DEHN Test Centre
The DEHN Test Centre is an independent testing laboratory accredited to the highest standards (DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025). Covering 1,200 m², it offers services in the field of surge and lightning protection, including the worldwide unique possibility of measuring with impulse currents of up to 400 kA (10/350). The DEHN Test Centre handles each request for test services individually and supports the customer in selecting the possible test services.
Learn more about the high-performance equipment and the range of possible tests.
- Accredited according to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025
- Test impulses of up to 400 kA (10/350 µs)
- 1,200 m² of test area
Test products, equipment and systems
The DEHN Test Centre carries out product and system tests according to standards or customer specifications. The scope includes various services such as electrical tests, environmental tests, aging tests, UV exposure tests and mechanical tests.
What makes the DEHN Test Centre stand out:
- Independently accredited and globally recognised
- Confidential and impartial conducting of audits
- Modern equipment and expert knowledge
- Flexible and agile handling of requests
Certified tests for the highest standards
The tests at the DEHN Test Centre can also be designed and adapted to specific customer requirements and needs. The variety of tests offered is divided into two categories:
- Product tests: These are carried out in accordance with relevant standards or customer specifications.
- System tests: These tests are also carried out according to standards or customer specifications and additionally test the application under practical conditions or in the application.
The DEHN Test Centre provides comprehensive and specialized services that ensure that products and systems meet the highest standards and meet the needs of customers. The results can be documented in an official, internationally recognised and accredited test report.
The following standards can be used for tests:
For whom does the DEHN Test Centre carry out tests?
The DEHN Test Centre operates as an independent test laboratory. This ensures that external customers' requests are kept completely confidential.
Important note:
DEHN SE also receives no information about who is having the tests, what is being tested and what results the test has produced. The procedure conforming to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 is reviewed annually in several audits and assessments.
A wide range of testing services
E-mobility
Test services:
- Testing of the lightning current carrying capability of the wiring inside the charging equipment (according to IEC 61643-11 testing of the total discharge current Itotal).
- Determination of the effective protection level UP/F in accordance with IEC 62305-4 at the feeding point of the electric vehicle.
- Testing of the coordination of lightning current and surge arresters for the voltage resistance of the charging equipment in accordance with IEC 61643-12.
- Immunity tests according to IEC 61000-4-5.
- Testing of customer-specific, prewired units to protect the electrical system.
Wind power
Test services:
- Lightning current tests on mechanical driveline bearings and gears.
- Lightning current tests on the receptors and down conductors of rotor blades.
- Conducted system-level immunity tests for important control systems, such as blade pitch control, aircraft warning lights or demand-driven post-labelling of wind turbines in accordance with Annex H (IEC 61400-24).
- Induction test for lightning currents according to Annex H with 20 kA/µs (IEC 61400-24).
- Conducted current test at 200 kA (10/350 µs) according to Annex D.3.3 (IEC 61400-24)
- Electric arc entry test at 200 C (0.5 s) and 600 C (<1 s) on receptors, air-termination systems and flexible components in accordance with Annex D.3.2 (IEC 61400-24)
- Testing beyond the parameters described in the standard:
- Lightning current impulse:
- > 200 kA (10/350 µs)
- 20 MJ/Ω according to JIS C 1400-24:2014
- Long current impulses > 600°C (<1 s)
- Steep impulses
- Test according to 61000-4-9 "Immunity test against pulsed magnetic fields"
- Test for the requirements of wind power possible.
- Test beyond the parameters described in the standard (>> 1 kA/m)
Photovoltaics
Test services:
- Lightning current carrying capability tests of photovoltaic substructures and their connecting elements in accordance with DIN EN IEC 62561-1, in accordance with the specifications of DIN EN / IEC 62305.
- Testing of the short-circuit current load of equipotential bonding components according to DIN EN 61439-1, as per customer specifications.
- Testing the coordination of lightning current and surge arresters for the voltage resistance of the electrical components in accordance with IEC 61643-12.
- Immunity tests according to IEC 61000-4-5.
- Testing of customer-specific, prewired units to protect the electrical system.
- Test under operating conditions possible using a PV simulator.
Rail
Test services:
- Tests of prewired connection units to protect electrical and electronic equipment.
