How to Test the Cable Quality
I am always be asked to show the quality of the cables. Here are a few good ways for how to test the cable quality.
1. Observe the Appearance of the Cable Packaging and Certificates
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- Check the cable certificate report.
- Verify the certificate of conformity for:
- Factory name, address, inspection stamp, and production date.
- Trademark, specifications, and voltage printed on the wire.
2. Test the Cable’s External Characteristics
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- Take a small section of the wire and bend it repeatedly. A superior quality cable should:
- Feel soft and flexible.
- Show good fatigue strength.
- The plastic or rubber insulation should feel elastic with no visible cracks.
- Take a small section of the wire and bend it repeatedly. A superior quality cable should:
3. Test the Cable Weight
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- Good quality wire and cable should have a specified weight per 100 meters. For example:
- A 4.0mm² plastic insulated single-strand copper core wire should weigh between 4.4-4.6kg per 100 meters.
- If the weight is significantly less, this may indicate the copper core has too many impurities or that the cable length or cross-section is below standard.
- Good quality wire and cable should have a specified weight per 100 meters. For example:
| AWG | No. of Cores x Nominal Cross Sectional Area | Nominal Thickness of Insulation | Nominal Overall Diameter | Nominal Copper Weight | Nominal Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # x mm² | mm | mm | kg/km | kg/km | |
| 16(30/30) | 1 x 1.5 | 0,7 | 3.1 | 14.4 | 20 |
| 14(50/30) | 1 x 2.5 | 0,8 | 3.6 | 24.0 | 31 |
| 12(56/28) | 1 x 4 | 0,8 | 4.3 | 38.0 | 48 |
| 10(84/28) | 1 x 6 | 0,8 | 4.9 | 58.0 | 69 |
| 8(80/26) | 1 x 10 | 1,0 | 6.4 | 96.0 | 121 |
| 6(128/26) | 1 x 16 | 1,0 | 8.1 | 154.0 | 211 |
| 4(200/26) | 1 x 25 | 1,2 | 9.8 | 240 | 303 |
| 2 (280/26) | 1 x 35 | 1,2 | 11.1 | 336 | 417 |
| 1 (400/26) | 1 x 50 | 1,4 | 13.1 | 480 | 539 |
| 2/0 (356/24) | 1 x 70 | 1,4 | 15.5 | 672 | 730 |
4. Compare Cable Prices
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- Be cautious of extremely low prices, which may indicate counterfeit or low-quality products. These often have lower production costs and are sold at attractive prices to lure buyers. Avoid falling for ‘good value for money’ claims if they seem too good to be true.
5. Examine the Copper Core Quality
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- Shoddy cables will have copper cores that are:
- Purple-black, yellowish, or whitish in color, indicating impurities.
- Low in mechanical strength and toughness, breaking easily under slight pressure.
- To test, peel off a section of the wire and rub the copper core with a white paper. If black residue appears on the paper, the copper contains too many impurities, marking it as non-standard.
- Shoddy cables will have copper cores that are:
6. Third-Party Inspection
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- If there are doubts about the cable quality, send the cable to a third-party testing organization for inspection. The results from an authoritative testing report will confirm whether the cable meets the required standards.
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