Automatic Cable Tester | Siviko ACT 150

Siviko ACT 150 is an innovative automated cable tester that offers reliable and convenient automated solution for cable manufacturers and distributors that want to ensure the quality of their products by running in-house electric tests for active resistance, withstand voltage and location of eventual faults.

Highlights

Safety

Siviko ACT 150 has several layers of safety for operators:

  • Independent hardware and software safety chains,
  • Safety fence with auto-lock units,
  • Automatic grounding unit – SIVIKO AGS,
  • Indicators and emergency buttons.

Furthermore, it has smart algorithms that protect the equipment in case of wrong operations or power surges.

Automated

Siviko OS and the specialised PLC are responsible for the conduct of automated tests by switching between the circuits, collecting measured data, monitoring safety conditions and preparing test reports.

It could run electrical tests meeting the requirements of various standards, such as EN 50395 etc.

It also has an automated procedure for the location of short-circuits and line breaks, which could with great accuracy point out the location of a cable fault.

Ease of use:

The whole system is designed with the operator’s needs in mind. There is a simple and coherent step by step instructions on how each test needs to be done. The Siviko ACT 150 checks whether all necessary safety conditions have been met before one can get to the next step. 

The test leads are conveniently hanging from above from devices called “balancers”, which protects them from being damaged by cable reels on the ground floor.

Software

The Siviko OS allows the operator to enter new types of test objects and define the needed test methods, essentially building his own library. It stores information about each event and the performed tests.

Siviko ACT 150 has its built-in user management. Furthermore, it has various settings that make the whole system very flexible. It could be used for copper, aluminium and other types of electrical cables.

Value added

Siviko ACT 150 enables you to test the quality of your cables in an easy, safe, fast and non-destructive manner. There is a simple and coherent step by step instructions on how each test needs to be done. The Siviko ACT 150 checks whether all necessary conditions have been met before one can get to the next step. The automatic cable tester will do all the rest for you. It will run automated tests for resistance and voltage for each conductor, it will look after the safety of the operator and in the end, it will print out a protocol stating whether the cables have passed or failed the requirements set by the respective standard. This will allow you to improve tremendously the quality control of your products without slowing your work processes or damaging the cables.

Why perform electric tests?

The electric tests for resistance and voltage for the whole length of the cable are basic indicators for the material and manufacturing quality of the cable core and its insulation layers. Higher resistance shows that the material of the core is of poor quality or cross-section out of specification, which will result in increased power losses. The high voltage withstand test shows the quality of the insulation. If a break in the insulation occurs during the high voltage test then the insulation has a manufacturing defect or is made of poor quality materials or it is simply insufficient. Such low-quality insulation will inevitably result in short-circuit that might cause a fire, damage the electrical equipment or cause fatal accidents. Therefore it is understandable, why many customers require a test report that ensures the quality of their purchase.

Challenges

The standards stipulate that the electrical tests require the cable to be in the dry state and at ambient temperature when a voltage is applied of the magnitude given in the relevant cable standard, supplied from an A.C. source, between each conductor and all the other conductors and, if any, the metallic layer connected to earth. Then the voltage has to be gradually increased and maintained at the full value for the duration given in the relevant cable standard.

If one is to manually perform such tests, he is to face many problems and inconveniences. First of all, he has to have A.C. power source that could reach the desired high voltage of up to 4000 V. Second, he should have appropriate calibrated measurement equipment to measure the resistance and voltage and he has to be able to connect them properly and to run the appropriate tests. Third, he has to manually switch between each group of conductors. This is not only time-consuming but could also lead to accidents due to the high voltage applied. Last, but not least the operator has manually to write down the test results in his test protocol and then to keep the records organized and available.

Automated

Siviko ACT 150 takes care of all those problems. It has its own high-voltage A.C. power supply. It is equipped with high quality and with high accuracy measurement devices that can be easily calibrated by a certified laboratory if necessary. The dedicated software SIVIKO OS and the specialised PLC enable the automated switching between the tested conductors, collect the measured data, monitor the safety conditions and prints out a test report at the end. It is also possible to input the requirements set by any standard, such as EN 50395 etc.

General

Number of objects under test 4 cables
Number of wires in cables Cables with up to 50 wires with and without shield * customizable
 Test voltage 1 … 4 kV (for supply voltage 230/400 V)  * customizable
 Cable length 0,1 … 10 km  * customizable
Cable active resistance range  0 … 20 kΩ  * customizable
Localization Short circuit and wire break

Voltage source

Output Power 150 000 VA * customizable
Frequency 50 Hz
Input voltage 400 V  * customizable
Input current 0 … 50 A  * customizable
Output voltage 0 … 4000 V  * customizable
Output current 4 х 0 … 10 A  * customizable
Input protection Overvoltage protection
Output protection Short circuit protection

Measurement equipment

Active resistance measurement 0 … 20 kΩ / uncertainty ± 0,1 % (temp. compensated * customizable
Voltage measurement 0 … 4 kV / uncertainty ± 1,12 %  * customizable
Current measurement 0 … 5 A / uncertainty ± 1 %  * customizable

WAGO PFC200 PLC

Processor ARM А8  
Inputs 48 digital inputs (24 V), 2 analog inputs 12 bit (RTD), 2 PQM modules  
Outputs 48 digital outputs (24 V / 0,5 A)  
Communication RS485 (Modbus-RTU), Ethernet (Modbus-TCP), OPC UA  

Industrial touch panel computer

Display Industrial 15″ XGA TFT LCD with 50K Lifetime LED Backlight  
Protection IP65 Approved Front Protection & Panel Mounting  
Sensor Durable 5-wire Resistive Touch Screen  

Power supply and mechanical data

Weight 1500 kg  
Safety fence weight 250 kg  
Dimensions 280 х 73 х 190 cm (w × d × h)  
Safety fence dimensionst 290 х 290 х 250 cm (w × d × h) * customizable
Power supply 230/400 VAC, 50 Hz, 22 500 VA  

Environmental conditions

Degree of protection IP 51H
Working temperature 10 … + 50 °C  
Storage temperature 0 … + 70 °C  
Relative humidity 10 … 90 % without condensation  

Software

OS Siviko OS, Linux  
PC software Web-based  * option
Industry 4.0 Enabled