- Lightning current tests on components of signalling systems, low-voltage distribution boards and system cabinets according to IEC 62305, IEC 61343-12 and IEC 61000-4-5.
- Lightning current testing of earthing components for railways.
- High-voltage and high-current testing of lightning protection and earthing concepts.
- Verification of simulation results.
- Testing of systems with metal oxide varistors up to 100 kA (4/10 µs).
- System test of the protection concept for electrical components of railway infrastructure.
- Short circuit tests for railway earthing components according to directive 997.0205A01.
Mobile communications
Test services:
- System-level immunity testing, for example, on free-standing mobile communications stations and induction testing due to lightning currents.
- Test the lightning current carrying capability of the wiring inside the switchgear cabinet, according to IEC 61643-11.
- Testing the lightning current carrying capability of cable systems for mobile applications.
- Testing the coordination of lightning current and surge arresters for the voltage resistance of mobile communications equipment in accordance with IEC 61643-12.
Component testing for external lightning protection
Test services:
Testing of lightning current carrying connections and arrangements for their function in accordance with relevant standards and regulations:
- DIN EN / IEC 62561-1 (Connecting components)
- DIN EN / IEC 62561-2 (Conductors and earth electrodes)
- DIN EN / IEC 62561-4 (Conductor holders)
- DIN EN / IEC 62561-5 (Inspection boxes and bushings)
Industry- und functional building
Test services:
- Testing of the total discharge current Itotal of multipole SPDs within switchgear according to IEC 61643-11.
- Testing of the lightning current carrying capability of the wiring.
- Determination of the effective protection level UP/F in accordance with IEC 62305-4 for cable lengths greater than 0.5 m in accordance with VDE 0100-534.
- Support in the design and construction of electrical systems and equipment through protection level measurement in a real installation.
- Testing the coordination of lightning current and surge arresters for the voltage resistance of the terminal equipment in accordance with IEC 61643-12.
- Immunity tests according to IEC 61000-4-5.
- Testing of customer-specific, prewired units to protect the electrical system.
- Lightning current testing of structural elements as natural down conductors or natural air-termination systems according to IEC 62305-3 and IEC 62561-1.
- Testing the short-circuit current carrying capability of earthing components.
- Testing of concepts for safety technology and fire alarm systems.
- Accredited lightning current test for the joints of sheet metal, for example for flat roofs, according to CLC/TS 50703-1.
Services
Remote monitoring of tests:
Unable to be on site for a test yourself or want to view the test remotely and together with other people? In these cases, the tests can be transmitted live and in real time via video systems. The DEHN Test Centre is equipped with modern camera systems for this purpose.
An overview of the technology:
- Camera systems in every laboratory, with optical zoom
- Additional handheld systems for detailed shots
- Triggered camera systems for long-term recordings and for photographing sparks and flashovers
- If necessary: High-speed camera system
- If necessary: High-end thermography camera for imaging temperature distribution on surfaces and hot spot determination
Discover the
DEHN Test Centre
Equipment
In order to simulate various interference phenomena, surge currents and surge voltages of different amplitudes, rise times and durations are generated in the test fields of the DEHN Test Centre. Get an overview of the high-performance equipment here.
Lightning impulse current generators
The test equipment generates lightning currents up to 400 kA (10/350 µs) and 250 kA (8/20 µs). We use it to verify lightning protection systems for installations with very high safety requirements.
Other waveforms (10/700 µs, 4/10 µs, etc.) on request.
Hybrid generators
This test is used to prove the immunity to interference that is required as part of the EMC tests for electronic devices. The impulse current generators are used, among other things, for testing telecommunications equipment in accordance with the specifications of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
Short circuit test systems for AC
A high-performance transformer in conjunction with a 100 kA (8/20 µs) impulse current generator are used to conduct short-circuit or work tests of surge protection and switchgear devices for AC systems.
Short circuit test systems for DC
A DC generator consisting of a 3-phase transformer with B6 bridge rectifier can be used in conjunction with a 50 kA (8/20 µs) impulse current generator to carry out work tests on surge protection and switchgear devices for DC systems.
