Having collected the above information from the different National Committees, the Working Group built several charts in order to identify the main criteria and collect the needs of each country. Many discussions arose on the reason of the selected standard requirements. It is obvious that having three different technologies associated to different country regulations and climatic environment, it has been hard to combine the requests with the reality and issue a draft which answers the majority of the represented countries. We agreed on the following test families:

–          Mechanical tests

–          Electrical ageing tests

–          Environmental tests

Recommendations about sample test, quality control and test report content have been given on request of customer representatives attending the WG11 SG ABC Accessories meetings.

We finally agreed that:

–          There is variation between the different ABC specifications provided by HD 626 and tests carried out on one of the ABC types may not be completely

applicable to ABC of different specification. Therefore, the purchasers, of accessories tested to this standard, must ensure that all their requirements are met. In order to gain approval, if necessary, with agreement between the customer and the manufacturer, some or all of the tests carried out to this standard may have to be repeated on a cable specified by the customer.

• Climate differs across Europe and in order to meet the differing geographic climatic conditions it is necessary to provide a range of tests to meet these variations. A range of optional, additional tests are provided to meet the varying climatic needs and these should be agreed between the customer and the supplier (see Annex C in pr EN 50483-6).

The purpose of this standard is to define the common aspects of the products included in the above scope.

• Previous type approvals:

Formerly, approvals for such products have been achieved of the basis of national standards and specifications and/or the demonstration of satisfactory service performances. The publication of this standard does not invalidate existing approvals. However products approved to current National standards or specifications, shall be subject to agreement between customer and manufacturer to define if the tests comply with the new European standard or if additional tests must be carried out.

After they have been made, these tests do not need to be repeated unless changes are made to the accessory’s material, design or manufacturing process which might affect the performance characteristics.

Performance requirements

Based on the main test families above, the group worked on anchoring & suspension clamps for each three technologies, and then on connections which are applicable for all. The structure adopted has been based on the existing standards or specifications and on test definition already included in existing EN or IEC standards.

I.       DRAFT CONTENT

The draft is composed of 6 parts:

• Part 1: Generalities

In this part, all information on the test method, conditions are included as well as the information concerning marking, quality and sample tests.

Recommendation for test report are given, tables for selection of samples by test are shown in the Annexes.

• Part 2: Test Requirements for LV Aerial Bundled Cable Accessories – Tension & Suspension clamps for self-supporting system

In this part are identified all tests which must be carried out for accessories being used in ABC self-supporting system.

• Part 3: Test Requirements for LV Aerial Bundled Cable Accessories – Tension & Suspension clamps for neutral messenger system.

In this part are identified all tests which must be carried out for accessories being used in ABC neutral messenger system, bare or insulated neutral.

• Part 4: Test Requirements for LV Aerial Bundled Cable Accessories – Connections.

In this part are identified all tests which must be carried out for connectors (lugs, splices and tap off) being used in any ABC systems.

• Part 5: Requirements for LV Aerial Bundled Cable Accessories – Electrical aging test.

In this part is defined the electrical ageing test which must be used for qualifying connectors as Part 4 and or other connectors link to the ABC environment (e.g.; transition connectors from ABC to LV bare lines or LVABC to LV underground cables)

• Part 6: Test Requirements for LV Aerial Bundled Cable Accessories – Environmental test.

In this part are defined the corrosion and climatic ageing tests which must be applied to all above products with an Annex which recommends where the above tests could be applicable.

In the following paragraphs, we will highlight the key issues for each part. More detailed information is available in the mentioned parts.

Part1: prEN 50483-1

This part defines the marking, traceability, routine & sample tests to check the compliance of the supplied products with the standard. A test is defined to check the permanent marking.

In addition, all test conditions to apply during the type testing are identified: frequency, ambient temperature, applied load tolerances, speed for load application; leakage current for dielectric voltage test, water resistivity, speed for voltage application, tightening torque application, humidity conditions. Connector classes are defined as follows:

• A for connectors subjected to heat cycles & short circuit tests
• B for connectors subjected to heat cycles only
• 1 for connectors subjected to dielectric test in water
• 2 for connectors subjected to dielectric test in

Part 2: prEN 50483-2

This part defines the tests to be performed on tension & suspension clamps designed for LV ABC self-supporting system.

Tension clamps:

• tensile test at ambient temperature: 60% or 80% of MBL with respectively dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled cables.
• mechanical failure load test: 100% of MBL during 1 minute
• tensile test at high temperature: 20% of MBL – 100 cycles at operating cable temperature with respectively dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled cables.
• tensile test at low temperature: 25% or 40% of MBL at

-10°C during 1 hour.

Suspension clamps:

• tensile test at ambient temperature: 20% or 40% of MBL
• mechanical failure load test: 100% of MBL during 1
• slip test at ambient temperature: 500 to 1000 N with respectively dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled cables.
• slip test at high temperature (optional): 250 cycles of 90 minutes
• thermal test: 100 cycles at maximum normal cable temperature with respectively dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled cables.

