We always take quality as first priority for our products. All cables are strictly tested by skilled personnel before shipping. Here we introduce typical tests applied on micro coaxial cables.
Continuity Test
Continuity test measures the resistance between two points. Low resistance means the circuit is closed and electrical continuity exists. Contrastingly high resistance means the circuit is open and no continuity. Continuity test is the very fundamental test to verify the reliability and performance of cable assemblies. For typical micro coaxial cable, a resitantce no larger than 3Ω could be thought as continuity. This threshold could be adjusted depending on cable diameter and length.
Hipot Test
Hipot test, also known as high potential test or dielectric withstand test, determines the adequacy of electrical insulation in a cable assembly. Hipot test is the opposite of continuity test. While continuity tests verify the flow of electricity from one point to another, hipot tests verify that no current will flow.
Hipot test is effective to detect defects like below.
- Crushed or nicked insulation
- Stray wire strands or braided shielding
- Conductive or corrosive contaminants around conductors
- Terminal spacing issues
- Cables that are out-of-tolerance
- Enlarged solder footprints
- Inadequate creepage and clearance distances
The voltage used in a hipot test can be either AC or DC. AC test is usually thought more stringent because it stresses the insulation alternately in both polarities. On the otherhand, DC test can detect much smaller leakage current, and thus more accurate, because AC always gives some slight legitimate leakage through barrier capacitance and this can mask leakage from faulty insulation.
Our cables are 100% tested with both AC and DC hipot, to make sure they are 100% safe to customers. Given that the rated voltage for micro coaxial cables is typically 30V, the typical test voltage is 100V for AC and 200V for DC. Under such conditions, a leakage current no larger than 0.5mA could be thought as pass. This threshold could be adjusted depending on requirements of customer applications.
Insulation Resistance Test
Insulation resistance test measures the total resistance between any two points separated by electrical insulation. It determines how effective the dielectric (insulation) is in resisting the flow of electrical current. Insulation resistance test is similar with Hipot test, but has a different purpose. The Hipot test checks that a catastrophic breakdown will not occur at a specific voltage, while insulation resistance test is used to measure the quality of insulation. The Hipot test is usually done at much higher voltage (2.5x or higher than normal operation voltage), with result expressed in volts, while insulation resistance test is done at a modest voltage, with result expressed in ohms or megohms. For typical micro coaxial cable, an insulation resitantce no less than 5MΩ could be thought as pass. Again, this threshold could be adjusted depending on requirements of customer applications.
Except for the tests listed above, we are happy to support any specific test that customer desires. Please feel free to drop a message at the contact form. Our professional team will propose the solution that fits your needs best.