Photovoltaic simulator
The laboratory simulation of the equivalent circuit of a loaded solar cell consists of the parallel connection of diodes and an ideal power source. The open-circuit voltage is set via the series connection of a large number of individual diodes. A fast constant current controller simulates an ideal power source for a sufficiently long time. This tried-and-tested concept is suitable for dynamically replicating the non-linear I/U characteristics of a PV generator.
Further electrical testing options
- RISO teraohmmeter up to 1,500 V DC; measuring range 10 kΩ – 1 TΩ
- Rü microohmmeter up to 100 A DC; measuring range 100 µΩ – 200 mΩ
- Dielectric tester up to 8 kV DC, 20 kV AC
- Impulse voltage generator up to 500 kV (1.2/50 µs)
- Impulse voltage generator up to 6 kV according to UL 497B-21
- Surge voltage generator up to 10 kV according to UL 497B-22
- Surge voltage generator up to 5 kV/50 A 10/1000 µs
- Test equipment for thermal stability of 4 kV DC (100 mA); 2.8 kV AC (100 mA) according to IEC 61643-11
Temperature and climate simulation
- Test chamber volume: from 150 l to 1,600 l.
- Max. temperature range: -70°C to 180°C.
- Max. humidity: 10 to 98% RH
- Max. size of the test object (W x L x H): 0.9 m x 0.8 m x 1.2 m
- Max. weight of the equipment under test: 350 kg
- Max. rate of change of temperature: 15 K/min
Testing according to relevant product standards or test standards such as:
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-1
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-2
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-14
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-30
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-38
- DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-78
Aging and environmental simulation
Plastic:
UV or xenon (DIN EN ISO 4892)
Metallic:
- Salt spray test up to 2,000 l volume (DIN EN / IEC 60068-2-11/52, DIN EN ISO 9227)
- SO2 / Kesternich test up to 1,000 l volume (DIN EN ISO 22479, DIN EN ISO 6988, DIN 50018)
- Ammonia test (ISO 6957)
Further mechanical testing options
- Force measurement
- Drop test
- Pendulum impact test
- Degree of protection up to IP4X
- Ball pressure test
- Torque measurement
- Resistance to chemicals
- General mechanical tests
- Vibration, shock and vibration testing
Accreditation and certificates
Accreditation
The DEHN Test Centre is accredited by the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS) according to DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025 and internationally recognised by ILAC. The accreditation confirms that the DEHN Test Centre has both the technical requirements and the professional competence to carry out tests in accordance with DIN EN ISO / IEC 17025. The certificate represents the impartiality and confidentiality of the DEHN Test Centre.
With the flexibility of the scope granted since 2019, the DEHN Test Centre is also allowed to apply newer standards than those listed in the annex to the certificate.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories)
In order to intensify our long-standing, excellent cooperation, UL qualified the DEHN Test Centre 2018 as a third-party test lab (TPTDP). The DEHN Test Centre, together with UL, can now also offer testing services to third parties. Since 2012, the DEHN Test Centre at UL has been listed in the client test data programme (CTDP). For more information on the UL and CSA standards included in the TPTDP scope, please contact us.
DEKRA
Since 2012, we have been listed as a stage-3 customer testing facility (CTF 3) at Dekra and, after consultation, can independently carry out tests that are accepted by the certifier. Compliance with the specifications is checked in an annual audit. We will be pleased to provide you with further information on this in person.
VDE (Association of German Electrical Engineers)
Since 2019, the DEHN Test Centre has been in stage 3, the highest level of the test data acceptance programme (TDAP). This is the VDE's own laboratory approval programme. The corresponding requirements are reviewed in an annual audit. In 2021, the relationship was further deepened and since then also includes tests on behalf of VDE.
The VDE is a recognised testing and certification body that is a leader in European standardisation, testing and certification of various electrical and electronic products and technologies. We will be pleased to provide you with further information on this in person.
Certificates, documents and checklists
Accreditation certificate
Attachment to the accreditation certificate
Flexible scope
UL certificate
Do you have any questions?
Periodic inspections on voltage detectors
Do you have any questions about periodic inspections on voltage detectors at the DEHN Service Centre?
Then please contact your contact person directly at 09181 906 1780 or [email protected].