22
S&C Instruction Sheet 695-545
Appendix A
S&C Vista SD Underground Distribution Switchgear was
designed to allow dc testing of the cables with the other
ways of the gear energized. After testing, the dc test
equipment should be used to discharge any stored charge
on the cable. The dc test voltages and dc cable thumping
voltages should not exceed the voltages given in Table 2.
WARNING
When testing cables connected to energized switch-
gear, proper isolation of the power-frequency source
from the dc test source must be maintained. Follow
the recommendations provided by the manufacturer
of the dc test equipment or fault-locating equipment.
Follow the user’s operating and safety procedures for
grounding the cable, connecting the dc test source,
isolating the dc test source (in case of flashover),
ungrounding the cable, applying the dc test source,
discharging the cable, and regrounding the cable.
Table 2. Maximum Cable-Testing and Cable-
Thumping Dc Withstand Voltages
Vista SD Switchgear Rating, kV
Dc Cable-
Test
Voltage,
kV
Dc Cable-
Thumping
Voltage,
kV
①
IEC
IEEE
Impulse
(BIL)
12
17.5
95
34
17
24
29
125
40
20
Very Low Frequency (VLF) Cable Testing
IEEE Standard 400.2, “IEEE Guide for Field Testing of
Shielded Power Cable Systems Using Very Low Frequency
(VLF) (less than 1 Hz),” addresses the application of 0.01- to
1-Hz high-voltage ac excitation as one means for evaluating
a shielded power cable system during an acceptance test
or a maintenance test. The cable system must be taken out
of service for this testing.
An acceptance test is a field test made after installa-
tion of the power cable system, including terminations
and joints, but before the cable system is placed in normal
service. A maintenance test is a field test made during the
operating life of a power cable system to detect deteriora-
tion and to check serviceability of the system.
VLF cable testing may subject the S&C Vista SD
Underground Distribution Switchgear to the ac test volt-
age when the cables are attached to the switchgear. S&C
recommends that the Vista SD Underground Distribution
Switchgear be completely de-energized and disconnected
from all power sources when performing VLF cable testing.
However, Vista SD switchgear has been designed to allow
VLF testing of the cables with the other ways of the gear
energized, if necessary.
Upon completion of the VLF cable testing or an inter-
ruption in the testing, the test set must be turned off to
discharge the cable circuit and test set. The cable system
must then be grounded.
The VLF sinusoidal waveform test voltage applied to
the S&C Vista SD Underground Distribution Switchgear
must not exceed the voltages listed in Table 3 on page 23.
①
The dc cable-thumping voltage is 50% of the dc cable test voltage because voltage
doubling will occur at the open end of the cable, which is assumed to be a unit of Vista
SD Underground Distribution Switchgear. If the open end of the cable is grounded,
the dc cable-thumping voltage applied to the cable and switchgear can be increased
to the dc cable-test voltage.
