IEC 60189-1:2018

IEC 60189-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-06
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Low-frequency cables and wires with PVC insulation and PVC sheath –
Part 1: General test and measuring methods

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IEC 60189-1 ®
Edition 4.0 2018-06
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Low-frequency cables and wires with PVC insulation and PVC sheath –

Part 1: General test and measuring methods

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.120.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-5846-0

– 2 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 8
4 Standard conditions for testing . 8
5 Dimensions . 9
5.1 Selection and preparation of samples . 9
5.1.1 Insulation . 9
5.1.2 Sheath . 9
5.1.3 Finished cable or wire . 9
5.2 Measurement of dimensions . 9
5.2.1 Minimum thickness of insulation or sheath . 9
5.2.2 Mean thickness of insulation or sheath . 10
5.2.3 Diameter of finished cable or wire . 10
6 Mechanical tests . 10
6.1 Selection, marking and preparation of samples for tensile tests . 10
6.1.1 Conductors . 10
6.1.2 Insulation . 10
6.1.3 Sheath . 11
6.2 Measurement of cross-sectional area for tensile test . 12
6.2.1 General . 12
6.2.2 Insulation . 12
6.2.3 Sheath . 13
6.3 Tensile test . 13
6.3.1 Conditioning of test pieces . 13
6.3.2 Tensile testing procedure . 13
6.3.3 Expression of results . 13
6.4 Stripping properties of insulation . 13
6.4.1 General . 13
6.4.2 Test method . 13
7 Thermal stability and climatic tests . 14
7.1 Accelerated ageing . 14
7.2 Pressure test at high temperature . 14
7.3 Resistance to flame propagation . 14
7.3.1 General . 14
7.3.2 Wires . 15
7.3.3 Cables . 15
7.4 Cold bend test . 15
7.4.1 General . 15
7.4.2 Insulation . 15
7.4.3 Sheath . 15
7.5 Heat shock test . 15
7.5.1 General . 15
7.5.2 Insulation . 15
7.5.3 Sheath . 15
7.6 Measurement of insulation shrinkage after overheating of conductor . 16

7.7 Combined shrinkage and heat shock test . 16
7.8 Solder test on tinned conductors. 16
8 Electrical tests . 17
8.1 Electrical resistance of conductors. 17
8.2 Dielectric strength . 17
8.2.1 General . 17
8.2.2 Wires . 17
8.2.3 Cables . 17
8.3 Insulation resistance . 18
8.3.1 General . 18
8.3.2 Wires . 18
8.3.3 Cables . 18
8.4 Mutual capacitance . 18
8.5 Capacitance unbalance (conductor to conductor) . 18

Figure 1 – Dumb-bell test piece . 12
Figure 2 – Small dumb-bell test piece . 12
Figure 3 – Stripping properties of insulation . 13
Figure 4 – Position of the sample in the text apparatus . 14

Table 1 – Mandrel diameter according to mean thickness of sheath . 16

– 4 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
LOW-FREQUENCY CABLES AND WIRES WITH
PVC INSULATION AND PVC SHEATH –

Part 1: General test and measuring methods

FOREWORD
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
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patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes
made to the previous edition. A vertical bar appears in the margin wherever a change
has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red text.

International Standard IEC 60189-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 46C: Wires and
symmetric cables, of IEC technical committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, RF connectors,
RF and microwave passive components and accessories.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2007. This edition
constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical
changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) Test methods for dielectric strength and insulation resistance that were referenced in the
previous edition have been withdrawn. They have been replaced with references to similar
test methods described in current standards.
b) References to the IEC 60811 series have been updated as the numbering of this series
has completely been changed.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
46C/1099/FDIS 46C/1100/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in
the report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all the parts in the IEC 60189 series, under the general title Low-frequency cables
and wires with PVC insulation and PVC sheath, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
IMPORTANT – The “colour inside” logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding
of its contents. Users should therefore print this publication using a colour printer.

