear thermal expansion of plastics between -30°c and 30°c with a vitreous silica dilatometer of material per ASTM D696.

This test evaluates the standard test method for steady-state heat flux measurements and thermal transmission properties by means of the guarded-hot-plate apparatus of material per ASTM C177.

Evaluates the degree of sinter (densification) of PTFE insulation on a wire specimen using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) per AS4373 Method 813.

This test is used to generate data for comparison between cable specimens using the same stiffness and springback apparatus. Stiffness and springback affect harness manufacturing, harness and cable installation, and maintenance operations.

This test evaluates the strain relief of splice per ESLU5T-1A263-AA.

Verifies the quality and coverage of the protective strand coating on low voltage primary cable conductors per SAE J1128.

Verifies the quality and coverage of the protective strand coating on low voltage battery cable conductors per SAE J1127.

Measures the strand lay length of conductor strands in shielded automotive cable per SAE J2394.

The strip force test quantitatively evaluates the ease of removing insulation from a finished wire sample. It is important in any electrical system that wire insulation be adherent enough to the conductor to maintain structural integrity and non-adherent enough such that a standard wire stripping tool may readily remove insulation as needed.

Evaluates the durability of identification markings (stripes, bands, or printing) on aerospace wire per ANSI/NEMA WC 27500.

The purpose of this test is to measure the level of difficulty to remove the insulation from the conductor. The insulation should not be easily removed from the conductor however should be able to be removed with the usage of a proper insulation removal tool.

This test evaluates the submergence of harness per SC-X15110F.

Tests wet insulation resistance stability by immersing cable in water at rated temperature and monitoring IR over 12+ weeks per ICEA S-81-570.

This test evaluates the sun light exposure of material per EN6059.

This test evaluates the surface condition of wire per NEMA MW1000.

The purpose of this test is to measure the resistance of the outer surface of the insulation in a high humidity environment. This is to ensure that the resistance along the outer surface is large enough to prevent leakage current between connections.

This test evaluates the tear resistance for paper insulation of insulation per IS 10810.

This test evaluates the tear strength of harness per MIL-M-24041.

Tear strength test. Determines the ability of elastomeric jacketing material to withstand the propagation of a cut passing through a portion of its length.

Temperature and humidity test. A 20-foot cable length is placed in a test chamber and subjected to temperature/humidity cycling including +122F for 2 hours.

Temperature and humidity (storage mode) test. Cable assembly in packaged condition undergoes a 28-day test consisting of two 14-day temperature/humidity cycles.

The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) is used to determine how the electrical resistance of a conductor changes with temperature. The temperature coefficient of resistance is the change in resistance per degree centigrade over the temperature range of the conductor above 20°C.

This is an examination to ensure that after temperature changes connectors do not display signs of peeling, blistering, flaking, and separation of plating or other damage detrimental to the operation of the connector.

Temperature Life (Life Aging) test. Subjects fiber optic cable topology components to elevated temperature for a specified duration as part of qualification testing.

This test evaluates the temperature life test - fiber optic component of material per EIA/TIA-455-4.

Measures the temperature rise of connector under current loading per EIA-364.

This test evaluates the temperature test of wire per SS7333.

Temperature/humidity test. Cable is tested per EIA 364-31 humidity test procedure, method IV, with a cold temperature step, then evaluated for attenuation.

Acidic Atmosphere test purpose. Determines the resistance of materials and protective coatings to corrosive atmospheres and evaluates effects on operational capabilities.

Determines the tensile strength and elongation properties of material per ASTM D882.

This method is intended for use in determining the tensile strength and percentage elongation at break of conductors.

This method is intended for use in determining the tensile stress of insulation and sheath compounds. It is applicable to the usual grades of rubber and thermoplastic compounds used for insulation and sheaths.

Determines the tensile strength and elongation properties of insulation per AS23190 revD.

Tests the insulation and jacket properties of building wire per NEMA WC 53 Section 4.11.7.

This test is performed to assess the strength of the connection between the wire and its termination to ensure the reliability and integrity of the electrical connection. The design of the terminals and method of their attachment must withstand the applicable mechanical stresses to which they will be subjected to during installation, disassembly, and regular use.

Termination crimp test. Three size 26 uninsulated conductors are terminated with appropriately sized crimp terminations and subjected to life testing per 4.7.10.

Tensile strength after temperature exposure. Specimens are prepared by removing center wires from the bundle, collapsing it, and performing tensile strength testing after thermal conditioning.

This test evaluates the test group #1 of connector per AS39029.

This test evaluates the test group #2 of connector per AS39029.

This test evaluates the test group #4 of connector per AS39029.

This test evaluates the test group #5 of connector per AS39029.

Measures the screening attenuation (shielding effectiveness) of cable screens for electromagnetic compatibility per IEC 62153-4-4.

