Statistical Analysis of Ignition Time and Energy of the TFR-CV Cable Ignition Experiments Using 100 W DC Arc

An ignition experiment was conducted with a cross-linked polyethylene insulated tray flame-retardant polyvinyl chloride sheathed cable by generating a 100 W direct current arc. The experiments generated a series arc by applying the UL 1699B revised standard and measuring arcing current, arcing voltage, etc. The reliability analysis was conducted using a statistical program on arc duration time and energy obtained through the measured data. The confidence level of the probability distribution diagram and cumulative density function was within 95%, and the time and arc energy corresponding to 5% ignition probability was 2.38 s and 255 J, respectively. As for the 6% ignition probability, the ignition time was 2.64 s, exceeding the 2.5 s UL 1699B conformity standard. The time and arc energy corresponding to 50% ignition probability was 9.38 s and 697 J, respectively, indicating that the ignition probability within 10 s and 700 J was more than 50%. This study concluded that the conformity standard time in UL 1699B needs to be lower than 2.5 s for 100 W-level direct current arc generation tests based on the analysis results.