– 6 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
LOW-FREQUENCY CABLES AND WIRES WITH
PVC INSULATION AND PVC SHEATH –

Part 1: General test and measuring methods

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60189 specifies mechanical, electrical and climatic test methods for low-
frequency cables and wires designed for use in telecommunication inside plants and
equipment and in electronic devices employing similar techniques.
NOTE The other parts of IEC 60189 describe the construction and characteristics of each type of cable and wire.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their
content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition
cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including
any amendments) applies.
IEC 60028, International standard of resistance for copper
IEC 60068 (all parts), Environmental testing
IEC 60068-2-20:1979 , Basic environmental testing procedures – Part 2: Tests – Test T:
Soldering
IEC 60227-2:1997, Polyvinyl chloride insulated cables of rated voltages up to and including
450/750 V – Part 2: Test methods
IEC 60332-1 (all parts), Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions –
Part 1: Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable
IEC 60332-1-2, Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 1-2: Test
for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable – Procedure for 1 kW pre-
mixed flame
IEC 60332-2 (all parts), Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions –
Part 2: Test for vertical flame propagation for a single small insulated wire or cable
IEC 60332-2-2, Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 2-2: Test
for vertical flame propagation for a single small insulated wire or cable – Procedure for
diffusion flame
IEC 60811-1-1:1998, Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of electric
cables and optical cables – Part 1-1: Methods for general application – Measurement of
thickness and overall dimensions – Tests for determining the mechanical properties
___________
This fourth edition was replaced in 2008 by a fifth edition Environmental testing – Part 2-20: Tests – Test T:
Test methods for solderability and resistance to soldering heat of devices with leads.

IEC 60811-1-2:1985, Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of electric
cables – Part 1: Methods for general application – Section Two: Thermal ageing methods
IEC 60811-1-3:1993, Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of electric
and optical cables – Part 1-3: General application – Methods for determining the density –
Water absorption tests – Shrinkage test
IEC 60811-1-4:1985, Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of electric
cables – Part 1: Methods for general application – Section Four: Test at low temperature
IEC 60811-3-1:1985, Common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials of electric
cables – Part 3: Methods specific to PVC compounds – Section One: Pressure test at high
temperature – Tests for resistance to cracking
IEC 60811-201, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 201: General tests – Measurement of insulation thickness
IEC 60811-202, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 202: General tests – Measurement of thickness of non-metallic sheath
IEC 60811-203, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 203: General tests – Measurement of overall dimensions
IEC 60811-401, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 401: Miscellaneous tests – Thermal ageing methods – Ageing in an air oven
IEC 60811-501, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 501: Mechanical tests – Tests for determining the mechanical properties of insulating and
sheathing compounds
IEC 60811-502, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 502: Mechanical tests – Shrinkage test for insulations
IEC 60811-504, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 504: Mechanical tests – Bending tests at low temperature for insulation and sheaths
IEC 60811-508, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 508: Mechanical tests – Pressure test at high temperature for insulation and sheaths
IEC 60811-509, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 509: Mechanical tests – Test for resistance of insulations and sheaths to cracking (heat
shock test)
IEC 60885-1:1987, Electrical test methods for electric cables – Part 1: Electrical tests for
cables, cords and wires for voltages up to and including 450/750 V
ISO 6892:1998, Metallic materials – Tensile testing at ambient temperature
ISO 6892-1, Metallic materials – Tensile testing – Part 1: Method of test at room temperature
EN 50289-1-5, Communication cables – Specifications for test methods – Part 1-5: Electrical
test methods – Capacitance.SEC5:Capacitance

– 8 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1
conductor
part of the cable or wire intended to carry electric current
Note 1 to entry: The conductor may be
a) solid – made of a single strand of circular cross-section;
b) stranded – made of several strands of circular cross-section assembled either by laying up concentrically or by
bunching, and without insulation between them.
The properties of the copper are in accordance with IEC 60028.
3.2
low-frequency wire
insulated conductor or assembly of several insulated conductors, laid up together and which
may be provided with a screen
Note 1 to entry: The wire may be
a) single – consists of a single insulated conductor;
b) multiple – consists of several insulated conductors.
Note 2 to entry: The following designations are used:
pair – for multiple wire with two conductors;
triple – for multiple wire with three conductors;
quad – for multiple wire with four conductors;
quintuple – for multiple wire with five conductors.
3.3
low-frequency cables – sheathed cable
assembly of insulated conductors enclosed in a common continuous protective covering
4 Standard conditions for testing
Unless otherwise specified, all tests shall be carried out under the conditions specified in
IEC 60068.
Unless otherwise specified, tests shall be made at room temperature.
When several test results have been obtained and ordered in an increasing or decreasing
succession, the median value is the middle value if the number of available values is odd, and
is the mean of the two middle values if the number is even.

