Vlf Cable Testing Standards

Vlf cable test voltages and time durations are set by ieee standard 400 2 2013.

Vlf cable testing standards.

Vlf testing is performed with an ac hi pot at frequency ranging from 0 01 to 1 hz. Ieee guide for field testing of shielded power cable systems using very low frequency vlf less than 1 hz. On february 19 2009 the american national standards institute approved the neta acceptance testing. While supplies to railways and aircraft may use 162 3 of 400hz it is still a sinusoidal voltage waveform.

The document uses the standard numbering system of ansi and ieee. The vlf test can be used in a number of ways. The industry default standard vlf test frequency is 0 1hz. Ac is the standard used to transmit power worldwide usually at a frequency of 50 or 60 hertz.

They are in the range of 1 5 u0 to 3 u0. However high capacitive loads as encountered with very long cable runs may require a lower frequency for the correct operation of test sets. These numbers result from many years of vlf field use and research. During the test cables are subjected to a test voltage significantly higher than what they experience during normal operating conditions.

Ieee 400 3 2006 ieee guide for partial discharge testing of shielded power cable systems in a field environment. As higher voltage vlf equipment is developed standards may be adapted to increase the voltage level for application. The preset test time in the range of 15 to 60 minutes is short and economical. Standard details very low frequency vlf withstand and other diagnostic tests and measurements that are performed using vlf energization in the field on shielded power cable systems are described in this guide.

Voltage levels are a multiple of the nominal voltage of the cable. The most widely accepted test frequency is 0 1 hz however frequencies in the range of 0 0001 1 hz may be useful for diagnosing cable systems that exceeds the limitations of the test system at 0 1 hz. In accordance with respective standards sine wave voltage is used for vlf testing. A vlf test.

Vlf testing of cables is supported in iec 60502 up to 35 kv and in ieee 400 2 up to 69 kv. Whenever possible cable systems are treated in a similar manner to individual cables. There are no rules of thumb to be used. This combination of size and power makes very low frequency cable testing perfect for testing longer sections of cable and apparatus.