This video was filmed at the Tratos UK cable manufacturer plan in the UK, inside the Faraday Cage for Medium and High Voltage cable tests in Merseyside. Peter Waterworth, the Technical and Development Director at Tratos UK, tells us about the rigorous electrical cable test in Tratos. At Tratos there isn’t a single cable that leaves our factory or any other factory within our group that hasn’t undergone voltage and electrical testing – this applies to every cable we manufacture.
Even the slightest imperfection is meticulously examined, like a small void or a tiny contaminant within the insulation. Such a cable might easily endure a five-minute voltage test under normal circumstances. However, when enclosing it within a Faraday cage, we subject it to voltage and meticulously watch for discharges.
Our Faraday cage in Italy holds the distinction of being Europe’s largest Faraday test cage. It serves as the primary testing ground for Medium Voltage and High Voltage cables. The setup we are referring to is a smaller version of the extensive Faraday cage in Italy, but it still commands significant respect for its capabilities.
Using this testing apparatus, we’re capable of applying a maximum of 100 kV, with a peak power output of 5,000 kVA. If any discharge is detected within this chamber, we can be unequivocally certain that it originates from the cable itself. This level of precision allows us to confidently assert that a cable without any discharge is truly discharge-free.
We’re certain that cables passing this rigorous examination are not only reliable but also possess a longer operational lifespan. They won’t experience untimely discharges that could potentially lead to premature failure.
As the cable in question descends and comes into contact with the grounding point, a safe connection is established. This signifies a successful test.
The significance of this chamber goes beyond merely withstanding a five-minute voltage test. It enables us to measure the extent of any potential discharge occurring within the cable. More precisely, we aim to confirm the absence of any such discharge.
The thorough testing we carry out in this facility, along with the comprehensive testing in our main Faraday cage in Italy, empowers us to confidently guarantee the performance of our cables, particularly those designed for Medium Voltage and High Voltage applications.