5 Dimensions
5.1 Selection and preparation of samples
5.1.1 Insulation
Samples of insulated conductors, approximately 100 mm in length, shall be taken at both
ends of the cable or wire.
One sample shall be taken at each end. Any covering(s) shall be removed from the insulation
and the conductor withdrawn, care being taken not to damage the insulation. Each test piece
shall consist of a thin slice of insulation. The slice shall be cut with a suitable device along a
plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conductor.
5.1.2 Sheath
Samples, approximately 100 mm in length, shall be taken from the finished cable at both
ends.
One sample shall be taken at each end. The insulated conductors binding tapes and
screening, if any, shall then be removed from the sheath, and each test piece shall be
prepared by cutting with a suitable device a thin slice along a plane perpendicular to the axis
of the cable. If necessary, the planes of the cuts shall be carefully smoothed.
If not specified differently by the respective detail specification, the following rules shall apply.
If a marking is stamped into the sheath, thus giving rise to a local reduction of thickness, the
test piece shall be taken so as to include such marking. The test piece shall not include such
a reduction of thickness if it is made by the rip cord.
5.1.3 Finished cable or wire
Samples of finished cable or wire, approximately 100 mm in length, shall be taken at both
ends. One sample shall be taken at each end.
5.2 Measurement of dimensions
5.2.1 Minimum thickness of insulation or sheath
5.2.1.1 Insulation
Both samples (one at each end) shall be measured. Each test piece shall be placed under the
measuring equipment with the plane of the cut perpendicular to the optical axis.
Each test piece shall be measured with equipment in accordance with 8.1.2 of IEC 60811-1-1
IEC 60811-201.
The readings shall be made, in millimetres, to two decimal places, if the thickness of
insulation is 0,5 mm or above, and to three estimated decimal places, if the thickness of
insulation is less than 0,5 mm.
The minimum thickness shall be found and measured.
NOTE Alternative test methods may be used, provided that they give equivalent results.
5.2.1.2 Sheath
Both samples (one at each end) shall be measured. Each test piece shall be placed under the
measuring equipment with the plane of the cut perpendicular to the optical axis.