For both clamp types:

• dielectric voltage test (clamp + cable): 4kV/1
• clamp bolt tightening: 10 times 110% of specified
• environmental test with corrosion ageing and climatic

Part 3: prEN 50483-3

This part defines the tests to be performed on tension & suspension clamps designed for LV ABC self supporting system.

Tension clamps:

• tensile test at ambient temperature: 90% of MBL
• tensile test at high temperature: 500 cycles at a cable temperature of 60°C with dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled cables.
• tensile test at low temperature: 45% of MBL at -10°C with dielectric behaviour of clamp and bundled

Suspension clamps:

• clamp bolt tightening test: specified torque +10%, 10 times
• tensile test of the clamp 75-90% of MBL
• slip test of the neutral
  • insulated neutral: ³ 300N
  • bare neutral: 45 N/mm²
• swing test (optional): at 2,5 Hz with a load equal to 1300 N
• slip test at high temperature (optional): 250 cycles

For both clamp types:

• dielectric voltage test: 4kV : 1 minute
• environmental test with corrosion ageing and climatic

Part 4: prEN 50483-4

Insulation Piercing connectors (IPC’s)

• mechanical damage test on main conductors > 25 mm²:
• 80% of MBL for self-supporting ABC
• 90% of MBL for neutral messenger
• 60 % of MBL for phases
• branch pull out test: 1000 N or 10% of MBL the greater

• connector bolt tightening test: max torque x 1,2
• shear head function at -10 and +50°C
• low temperature impact test at -10°C
• low temperature assembly test at -10°C: contact established at 70% of minimum torque

Pre-insulated sleeves:

• mechanical test:
• 20% of MBL for 4 to 16 mm² copper
• 1200N or 40% of MBL the greater for 16 to 25 mm² Alu
• 85% for 35 to 150 mm² Alu self supporting system
• 60% of MBL for 16 to 150 mm² Alu Phase
• 95 % of MBL for Alu alloy neutral messenger
• endurance test under tensile: 500 cycles at normal operating cable temperature
• low temperature test at -10°C.

Pre-insulated lugs:

• mechanical test:
• 1200 N from 16 to 25 mm²
• 2500 N from 35 to 150 mm²
• water tight test: 24 hours in immersion

For all connectors:

• dielectric voltage test class 1 or 2
• electrical ageing test class A or B
• environmental test:
• corrosion test
• climatic ageing test
• low temperature test at -10°C

Part 5: prEN 50483-5

 Class A: 1000 cycles with 6 short circuit

applied after 200 cycles

Class B: 1000 cycles without
short circuit   

Main requirements:

resistance
factor ratio l: ≤ 2      

assessment
of resistance stability: ≤ 15%

temperature
stability: ± 10° C

T°C of each connector ≤ T°C of reference
cable

Part 6: pr EN 50483-6

This part
defines the corrosion and climatic tests to be performed for all products
above.      
Corrosion test:     

•  salt mist test: according to EN 60068-2-11     
• gas atmosphere test: method 1 (SO₂)
  or method 2 (0.05% of NaCl+ 0.35% of (NH₄)₂(SO₄)  
  immersion test in salt solution
  (optional)

Climatic ageing test:

• Method 1: as the cable
  in HD 626
• Method 2: according to EN 60068-2-5

I.    CONCLUSION

This new
standard must provide a better support to the Utilities in order to elaborate
their own specification and rationalise the test requirements and acceptance
criteria requested for all manufacturers. It
has been based on the field experience of both utilities & manufacturers as well as the
expertise /guidance of LV ABC engineers. Therefore, the information in this
paper is subject to further changes and improvements.

This European
draft will be circulated for vote by the end of
2007.

II.    BIOGRAPHY

Gilles Porcheray received his degree
in mechanics in 1971
from IUT (Technology Institute) in Dijon, France.
His area of expertise includes
electric field analysis and design of connectors. He joined SIMEL in 1974 as Project
Manager and is currently Product Manager for LV insulated overhead
product line in Tyco Electronics/Energy Division. From 1974 to 1985, he
worked as a Product Development Engineer, mainly focused on piercing
connectors. For 10 years, he leads the WG11 Sub Group ABC Accessories.

I.          ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author would like to thank all the members who participated to this standard elaboration:

1. T.Antikainen (Ensto – Finland), R.Davidson (WPD – UK), N.Dazzi (CESI- Italy), P.Deschamps (Tyco – France), A.Haidar (Mosdorfer – Italy), T.Hiort (Vattenfall – Sweden), H.Jenswold (Sintef – Norway), M. Kokkonen (Ensto- Finland), T. Le Corre (EDF – France), C.Madrueno (Sofamel – Spain), C.Piriou (EDF-France), C.Pirovano (CESI – Italy), J.Pitkaïnen (Ensto – Finland), M.Richardson ( EME- UK), C.Ryan (ESB – Ireland), J.Saramago (EDP – Portugal), K.Schöngrundner (Mosdorfer – Austria), I.Strachan (CCL- UK), A.Wallner (Amperwerke – Germany).

Special thanks to M. Chatterjee (WG11 – Convenor – Nexans – Belgium), M. Hagger ( BCA – UK) for the help provided in the application of rules, writing and support to issue a proper draf