ASTM D4566-08e1

ASTM D4566-08e1 - 1.11.2008

Significance and Use

Electrical tests, properly interpreted, provide information with regard to the electrical properties of the insulation. The electrical test values give an indication as to how the insulation will perform under conditions similar to those observed in the tests. Electrical tests may provide data for research and development, engineering design, quality control, and acceptance or rejection under specifications.

1. Scope

1.1 These test methods cover procedures for electrical testing of thermoplastic insulations and jackets used on telecommunications wire and cable and for the testing of electrical characteristics of completed products. To determine the procedure to be used on the particular insulation or jacket compound, or on the end product, reference should be made to the specification for the product.

1.2 The test methods appear in the following sections of this standard:

Test Method	Sections
Electrical Tests of Insulation—In-Process	4-8
DC proof test	8
Insulation defect or fault rate	7
Spark test	6
Electrical Tests of Completed Wire and Cable	9-51
Attenuation	24
Attenuation, effects due to aging	31
Attenuation, effects due to elevated temperature	29
Attenuation, effects due to humidity	30
Attenuation to crosstalk ratio—far end (ACR-F)	28
Attenuation to crosstalk ratio—near end (ACR-N)	26
Capacitance deviation	19
Capacitance difference	20
Capacitance unbalance, Pair-to-ground (CUPG)	22
Capacitance unbalance, Pair-to-pair (CUPP)	21
Capacitance unbalance, Pair-to-support wire	23
Characteristic Impedance—Method 1 Propagation constant and capacitance	47
Characteristic Impedance—Method 2, Single-ended measurements	48
Characteristic Impedance—Method 3 Least Squares Function Fit	49
Coaxial capacitance (capacitance to water)	17
Conductor continuity	11
Conductor resistance (CR)	13
Conductor resistance unbalance (CRU of pairs)	15
Continuity of other metallic elements	12
Crosses test (continuity between wires of different pairs)	35
Crosstalk loss, far-end	27
Crosstalk loss, near-end	25
DC proof test, Core-to-internal shield (screen)	40
DC proof test, Core-to-shield	38
DC proof test, Core-to-support wire	39
DC proof test, Internal shield (screen)-to-shield	41
DC proof test, Other required isolations	42
DC proof test, Wire-to-wire	37
Fault rate test (air core only)	33
Insulation resistance (IR)	32
Jacket voltage breakdown rating test	36
Mutual capacitance (CM)	18
Mutual conductance	16
Phase Constant	44
Phase Delay	45
Phase Velocity	46
Resistance of other metallic cable elements	14
Shorts test (continuity between wires of a pair)	34
Structural Return Loss and Return Loss	50
Unbalance attenuation (conversion losses)	51
Voltage surge test	43

1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Sections 6 and 37.

4.1 In-process electrical tests are used primarily as process control tools in an attempt to minimize the number and magnitude of problems detected at final test of completed cable.

9.1 Electrical tests of completed wire and cable may include verification of some or all of the properties in accordance with Sections 11 through 51.

2. Referenced Documents

D5423-23	Standard Specification for Forced-Convection Laboratory Ovens for Evaluation of Electrical Insulation
D150-22	Standard Test Methods for AC Loss Characteristics and Permittivity (Dielectric Constant) of Solid Electrical Insulation
D2633-21	Standard Test Methods for Thermoplastic Insulations and Jackets for Wire and Cable
D1711-26	Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
D3426-19(2026)	Standard Test Method for Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Dielectric Strength of Solid Electrical Insulating Materials Using Impulse Waves
IEC 61156-1	Multicore and Symmetrical Pair/Quad Cables for Digital Communications--Part 1: Generic Specification
B193-25	Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
ANSI/IEEE Standard 100	IEEE Standard Dictionary of Electrical and Electronics Terms Available from Global Engineering Documents, 15 Inverness Way, East Englewood, CO 80112-5704, http://www.global.ihs.com.
E29-22	Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications