oSIST prEN 3475-603:2024
(Main)Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 603: Resistance to wet arc tracking
Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 603: Resistance to wet arc tracking
This document specifies a method of assessing the behaviour of cable insulation subject to an electric arc initiated and maintained by contaminating fluid along the surface of the insulation.
This document is intended to be used together with EN 3475-100.
The primary aim of this test is:
- to produce, in a controlled fashion, continuous failure effects, which are representative of those, which can occur in service when a typical cable bundle is damaged and subjected to aqueous fluid contamination. Electrical arcing occurs along the surface of the insulation between damage sites on adjacent cables;
- to examine the aptitude of the insulation to track, to propagate electric arc to the electrical origin.
Originally defined for 115 VAC network, this test also proposes conditions for 230 VAC network. However, for 230 VAC test condition only, the test EN 3475-605 can overrule and be applied as test governance as it has been demonstrated that test EN 3475-605 is more stringent, repeatable and reproductible.
Unless otherwise specified in the product standard, only 115 VAC conditions are satisfied.
Six levels of prospective fault current have been specified for concerned cable sizes (see Clause 8). It is agreed that sizes larger than 051 need not be assessed since the short-circuit phenomenon becomes dominant at low line impedances.
Unless otherwise specified in the technical/product standard, sizes 002, 006 and 020 cable are assessed.
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen für Luftfahrtverwendung - Prüfverfahren - Teil 603: Lichtbogenfestigkeit, feucht
Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques à usage aéronautique - Méthodes d’essais - Partie 603 : Résistance à l’amorçage et à la propagation d’arc électrique, essai humide
Le présent document spécifie une méthode pour évaluer le comportement de l'isolant d'un câble soumis à un arc électrique déclenché et entretenu par un fluide contaminant le long de la surface de l'isolant.
Ce document est destiné à être utilisé conjointement avec l’EN 3475-100.
Le but principal de cet essai est :
— de produire, de façon maîtrisée, les effets de défaillance continue représentatifs de ceux qui peuvent survenir en service quand un toron de câbles type est endommagé et exposé à la contamination d'un fluide aqueux. Des arcs électriques se déclenchent le long de la surface de l’isolant entre les zones endommagées sur des câbles adjacents ; et
— d'examiner l'aptitude de l'isolant à suivre, à propager un arc électrique à l'origine électrique.
Défini à l'origine pour un réseau 115 VCA, cet essai propose aussi des conditions pour un réseau 230 VCA. Cependant, pour les conditions d’essai à 230 VCA uniquement, l’essai EN 3475-605 peut prévaloir et être appliqué en tant que gouvernance d'essai, car il a été démontré que l'essai EN 3475-605 est plus rigoureux, plus répétable et plus reproductible.
Sauf spécification contraire dans la norme de produit, seule les conditions à 115 VCA sont satisfaites.
Six niveaux de courant de défaut présumé ont été spécifiés pour les tailles de câbles concernées (voir Article 8). Il est admis que les tailles supérieures à 051 n’ont pas besoin d'être évaluées puisque le phénomène de court-circuit devient dominant à faibles impédances de ligne.
Sauf spécification contraire dans la norme de produit/technique, les câbles de tailles 002, 006 et 020 sont évalués.
Aeronavtika - Električni kabli za uporabo v letalih - Preskusne metode - 603. del: Ugotavljanje odpornosti proti obloku v vlažnih razmerah
General Information
- Status
- Not Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 30-Dec-2024
- Technical Committee
- I13 - Imaginarni 13
- Current Stage
- 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 05-Nov-2024
- Due Date
- 25-Mar-2025
- Completion Date
- 06-Jan-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 09-Jul-2024
Overview
prEN 3475-603 (CEN) - "Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 603: Resistance to wet arc tracking" specifies a laboratory method to assess how aircraft cable insulation behaves when an electric arc is initiated and sustained by a contaminating fluid on the insulation surface. The standard is intended to be used together with EN 3475-100 and supersedes EN 3475-603:2018. Its primary focus is producing representative, controlled wet arc-tracking failures to evaluate insulation aptitude to track and to propagate an arc toward its electrical origin.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Specimen preparation: seven cable lengths (~0.5 m) cut from a single length; two lengths are circumferentially notched (0.5–1.0 mm) to produce damage sites; cables arranged in a six-around-one bundle with a 10 ± 0.5 mm test zone separation (see Clause 5).
- Electrolyte & delivery: aqueous solution of (3 ± 0.5) % sodium chloride; droplet delivery at (100 ± 10) mg/min from an 18‑gauge needle, ~6–10 drops/min (Clause 6.2 / 6.4.3).
- Electrical supply and fault conditions: 400 Hz star (Y) supply - normally 115/200 V (115 VAC network); 230/400 V (230 VAC network) conditions are included but EN 3475-605 may govern 230 VAC testing when more stringent reproducibility is required (Scope, Clause 6.1).
- Prospective fault currents & cable sizes: six levels of prospective fault current are defined for relevant cable sizes; unless specified otherwise, sizes 002, 006 and 020 are assessed; sizes >051 need not be assessed (Scope, Clause 6.3).
