What is a Spike Test?
20th November 2007
Eland Cables recently performed this test on samples of 33kV cable at the independent CESI facility in Milan.
A Spike Test is a test specifically designed to prove that the screen of a cable can withstand a full specified fault current for a period of no less than 3 seconds. It simulates the accidental “spiking” of a live cable installation and ensures that the circuit protection will operate and the circuit fails to safety.
The cable was successfully tested at 3KiloAmps in 3 seconds.
Further tests were carried out at 4.5KiloAmps and 6KiloAmps to investigate the limitations of the cable design. Impressively all samples also passed at these high levels of electrical current.
All cables passed each test the first time.
