Purpose: Measures smoke density from burning cables under specific lab conditions.

Standards: GB/T 17651.1/.2

Key Specs:

Chamber: 3×3×3 m (user-provided).

Light System: Halogen lamp source (12V, 100W) and silicon photoelectric cell receiver.

Beam Path: 3 m.

Ventilation Fan: For smoke distribution.

Includes: Computer with software and printer.

This suite of electrical and cable testing equipment has a core purpose: to simulate the various harsh environments products may encounter in the real world, identify potential safety hazards in advance, and ensure they are safe and durable enough. The equipment primarily tests from five key aspects:

Simulating Extreme Environments

Some devices create extreme conditions to see if products will be damaged or fail. For example:

Cold Resistance & Impact Test: First, plugs or sockets are frozen to -15°C to make them brittle, then struck with a weight hammer to check for cracking.

Damp Heat Resistance Test: Switches are placed in a high-temperature, high-humidity chamber, simulating long-term exposure to environments like bathrooms, to check for internal rust or short circuits.

Testing Material Strength and Durability

This part focuses on the performance of the product materials themselves. For example:

High-Temperature Pressure Test: The plastic part of a plug is heated to 200°C and pressure is applied to see if it deforms or softens excessively.

Fire Resistance Tests:

Glow-Wire Test: A super-heated wire touches components or materials to check how easily they ignite.

Acid Gas Test: Cables are burned, and the smoke is analyzed to see if it contains large amounts of toxic, corrosive acidic gases.

Endurance Tests: Mechanical Life Test: Machines repeatedly plug/unplug connectors, toggle switches, or cycle circuit breakers tens of thousands of times to simulate years of wear and tear.

Measuring Electrical Safety Performance

This part directly examines critical safety indicators of the products. For example:

Temperature Rise Test: Switches or sockets carry very high current, and the temperature increase at key points is measured to ensure they don’t overheat.

Fire Integrity Test: Cables are energized and exposed to intense flame to see if they can maintain circuit continuity (keep electricity flowing) for a required time, which is vital for fire alarm and safety systems.

Electric Shock Protection Test: Probes shaped like simulated “fingers” or “tools” probe openings in switch/socket casings to ensure users cannot accidentally touch live internal parts.

Assessing Mechanical Structure Reliability

This part checks if the physical structure of the product is robust. For example:

Withdrawal Force Test: Measures the force needed to pull a plug from a socket, ensuring it’s neither too loose (prone to falling out) nor too tight (hard to remove).

Impact Test: A pendulum impacts the surface of a switch, simulating being hit by an object, to test if the housing remains secure.

Conducting Large-Scale Fire Safety Evaluation

These are advanced tests for how bunched cables perform in real fire scenarios.

Bunched Cable Flame Test: Multiple cables are bundled together as in real installations and burned from below with a large burner to observe how far flames travel up the bundle.

Heat & Smoke Release Test: While burning bunched cables, sophisticated analysis measures the total heat released and the density of smoke produced. This is key data for assessing fire hazard (whether it fuels the fire or hinders escape).

In summary, this equipment acts like a “product safety examination hall.” By simulating challenges like cold, damp, impact, aging, and fire, it comprehensively tests the strength, durability, and safety of electrical products and cables, safeguarding electrical safety from the source.