– 10 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
Each test piece shall be measured with equipment in accordance with 8.1.2 of IEC 60811-1-1
IEC 60811-202.
A micrometer applying a pressure of between 50 kPa and 80 kPa can also be used for
measurement of samples of the sheath.
The readings shall be made in millimetres to two decimal places.
The minimum thickness shall be found and measured.
NOTE Alternative test methods may be used, provided that they give equivalent results.
5.2.2 Mean thickness of insulation or sheath
Each test piece shall be placed under the measuring equipment with the plane of the cut
perpendicular to the optical axis.
Six measurements shall be made radially, as far as possible equally spaced around the
circumference.
When the insulation is taken from a stranded conductor, six measurements shall be made
radially in the positions where the insulation is thinnest, i.e. between the ridges caused by
strands.
In all cases, the first measurement shall be made at the place where the insulation is thinnest.
The readings shall be made, in millimetres, to two decimal places, if the thickness of
insulation is 0,5 mm or above, and to three estimated decimal places, if the thickness of
insulation is less than 0,5 mm.
In the case of mechanical tests, the mean value of thickness of each test piece shall be
calculated from the six measurement results obtained on that test piece.
5.2.3 Diameter of finished cable or wire
Both samples (one at each end) shall be measured.
Measurements shall be made in accordance with the method specified in 8.3.2 of
IEC 60811-1-1 IEC 60811-203.
6 Mechanical tests
6.1 Selection, marking and preparation of samples for tensile tests
6.1.1 Conductors
Solid conductors only shall be subjected to the tensile tests. Samples of convenient length
shall be taken at the end of the cable or wire.
6.1.2 Insulation
6.1.2.1 General
These tests are to determine the tensile strength and elongation at break of the insulating
material in the condition as manufactured (i.e. without any ageing) and, when required, after
accelerated ageing treatment.
When the ageing treatment is to be carried out on prepared test pieces of the insulation (in
accordance with 7.1), the test pieces for treatment shall be taken from positions adjacent to
the test pieces used for the test without ageing and the tensile tests on the aged and unaged
test piece shall be made in immediate succession.
6.1.2.2 Sampling
A sample of the insulated conductor shall be taken to provide a minimum of five test pieces
each for the tensile tests without ageing and the tensile tests after each of the required ageing
treatments. Any sample that shows signs of mechanical damage shall not be used for the
tests.
6.1.2.3 Preparation of test pieces
The samples of insulation shall be cut into pieces approximately 100 mm long and the
conductor and any outer coverings removed, care being taken not to damage the insulation.
The tubes shall be marked to identify the sample from which they were prepared and their
relative positions in the sample.
The central 20 mm shall be marked by two lines immediately before the tensile test.
6.1.3 Sheath
6.1.3.1 General
These tests are to determine the tensile strength and elongation-at-break of the sheathing
material of the cable in the condition as manufactured and, when required, after one or more
accelerated ageing treatment(s).
When the ageing treatment is to be carried out on prepared test pieces (in accordance with
7.1), the test pieces for treatment shall be taken from positions adjacent to the test pieces
used for the test without ageing, and the tensile tests on the treated and untreated test pieces
shall be made in immediate succession.
6.1.3.2 Sampling
A sample of the cable to be tested, or of the sheath removed from the cable, shall be taken of
sufficient size to provide a minimum of five test pieces for the tensile tests without ageing and
the required number of test pieces for each of the tensile tests after ageing specified for the
sheathing material in the relevant cable standard. Any sample that shows signs of mechanical
damage shall not be used for tests.
6.1.3.3 Preparation of test pieces
Test pieces shall be prepared from the samples of sheath, dumb-bell test pieces being used
whenever possible.
Each sample of sheath shall be cut into pieces of sufficient size for the test and the pieces
marked to identify the sample from which they are cut and their position relative to each other
in the original sheath.
The pieces of sheath shall be ground or cut, so as to obtain two parallel surfaces between the
marker lines mentioned below, care being taken to avoid undue heating. After grinding or
cutting, the thickness of the pieces shall be not less than 0,6 mm and not more than 2,0 mm.
A dumb-bell test piece in accordance with Figure 1 shall then be punched from each prepared
piece of sheath or if possible two dumb-bell test pieces shall be punched side by side.

– 12 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
Dimensions in millimetres
Marker lines
R8
R12,5
25 12,5
IEC
Figure 1 – Dumb-bell test piece
When the diameter of the core is too small to allow the dumb-bell in accordance with Figure 1
to be used, then a smaller dumb-bell test piece in accordance with Figure 2 shall be punched
from each prepared piece of sheath.
Dimensions in millimetres
Marker lines
R7,5
R10
17 8
IEC
Figure 2 – Small dumb-bell test piece
The central 20 mm for the larger dumb-bells, or 10 mm for the smaller dumb-bells, shall be
marked by two lines on each test piece, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, immediately before the
tensile tests. Tubular test pieces shall be used only when the sheath is of such small size that
it is not possible to prepare dumb-bell test pieces. The tubular test pieces shall be prepared
from samples of sheath in the same way as specified for insulation in 6.1.2.3.
6.2 Measurement of cross-sectional area for tensile test
6.2.1 General
The cross-sectional area of the samples shall be determined by one or other of the methods
described below.
In the case of the samples to be subjected to accelerated ageing, the dimensions used for the
calculation of cross-sectional area shall be measured before ageing.
6.2.2 Insulation
The cross-sectional area of tubular test pieces shall be determined in accordance with the
method specified in Item b) of 9.1.4 of IEC 60811-1-1 IEC 60811-501.
8,5
12,5
6.2.3 Sheath
The cross-sectional area of each test piece shall be determined in accordance with the
method specified in 9.2.4 of IEC 60811-1-1 IEC 60811-501.
6.3 Tensile test
6.3.1 Conditioning of test pieces
Before the tensile test, all test pieces aged and unaged shall be kept for at least 3 h at a
temperature of 23 °C ± 5 °C, except for insulation and sheath, which shall be kept at
23 °C ± 2 °C.
6.3.2 Tensile testing procedure
a) Conductor
The tensile testing of solid conductors shall be carried out in accordance with the method
specified in ISO 6892-1 and the rate of separation of jaws shall be 100 mm/min ±
20 mm/min.
b) Insulation and sheath
The test shall be made in accordance with the method specified in 9.1.7 of IEC 60811-1-1
IEC 60811-501.
6.3.3 Expression of results
The value of the breaking load and the elongation at break shall be calculated in accordance
with 9.1.8 of IEC 60811-1-1 IEC 60811-501.
6.4 Stripping properties of insulation
6.4.1 General
The object of this test is to determine the extent to which the insulation can be easily stripped
from the conductor.
Therefore, five samples of insulated conductors approximately 300 mm in length shall be
taken at each end of the cable or wire.
6.4.2 Test method
Over a length AB of about 25 mm from one end of the samples, the insulation shall be cleanly
cut and carefully stripped from the conductor (see Figure 3).
Dimensions in millimetres
A B C D
25 50 10
IEC
Figure 3 – Stripping properties of insulation
The insulation shall be cleanly cut at right angles to its longitudinal axis.
The sample shall then be cut at D and the insulation at C, about 85 mm and 75 mm
respectively from the stripped end in the case of solid conductors, or at about 55 mm and
45 mm respectively from the stripped end in the case of stranded conductors. This leaves a
length of 50 mm of undisturbed insulation in the case of solid conductors and of 20 mm in the

– 14 – IEC 60189-1:2018 RLV © IEC 2018
case of stranded conductors. The insulation between C and D shall be stripped from the
conductor, care being taken neither to displace the remaining part of the insulation nor to
damage the conductor.
Cutting the sample at D shall be carried out preferably by means of normal cutting pliers
suitably sharpened so as to avoid any burring of the metal at the cut point.
The sample is then placed in the test apparatus similar to that shown in Figure 4.
Dimensions in millimetres
25 50 10
IEC
Figure 4 – Position of the sample in the text apparatus
The metal plate is provided with a round hole which is 10 % greater than the nominal diameter
of the conductor.
The force necessary to start the sliding of the insulation over the conductor shall be
measured, the force being exerted on the conductor. The speed of the tensile machine shall
be between 250 mm/min and 350 mm/min.
7 Thermal stability and climatic tests
7.1 Accelerated ageing
The object of accelerated ageing is to condition the sample of insulation and sheath so that
they are brought rapidly to a state normally reached after a long time.
The accelerated ageing test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in
8.1.2 and 8.1.3 of IEC 60811-1-2 IEC 60811-401 at an ageing temperature of 80 °C for a
period of 7 h × 24 h.
NOTE For routine tests, a higher number of air changes than in the specified method is
permitted.
7.2 Pressure test at high temperature
The object of this test is to determine the extent to which the cable sheath can withstand
deformation when the cable subjected to moderately high temperatures undergoes
mechanical pressure.
The pressure test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in 8.2 of
IEC 60811-3-1 IEC 60811-508 at a temperature of 80 °C.
7.3 Resistance to flame propagation
7.3.1 General
The object of this test is to determine the resistance to flame propagation of a cable or wire.

