Non-destructive
underground cable testing

Test with confidence. Asset management
made easy with CableQ.

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Gone are the days of testing to failure

Get the insight you need to manage your underground distribution cable system effectively. CableQ offers a safe alternative to traditional cable testing allowing you to perform on-site, diagnostic cable testing in a non-destructive way.

Gain an understanding into whether your cables are in good, fair, or poor condition in a non-destructive way. Periodic testing can be conducted over time to assess the condition of your cables, without compromising their integrity. Remember, cable intervention is less expensive than cable replacement and our CableQ technology allows you to be proactive in detecting underground cable deterioration – eliminating the risk of testing to failure.

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Age alone is not a reliable measurement of cable health

Why replace all your cable once it has reached its rated lifespan? Underground cables installed over 30 years ago can still be in good or fair condition.

Testing should be conducted to empower you with the data and insights required to make informed business decisions. CableQ testing provides conclusive results, allowing you to manage assets more strategically instead of basing decisions on unreliable measures, such as cable age.

The advantage of CableQ technology

The result of decades of research, this proprietary technology was developed by the National Research Council, Canada’s premier research and technology organization.

XLPE cable infrastructure has been used extensively world-wide to distribute electricity to urban areas. Our unique and proprietary service is an on-site diagnostic test that measures the depolarization current within an isolated and de-energized underground cable. The results categorize the cable condition as good, fair, or poor.

CableQ uses a finite health index of 0-100% to assess the condition of medium voltage cable based on the progression of water trees. It is proven that there is a correlation between a higher value health index and the length and density of water trees within the insulation.

Without compromising the integrity of the cable, CableQ uses non-destructive testing technology to evaluate the condition of medium voltage cables based on the development and progression of water trees – one of the main aging mechanisms of underground XLPE cables. Over time, water trees can grow and degrade the quality of the insulation.

More about water trees

About water trees

Water trees are small tree-shaped structures of moisture and ionic impurities that diffuse within the insulation of an XLPE cable and propagate under the effect of an electric field. As water trees grow in length and density, they degrade the quality of the insulation.

Over time, water trees can transform into electrical trees. Electrical tree formation can develop more rapidly if the cable is subject to high operating voltages. If a cable is operated past its nominal voltage rating for any length of time, the risk of transforming a water tree into an electrical tree is drastically increased. Once the electrical tree is formed, failure is imminent.

Many traditional cable testing methods work by applying voltages at 150% of the cable voltage rating. This type of stress testing can negatively impact the cable and in some cases, cause it to fail. Applying only 30% of the cables’ voltage rating at maximum, CableQ’s exclusive non-destructive technology accurately detects the presence of water trees without running the risk of turning them into electrical trees or posing a risk to the integrity of the cable.

The National Research Council of Canada spent decades researching the effect of water trees on aging cable insulation. Scientists were able to correlate the presence of water trees in cable and its failure rate. This research led to the development of a diagnostic indicator QDep (0-100%) that determines the extent to which water trees are affecting the insulation to an accuracy of +/- 1%, giving you the true condition of your cable.

A few good words from CableQ customers

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Is CableQ for you?

CableQ’s technology supports a variety of businesses in Canada and across the United States including:

Utilities

Airports

Universities

Industrial Buildings

Schools

Large Commercial Properties

Hospitals

The benefits of CableQ

Non-destructive cable testing

Many traditional cable testing methods work by applying voltages at 150% of the cable voltage rating. This type of stress testing can negatively impact the cable and in some cases, cause it to fail. Applying only 30% of the cables’ voltage rating at maximum, CableQ’s exclusive non-destructive technology accurately detects the presence of water trees without running the risk of turning them into electrical trees or posing a risk to the integrity of the cable.

Easy to understand

CableQ’s technology uses QDep, a diagnostic indicator. QDep determines the extent to which water trees are penetrating the insulation, giving you a better understanding of the true condition of your cable’s insulation.

Proactive insights

Planned cable interventions cost less than expensive cable replacements. With CableQ insights, you’ll have the data you need to make informed decisions and mitigate the risk of service interruptions.

Cable diagnostics

Our diagnostic reports provide a health index from 0-100% which rates the cables as good, fair or poor, allowing you to prioritize cable replacement or cable rejuvenation to improve reliability.

+/-1% accuracy

Our technology diagnoses underground cable integrity with an accuracy level of +/-1%, utilizing measurable results that are traceable to international standards.

Real-time results

Averaging only a few minutes per test, results are delivered on-site in real time for fast decision making.

Flexibility at your fingertips

Whether you require a full turnkey solution, testing services, or leasing and training, our flexible service options provide cable testing solutions tailored to your unique requirements.

01

Full Turnkey Cable Testing

Our licensed professionals will take care of every step of the process, from start to finish, which includes testing, switching and final reports.

02

Testing and Final Reports

We can provide you with testing options and solutions, complete with final reports. Switching remains responsibility of the customer.

03

Leasing Options

Prefer to perform cable testing yourself? We provide leasing options complete with comprehensive training to ensure your team is ready and fully equipped.

See how Elexicon is using CableQ to guide its asset management decisions, and move closer to the ideal of targeted investment and just-in-time cable replacement.

To learn more about cable testing, watch our video

Providing peace of mind, one test at a time.

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