Presenter: David Carroll, Clinton Instrument Co., USA
Overview:
Sponsored by the Wire Association International’s Southeast Chapter, this webinar takes a look at spark testing and related safety issues. The program will be presented by David Carroll, applications engineer, Clinton Instrument Co.
“The Southeast Chapter believes that there is no better topic than safety and hopes that companies will take this opportunity to share best practices,” said chapter President Art Deming of SUPERIOR ESSEX.
Spark testers are classified by the type of test voltage applied to the product. Available types include Alternating Current (AC), Direct Current (DC), and Impulse. The AC testers perform spark tests specified by NEMA, BS 5099, IPCEA, CSA, UL 1581, and others, and are recommended for solid insulations. Clinton Instrument supplies two types of AC spark testers: those that operate at power main frequencies, generally 50 or 60 Hertz, and those that operate at high frequency, such as 3kHz. Its DC spark testers are typically used for testing telecom and foam-insulated wire to the UL444 test. The Impulse is an old test not used widely except in military and commercial aerospace testing.
The webinar does not focus on specific models but instead looks closely at the safety aspects of grounding and the problems that can arise from ungrounded products. The testing technology, as long as it is adjusted to the correct setting, works well, in part because of electricity’s inherent tendency to resolve from high potential to ground.
Electricity naturally leaves a high-voltage state, but is kept from doing so by the insulation. If the insulation is made to spec and in good shape, the electricity cannot penetrate the insulation. That condition can change if the insulation is damaged, which can happen a lot of different ways during the production process, from pinholes caused by water vapor and cooling system problems, to line vibration and mechanical process damage.
“We plan to cover problems that can occur due to ungrounded center conductors, wet wire testing, the use of too low test voltage, and operator safety while using any high voltage spark test unit. Our goal for the webinar is to explain how to safely meet the required norms and assure the ultimate customer that they are getting the best possible quality wire or cable.”
More Information:
For further information, contact WAI Director of Education Marc Murray at (001) 203-453-2777, ext. 121, or mmurray@wirenet.org.
Members receive free access to all WAI webinars. The non-member price is $55 per webinar.
Space is limited, early registration is suggested. Reserve your seat now each of the webinars below.
Title: Spark Tester Safety
Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EST
Audio: Either phone or VoIP is available
Meeting ID: 256179017
All attendees are encouraged to use the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to hear the audio portion of this webinar. If your computer does not have adequate audio capability, you may call by telephone using the number(s) provided to you in your registration confirmation (standard phone rates apply).
*Requirements to view presentations: Internet Explorer® 6.0+, Mozilla® Firefox® 2.0+ (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled), Windows® 2000, XP, Vista, Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection. * Subject to change