7.3.2 Wires
The test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in IEC 60332-1
IEC 60332-2-2.
7.3.3 Cables
The test shall be carried out in accordance with the methods specified in IEC 60332-1-2 or
IEC 60332-2-2.
7.4 Cold bend test
7.4.1 General
The object of this test is to determine the extent to which the cable or wire may be used after
exposure to low temperature.
7.4.2 Insulation
Each wire to be tested shall be represented by two samples of suitable length taken from
places separated by at least 1 m.
The cold bend test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in 8.1 of
IEC 60811-1-4 IEC 60811-504.
7.4.3 Sheath
Each sheath to be tested shall be represented by two pieces of completed cable of suitable
length taken from places separated by at least 1 m.
The cold bend test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in 8.2 of
IEC 60811-1-4 IEC 60811-504.
The test temperature shall be given in the relevant specification.
7.5 Heat shock test
7.5.1 General
The object of this test is to determine the extent to which the insulation or the sheath
withstands variations in temperature without sustaining damage.
7.5.2 Insulation
The heat shock test for insulation shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified
in 9.1 of IEC 60811-3-1 IEC 60811-509, except that each sample shall be wound helically for
three complete contiguous turns around a mandrel of diameter having a value, rounded off to
the nearest whole diameter, of three times the mean overall diameter of the insulated
conductor.
7.5.3 Sheath
The heat shock test for sheaths shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified
in 9.2 of IEC 60811-3-1 IEC 60811-509, except that each sample shall be a strip 4 mm wide
cut from the sheath in the direction of the axis of the cable. The samples shall be wound
helically for six complete contiguous turns round a mandrel of diameter as specified in
Table 1.
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Table 1 – Mandrel diameter according to mean thickness of sheath
Mean thickness of sheath Mandrel diameter
mm mm
Up to and including 1 5
≥ 1 10
7.6 Measurement of insulation shrinkage after overheating of conductor
The object of this test is to check the extent to which the insulation shrinks after overheating
of the conductor.
The test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in Clause 10 of
IEC 60811-1-3 IEC 60811-502. For wire of less than 1,5 mm diameter, the test sample shall
be 100 mm ± 5 mm long with cleanly cut ends (without stripped ends).
Each test piece shall be heated at a temperature of 100 °C ± 2 °C for 1 h.
7.7 Combined shrinkage and heat shock test
This test only applies to insulations with an outer diameter less than 1,5 mm.
For routine tests, the combined test specified hereunder is accepted as an alternative to the
group shrinkage test and the heat shock test. The two tests specified in 7.5 and 7.6 shall be
considered as reference tests.
The object of this test is to determine the extent to which the insulation shrinks or withstands
damage with variations in temperature. The test shall be carried out in accordance with the
method specified in 9.1 of IEC 60811-3-1 IEC 60811-509, except that each sample shall be
wound helically for three complete contiguous turns around a mandrel of diameter having a
value rounded off to the nearest whole millimetre of three times the mean overall diameter of
the insulated conductor.
Also, the ends which shall be cleanly cut (without stripped ends) shall extend at right angles
to the mandrel in opposite directions for a length of 50 mm.
The amount of shrinkage of the insulation from the conductor ends shall be measured and
shall be recorded as a percentage of the tail length (50 mm).
7.8 Solder test on tinned conductors
For special applications, compliance shall be checked by the solder globule method specified
in 4.8 of IEC 60068-2-20:1979.
This method applies when specified in the relevant specification.
Non-activated flux shall be used.

8 Electrical tests
8.1 Electrical resistance of conductors
The electrical resistance shall be measured on the finished cable or wire by means of a
device capable of measuring accurately to within 0,5 % of the value to be determined.
The measured value, corrected proportionately to the length and expressed in ohm/kilometre,
shall be referred to the standard temperature of 20 °C.
For copper conductors, the resistance shall be corrected to the standard temperature by
multiplying the measured value by the factor k as follows:
k =
1+ 0,003 93 t − 20
( )
where
t is the temperature in °C at which the measurement is made.
NOTE To correct the value proportionally to the length, the measured resistance should shall
be multiplied by the factor L being (1/L), where L is the length of the cable in kilometres.
L
8.2 Dielectric strength
8.2.1 General
This test shall be carried out before the measurement of insulation resistance described in
8.3.
The dielectric strength of the insulation shall be checked on the finished cable or on a sample
of wire. The test voltage may be either DC or AC. In the latter case, the waveform shall be
approximately sinusoidal. The frequency shall be between 40 Hz and 60 Hz, and the voltage
to be taken into consideration shall be expressed as an RMS value.
The value of the test voltage and the duration of application are specified in the relevant cable
specifications.
A protective resistance of adequately high value shall be connected in the circuit supplying
the test voltage to the sample under test.
8.2.2 Wires
a) Unscreened wires
The voltage test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in 3.2.1 of
IEC 60885-1 2.3 of IEC 60227-2:1997.
b) Screened wires
The voltage test shall be carried out in accordance with the method specified in 3.2.2 of
IEC 60885-1 2.2 of IEC 60227-2:1997.
8.2.3 Cables
The test shall be carried out on complete lengths of the finished cable in accordance with the
method specified in IEC 60227-2.
The voltage shall be applied gradually at a rate not exceeding 1 kV/s and consecutively
between any conductor and all others plus the screen, if any, connected to earth.

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