- Apparatus & protection: ballast resistors to limit overvoltage on arc extinction, tri‑pole circuit breakers with trip characteristics per EN 2350, transparent protective enclosure, automatic shutdown on open circuit or breaker trip, instrumentation and video recording (Clauses 6.1–6.4).
- Test run: operate until 8 hours or automatic shutdown (whichever earlier); three specimens per fault-current setting (Clause 6.3).
- Safety: tests are destructive and hazardous; full shielding, recording and laboratory controls required.
Applications and users
- Who uses it: aerospace cable manufacturers, aircraft electrical system designers, certification engineers, test laboratories, and OEMs validating cable insulation resistance to wet arc tracking.
- Why it matters: ensures cable insulation resists surface tracking and limits arc propagation under fluid contamination scenarios representative of damaged cable bundles in service - a critical safety and reliability check for aircraft electrical systems.
Related standards
- EN 3475-100 (general requirements)
- EN 3475-605 (alternate/stricter wet arc tracking governance for 230 VAC)
- EN 2350 (circuit breaker trip characteristics)
- EN 3475-302 (voltage proof test)
- A-A-52083 (PTFE glass lacing tape for specimen restraint)
Keywords: wet arc tracking, aerospace cables, cable insulation, arc tracking test, electrical arcing, 115 VAC, 230 VAC, prospective fault current, aircraft cable testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
oSIST prEN 3475-603:2024 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 603: Resistance to wet arc tracking". This standard covers: This document specifies a method of assessing the behaviour of cable insulation subject to an electric arc initiated and maintained by contaminating fluid along the surface of the insulation. This document is intended to be used together with EN 3475-100. The primary aim of this test is: - to produce, in a controlled fashion, continuous failure effects, which are representative of those, which can occur in service when a typical cable bundle is damaged and subjected to aqueous fluid contamination. Electrical arcing occurs along the surface of the insulation between damage sites on adjacent cables; - to examine the aptitude of the insulation to track, to propagate electric arc to the electrical origin. Originally defined for 115 VAC network, this test also proposes conditions for 230 VAC network. However, for 230 VAC test condition only, the test EN 3475-605 can overrule and be applied as test governance as it has been demonstrated that test EN 3475-605 is more stringent, repeatable and reproductible. Unless otherwise specified in the product standard, only 115 VAC conditions are satisfied. Six levels of prospective fault current have been specified for concerned cable sizes (see Clause 8). It is agreed that sizes larger than 051 need not be assessed since the short-circuit phenomenon becomes dominant at low line impedances. Unless otherwise specified in the technical/product standard, sizes 002, 006 and 020 cable are assessed.
This document specifies a method of assessing the behaviour of cable insulation subject to an electric arc initiated and maintained by contaminating fluid along the surface of the insulation. This document is intended to be used together with EN 3475-100. The primary aim of this test is: - to produce, in a controlled fashion, continuous failure effects, which are representative of those, which can occur in service when a typical cable bundle is damaged and subjected to aqueous fluid contamination. Electrical arcing occurs along the surface of the insulation between damage sites on adjacent cables; - to examine the aptitude of the insulation to track, to propagate electric arc to the electrical origin. Originally defined for 115 VAC network, this test also proposes conditions for 230 VAC network. However, for 230 VAC test condition only, the test EN 3475-605 can overrule and be applied as test governance as it has been demonstrated that test EN 3475-605 is more stringent, repeatable and reproductible. Unless otherwise specified in the product standard, only 115 VAC conditions are satisfied. Six levels of prospective fault current have been specified for concerned cable sizes (see Clause 8). It is agreed that sizes larger than 051 need not be assessed since the short-circuit phenomenon becomes dominant at low line impedances. Unless otherwise specified in the technical/product standard, sizes 002, 006 and 020 cable are assessed.
oSIST prEN 3475-603:2024 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 29.060.20 - Cables; 49.060 - Aerospace electric equipment and systems. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
oSIST prEN 3475-603:2024 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 3475-603:2018. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
oSIST prEN 3475-603:2024 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2024
Aeronavtika - Električni kabli za uporabo v letalih - Preskusne metode - 603. del:
Ugotavljanje odpornosti proti obloku v vlažnih razmerah
Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 603: Resistance
to wet arc tracking
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen für Luftfahrtverwendung - Prüfverfahren -
Teil 603: Lichtbogenfestigkeit, feucht
Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques à usage aéronautique - Méthodes d’essais -
Partie 603 : Résistance à l’amorçage et à la propagation d’arc électrique, essai humide
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 3475-603
ICS:
29.060.20 Kabli Cables
49.060 Letalska in vesoljska Aerospace electric
električna oprema in sistemi equipment and systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
October 2024
ICS 49.060 Will supersede EN 3475-603:2018
English Version
Aerospace series - Cables, electrical, aircraft use - Test
methods - Part 603: Resistance to wet arc tracking
Série aérospatiale - Câbles électriques à usage Luft- und Raumfahrt - Elektrische Leitungen für
aéronautique - Méthodes d'essais - Partie 603 : Luftfahrtverwendung - Prüfverfahren - Teil 603:
Résistance à l'amorçage et à la propagation d'arc Lichtbogenfestigkeit, feucht
électrique, essai humide
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee ASD-
STAN.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 3475-603:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Specimen requirements . 5
5 Preparation of specimen . 5
6 Apparatus . 8
6.1 Electrical equipment. 8
6.2 Test equipment . 9
6.3 Test protocol . 10
6.4 Test rig set-up . 10
7 Method . 10
7.1 Test procedure . 10
7.2 Examination . 11
7.3 Test report . 11
8 Requirements . 12
Bibliography . 15
European foreword
This document (prEN 3475-603:2024) has been prepared by ASD-STAN.
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this document has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 3475-603:2018.
EN 3475-603:2018:
— EN 3475-603 (P5), 01/2018:
o scope: addition of a specification regarding 230 VAC test condition;
o revision of test method to update the electrical schematic circuit and add the tripping curve.
1 Scope
This document specifies a method of assessing the behaviour of cable insulation subject to an electric
arc initiated and maintained by contaminating fluid along the surface of the insulation.
This document is intended to be used together with EN 3475-100.
The primary aim of this test is:
— to produce, in a controlled fashion, continuous failure effects, which are representative of those,
which can occur in service when a typical cable bundle is damaged and subjected to aqueous fluid
contamination. Electrical arcing occurs along the surface of the insulation between damage sites on
adjacent cables;
— to examine the aptitude of the insulation to track, to propagate electric arc to the electrical origin.
Originally defined for 115 VAC network, this test also proposes conditions for 230 VAC network.
However, for 230 VAC test condition only, the test EN 3475-605 can overrule and be applied as test
governance as it has been demonstrated that test EN 3475-605 is more stringent, repeatable and
reproductible.
Unless otherwise specified in the product standard, only 115 VAC conditions are satisfied.
Six levels of prospective fault current have been specified for concerned cable sizes (see Clause 8). It is
agreed that sizes larger than 051 need not be assessed since the short-circuit phenomenon becomes
dominant at low line impedances.
Unless otherwise specified in the technical/product standard, sizes 002, 006 and 020 cable are
assessed.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 2350, Aerospace series — Circuit breakers — Technical specification
EN 3475-302, Aerospace series — Cable, electrical, aircraft use — Test methods — Part 302: Voltage
proof test
A-A-52083, Tape, lacing and tying, glass
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
Published by Department of Defense (DoD), available at: https://assist.dla.mil/online/start/.
4 Specimen requirements
Cables to be tested shall be of traceable origin and shall have passed the high voltage dielectric test
specified in the product standard.
5 Preparation of specimen
Cut seven (7) separate lengths approximately 0,5 m consecutively from one (1) length of cable, and
strip each of the ends of insulation to permit electrical connection. Clean each length of cable with a
clean cloth moistened with propan-2-ol (isopropyl alcohol) fluid.
Damage two (2) lengths of the cable by inflicting a cut around the total circumference at the mid-point
of the length, taking care to ensure that the cut penetrates to the conductor around the full
circumference and has a width of 0,5 mm to 1,0 mm.
Lay up the seven (7) cables as follows:
a) form the cables in a six (6) around one (1) configuration as shown in Figure 1;
b) displace the damaged cables longitudinally such that a separation of (10 ± 0,5) mm of undamaged
insulation is provided as shown in Figure 2. This is called the test zone;
c) ensure that cables are straight and geometrically parallel, and restrained by lacing tapes such that
they are in continuous contact within the test zone;
d) position the lacing tapes (4 ± 1,0) mm away from outer each notch and then at 15 mm to 20 mm
spacing towards the ends of the specimen as show in Figure 2. The tie material used adjacent to the
notch shall be PTFE glass lacing tape in accordance with A-A-52083 type IV, finish D, size 3;
e) number the cables as shown in Figure 1 such that the fault cables are numbers A1 and B1 and the
centre is N. Cables C1, A2, B2 and C2 are grouped around N.
Key
1 Drop needle
A1-A2 Phase A
B1-B2 Phase B
C1-C2 Phase C
N Neutral cable connected to earth
Figure 1 — Specimen configuration
Key
1 Test zone (10 ± 0,5) mm
2 Notch 0,5 mm to 1 mm
3 15 mm to 20 mm
4 Lacing tape
5 Drop needle
Figure 2 — Test configuration
6 Apparatus
6.1 Electrical equipment
Connect the seven (7) cables of the test specimen within the circuit shown in Figure 3. This circuit shall
have the following requirements:
a) The provision of adjustable levels of prospective fault currents for the six (6) A, B and C cables and
an electrical return path for the N cable;
b) a three (3) phase 115/200 V 400 Hz (115 VAC network) or 230/400 V 400 Hz (230 VAC network)
star (Y) connected supply shall be derived from a dedicated rotary machine capable of sustaining
the maximum prospective fault current given in Table 1 (115 VAC network) or Table 2 (230 VAC
network) for at least sufficient
...




Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.
Loading comments...