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Insulation Resistance
Calculations of Airfield Lighting
Joseph Vigilante, PE
Circuits
Presentation Objective
To develop a formula to calculate insulation resistance
for an airfield lighting circuit and provide theoretical
and real-life examples.
Presentation Agenda
DC VOLTAGE
SOURCE
C
RL
RA
REN
TMIC
ROA
MPE
RES
2.5 3
8 9 10
CAPACITANCE
CHARGING
CURRENT
0.4 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1.5
5 6 7 8 9 0
SECONDS
REN
TMIC
ROA
MPE
RES
2.5 3
8 9 10
CAPACITANCE
CHARGING
CURRENT
0.4 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1.5
5 6 7 8 9 0
ABSORPTION
CURRENT
SECONDS
REN
TMIC
ROA
MPE
RES
2.5 3
8 9 10
CAPACITANCE
CHARGING
CURRENT
0.4 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1.5
5 6 7 8 9 0
ABSORPTION
CURRENT
CONDUCTION
CURRENT
SECONDS
REN
TMIC
ROA
MPE
RES
2.5 3
TOTAL
CURRENT
8 9 10
CAPACITANCE
CHARGING
CURRENT
0.4 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1.5
5 6 7 8 9 0
ABSORPTION
CURRENT
CONDUCTION
CURRENT
SECONDS
MEGOHMS
MEGOHMS
VALUES CHARTED
TIME
60 sec
TIME (MONTHS)
MEGOHMS
INSULATION
PROBABLY OK
INSULATION
SUSPECT
TIME
10 Min
3 components
L-824 cable
L-823 cable connectors
L-830 isolation transformers
I
RTT
RNN
RCC
Base formula
1/IR = 1/RC + 1/RN + 1/RT
I
IR
RTT
RNN
RCC
Cable equation
The insulation resistance of cable for a certain length can
be calculated by the following formula:
Where:
RC = Insulation resistance in Megohms of cable
K = Specific IR in Megohms - k ft at 60 F of insulation
D = Outer diameter of insulation
d = Outer diameter of bare copper wire
L = Length of airfield cable in feet
Value of K for EPR insulation = 50,000 Megohms
Cable equation
CONDUCTOR
JACKET
INSULATION
D= 9.18 mm
d= 4.58 mm
OD
Cable equation
Connector equation
The insulation resistance of L-823 connector splices
can be calculated by the following formula:
RN = Rc/Nc
Where:
RN = Insulation resistance in Megohms of all connectors
Rc = Insulation resistance of L-823 connector splice
Nc = Quantity of L-823 connector splices
RN = 75,000M/Nc
RT = 7,500M/Nt
Base formula
1/IR = 1/RC + 1/RN + 1/RT
IR
RTT
RNN
RCC
L-823 Connector
Supply
Return
Section 3
L-830 Isolation
Transformer
Section 2
L-830 Isolation
Transformer
L-823 Connector
Insulation
Resistance to
Earth
Earth Ground
Section 3
Section 2
Earth Ground
M
L-830 Isolation
Transformer
Insulation
Resistance to
Earth
Earth Ground
L-823 Connector
Insulation
Resistance to
Earth
Earth Ground
L-823 Connector
Return
L-824 Series Lighting Cable
IR total
IRsection 1
IRsection 2
IRsection 3
Calculation example
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
Vault
CC
R
Handhole
Handhole
Calculation example
Section 1:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Section 2:
Cable = 20,500 feet
Connectors = 224
Isolation XFMRs = 112
Section 3:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Calculation Example
Section 1:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Vault
CC
R
Handhole
Handhole
Calculation Example
Section 2:
Cable = 20,500 feet
Connectors = 224
Isolation XFMRs = 112
Calculation Example
Section 3:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Vault
CC
R
Handhole
Handhole
Calculation Example
IR total = 50 M
Circuit length is 30,500 ft, so the circuit IR is well over the
recommended minimum value.
Modifying a circuit
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3
Vault
CC
R
Handhole
Handhole
Modifying a circuit
Each circuit modification warrants a reevaluation of the IR for that circuit
Assume:
Segment 1:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Segment 2:
Cable = 20,500 feet
Connectors = 430
Isolation XFMRs = 215
Segment 3:
Cable = 5,000 feet
Connectors = 2
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Total circuit:
IRsection1 = 2,795 M
IRsection3 = 2,795 M
IRsection2:
RC = 50,000 * Log ( 9.18/4.58) * (1,000/L) =
15,098,860/20,500 = 755 M
RN = 75,000/Nc = 75,000/430 = 174 M
RT = 7,500/Nt = 7,500/215 = 35 M
IRsection2 = 1/(1/755 + 1/35 + 1/174)
IRsection2 = 28 M
IR = 1/ ( 1/2,795 + 1/28 + 1/2,795 )
IR = 27.4 M
Modifying a circuit
Total circuit IR = 27.4 M
Circuit Length = 30,500 feet
Recommended value for +20k feet circuit = 30 M
If you remove the transformer component,
the circuit IR = 128 M
Section 2:
Cable = 13,200 feet
Connectors = 365
Isolation XFMRs = 180
Section 3:
Cable = 1,615 feet
Connectors = 5
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Section 2:
Cable = 27,777 feet
Connectors = 180
Isolation XFMRs = 90
Section 3:
Cable = 1,540 feet
Connectors = 5
Isolation XFMRs = 0
Summary
Good engineering practice to perform circuit load and
insulation resistance calculations
Best practice establish field test baseline and track
results
Standards provide recommended values - reductions are
allowed
Check & verify transformers, connectors and cable types
and sizes
Minimum allowable component values higher factory test
values
High initial field value does not necessarily indicate a good
circuit
Questions