A comparative assessment of different current-cycling procedures for testing power connections

This paper describes the results of comparative evaluation of a number of underground power connections performed under testing conditions as prescribed by the ANSI C119.4 standard and also according to the new accelerated current-cycling test developed at IREQ. The results show that the ANSI testing procedure failed to detect degradation occurring at the conductor-connector interface whereas the new accelerated current cycling test was far more sensitive to deterioration of this contact interface. In view of these findings, the ANSI and CSA current cycling testing procedures have to be re-examined and revised within the framework of the theory of electrical contacts and the knowledge of the factors affecting the connector performance under different environmental and operating conditions.