The reliability of facility components can be guaranteed by demanding standardised tests conducted by a neutral party, such as the tests Weidmüller regularly conducts on its products. Standardised tests give the customer the assurance that the components of his systems are reliable and in compliance with the requirements of regulations.
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Safety First.
A series of tests for the wiring connections in terminals is stipulated by the standard IEC 60947-7-1. In the respective tests, one or more terminals of a certain type are tested for conformity with defined limit values.
Additional tests can be conducted outside of this prescribed type-testing framework – either at the discretion of the manufacturer or as agreed upon by the manufacturer and user.
Appraisal of the conductor connection
To appraise the terminal-point conductor wiring connections in terminals and in other applications such as PCB terminals and PCB connectors the standard IEC 60999-1 is used. Flexural and tensile (conductor pull-out) tests are performed in order to appraise "terminals without unallowable damage or loosening".
This is valid for connections with round copper wires. This includes rigid (solid and stranded) and flexible conductors with wire-end ferrules.
- Flexural test
In the flexural test, a conductor is connected at the terminal connection point and a weight is then hung from it. In this process, the conductor is then moved 135 times without interruption using suitable testing equipment. During the test, the conductor may not slip out of the connection – and it may not break near the terminal. For a conductor with a 4-mm² cross-section, the prescribed load is 900 grams. No problem for the conductor in our test setup.
- Tensile test
The tensile test is performed directly after the flexural test. The conductor must be put under a constant strain with a defined pulling force for one minute, with the pull in the direction of wire entry. For a conductor with a 4-mm² cross-section, the pulling force is 60 N. If the conductor withstands the strain for one minute, then the terminal has passed the test.
Only when the pulling force reached 220 N, our 4mm² conductor could be pulled out in this test. This is almost the four times the pulling force which the conductor connection needs to resist according to the standard norm.
Accredited laboratory
All Weidmüller products are subject to the required tests in our own laboratory. This laboratory is equipped and accredited in compliance with international standards.
The DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is a confirmation of the competence and independence of the lab, and of its ability to correctly test products and processes and to prepare test reports. The standard also ensures that products which have been successfully tested are products containing state of the art technology.
The test reports are recognised by public authorities, certification offices, and other testing agencies. They are equivalent to tests from other commercially-active accredited laboratories.