Measures the screening attenuation of the cable shield using the tri-axial method per ISO 19642-2.

This test evaluates the test method for peel adhesion of pressure-sensitive tape of material per ASTM D3330.

This test evaluates the thermal crack resistance of cable per ICEA S-81-570.

Calculates the nominal electrical resistance per unit length from the nominal resistivity and cross-sectional area of resistance wire per ASTM B267.

The thermal endurance (or high temperature endurance) test determines the ability of the insulation of a firezone or similar wire to resist degradation due to exposure to high temperature.

Evaluates the long-term thermal endurance rating of connector per EN2591.

The thermal index test (also known as the Relative Thermal Life and Temperature Index) is based on multiple cycles of elevated temperature exposure, mechanical stressing, and electrical insulation integrity checks. The goal of this test is to determine the maximum continuous operational temperature for the wire/cable for a targeted time interval (the common goal for aerospace wires is to find the maximum continuous temperature for 10,000 hours of operation). This is achieved with long-term exposure to temperatures above this desired temperature rating.

Subjects power cable to elevated current to produce thermal overload conditions and evaluates insulation degradation per SAE J2031.

Temperature cycling can cause rapid degradation of wire/cable insulation integrity. This can manifest and insulation splits, cracks, and/or delamination. Often an overlooked test method for assessment, the thermal shock test proves and excellent means of assessing the construction quality of a wire or cable.

The thermal shock test is applicable to hermetically sealed connectors.  The connector undergoes successive cycles consisting of times submersed in hot and cold water baths. After cycling is complete the connectors are dried in a forced air oven, and to pass the examination, the connector must have sustained no damage detrimental to the operation of the connector.

Thermal shock test. Adapters are tested per MIL-STD-202 method 107 with specified test condition letter and measurements before/after cycling.

This test evaluates the thermal softening behavior of wire per AS6324.

This test evaluates the thermal stability of wire per EN3475.

Determines the ability of a bundle of insulated wire specimens to withstand the heat of a soldering iron resting on the bundle per AS4373 Method 107.

Determines the combined thermal/mechanical cut-through resistance of an individual insulated wire using a heated soldering iron pressed against the specimen per AS4373 Method 106.

The purpose of the time/current to smoke test is to determine the time (and electrical current) necessary for a wire specimen to produce smoke. The pass/fail criteria for this test is based on the particular wire/cable specification but is typically based on the specimen able to sustain an electrical current level (e.g. 15A) without producing visible smoke.

The tinning test evaluates the ability of the tin layer over a copper conductor to protect the inner conductor from chemical degradation.

Measures the stability of electrical resistance at elevated temperature for nickel-chromium heating element alloys per ASTM B344.

In this test, the polyamide (or modified polyamide) topcoat of a sample wire is exposed to boiling water vapor and visually examined for cracking.

On aircraft, cables can be exposed to straining conditions that cause the cable to loose its electrical integrity and damage to insulation. This test assesses the effects of this longtime exposure to straining conditions.

Transfer impedance is the measurement of the current flowing on a shield surface to the voltage developed on the opposite side of the surface. Cable shields are designed to reduce transfer impedance, thus increasing shield effectiveness.

A capacitance unbalance bridge is used to measure the pair-to-ground capacitance of a wire pair inside of a multi-pair cable.

This test evaluates the radial shrinkage of a heat shrink insulation sample to ensure the insulation shrinks to the appropriate dimensions as identified in the detail specification.

Evaluates the flame resistance of insulation per NASA-STD-6001.

The velocity of propagation (also known as the Phase Velocity) test measures the speed of electrical signal transmission down a wire/cable. The velocity of signal propagation is typically represented as a fraction of the speed of light in a vacuum and is primarily impacted by the wire/cable dielectric.

Evaluates the flame resistance of wire per UL-1581.

Connectors are often exposed to high vibration environments on aircraft and need to be capable of tolerating these conditions.

This test evaluates the vicat softening point of material per IS 10810.

This test evaluates the visual examination of crimp/performnce check of connector per BSS7070.

In general, a visual inspection can be used to determine any cracks, conductor exposure and wire degradation which are good indicators for determining the electrical integrity of a wire specimen or cable.

DC resistance measurements and voltage drop calculations are conducted on insulated wires to determine the voltage drop across crimp joints and on re-terminated insulated wires. This evaluation is an effective means of determining the electrical efficacy of a crimp.

This test is typically run as part of posttest assessment procedures to evaluate the sample's insulation/jacket integrity after an environmental or other tests.

Return Loss is a relative measurement of the reflected signal on a cable. In an ideal system, no signal would be reflected, all of the power on a signal would be received by the load, and the return loss would be infinite. In real-life applications, there will always be at least some amount of the input signal reflected back on the cable.