FTN design & development specification (D&D)

SP FTN (D&D) 015

Environmental Testing of Copper Cable Termination Practices

Issue 1, Apr 2002 · FTN D&D specs & typical drawings

Test specification used to compare candidate copper termination blocks (Mondragon VX, Telsplice, Entrelec, 2BA link, Weidmuller, Porta Systems) under damp-heat cycling in an unconditioned cabinet. Background to why the FTN chose the VX module for lineside cabinets.

Clause map — what each clause deals with

1	Introduction	Why termination practices were environmentally tested before FTN deployment.
2	Abbreviations	Acronyms (ETSI, FTN, IDC, NAMAS).
3	Glossary	Definitions of moisture barrier, Employer and Supplier.
4	Scope	Tests replicate worst-case temperature and humidity a termination sees on the lineside.
5	Deliverables	What the test coordinator must provide: venue, plan, method statement, tests, results, report, witnessing.
6	The Test Venue	Preference for an accredited independent test house and what it must offer.
7	The Samples	The six termination products under test.
8	The Tests	Damp-heat cyclic test regime in an IP65 cabinet: three cycles with desiccant, without, and doors open; test cable provided.
8.1	Testing Configurations	Moisture barrier used as a virtual earth; per-sample wiring arrangements with diagrams.
8.1.1	Sample 1: Mondragon VX Module	Three VX modules on DIN rail, outer ones to the barrier, pair 1 on the middle.
8.1.2	Sample 2: Telsplice Connector	Telsplice crimp on pair 2.
8.1.3	Sample 3: Entrelec Block	Four Entrelec blocks, outer ones to barrier, pair 3 on the middle two.
8.1.4	Sample 4: Weidmuller Block	Four Klippon blocks arranged as for Entrelec, pair 4.
8.1.5	Sample 5: 2BA Sliding Link Block	2BA block mounting, link and barrier connections, pair 5 on crimped terminals.
8.1.6	Sample 6: Porta Systems 10 Pair Module	IDC module with all other pairs strapped to the barrier, pair 6 on module pair 5.
8.2	Measurements	Insulation resistance test voltage and the two readings per sample (A-B, A-barrier).
8.3	Frequency of Measurements	Logging intervals around the temperature fall and through each cycle.
9	Calibration of Test and Measurement Equipment	Calibration standard and traceability of test gear.
10	Results	Resolution of recorded readings and which two IR values to log per sample.
11	Documentation	Result sets, equipment details and real-time plots of chamber and cabinet temperature and humidity.
12	Management Requirements	Contents of the test plan (venue, dates, cycle times, equipment, report date).
13	References	Referenced standards.