IEC 60695-2-20 Hot Wire Ignition Tester

IEC 60695-2-20 Hot Wire Ignition Tester for HWI Testing

The IEC 60695-2-20 Hot Wire Ignition Tester is used to assess the resistance of solid insulating materials to ignition from a heated wire. A nickel-chromium wire is wound around the test specimen and heated by passing an electric current through it under controlled power density conditions.

This test method helps evaluate the fire hazard of insulating materials used in electrical and electronic equipment. It supports material selection and product safety assessment by determining whether materials can resist ignition when in contact with a hot wire.

Technical Parameters

Professional Construction & Technical Precision

The Hot Wire Ignition Tester features a precision winding system and stable power control to ensure consistent test conditions. The nickel-chromium wire is wound onto the specimen with controlled tension, while the heating power is accurately adjusted according to test requirements.

The equipment includes a stable current source and programmable timing system, allowing repeatable application of heating conditions. The enclosed test area with a clear viewing window enables safe and effective monitoring of ignition behavior during testing.

Testing Principle

The hot-wire ignition test is used to evaluate the ignition resistance of solid insulating materials when they are exposed to localized heating from an electrically heated wire. During the test, a nickel-chromium wire is wound around the specimen with controlled tension and positioning. An electric current is then applied to the wire to generate a defined heating condition or power density.

The test observes whether ignition occurs within the specified test duration. By controlling parameters such as wire material, wire diameter, winding condition, heating power, and exposure time, the method provides a repeatable way to assess how insulating materials behave under hot-wire contact conditions. Materials with better hot-wire ignition resistance help reduce potential fire hazards in electrical and electronic products where overheating or current-carrying parts may contact polymer insulation.

Common Error Mitigation

To obtain accurate and repeatable hot-wire ignition test results, attention should be paid to specimen preparation, wire winding, power control, and result judgment.

• Prepare specimens according to the required dimensions, conditioning, and surface requirements before testing.
• Ensure the nickel-chromium wire is wound with consistent tension, correct spacing, and the required number of turns.
• Avoid using damaged, oxidized, or contaminated wire, as this may affect heat transfer and ignition behavior.
• Verify that the applied current, voltage, or power density is stable before starting the test.
• Maintain consistent heating duration and timing accuracy during each test cycle.
• Keep the test environment stable and free from airflow that may influence ignition or flame behavior.
• Use clearly defined ignition criteria and record ignition time, non-ignition, melting, glowing, or other material responses consistently.
• Regularly check the winding mechanism, current/power control system, timing device, and observation area.
• Follow the applicable parameters specified in IEC TS 60695-2-20 and confirm the equipment configuration before formal testing.

Applications & Use Cases

The Hot Wire Ignition Tester is used by electrical product manufacturers, insulating material suppliers, testing laboratories, and certification bodies to evaluate the ignition resistance of solid insulating materials under hot-wire heating conditions. It supports material selection, quality control, product safety assessment, and comparative fire hazard evaluation for plastics, composites, enclosures, and insulation parts used in electrical and electronic equipment.

Key Advantages

The system provides controlled hot-wire winding, adjustable heating power, precise timing, and clear ignition observation. Its stable current / power control, enclosed test area, and repeatable winding setup help laboratories obtain reliable HWI test results while improving operator safety during material ignition evaluation.

 Quality & Compliance Support

KingPo operates under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certified management systems. Product-related CE, RoHS, PSE, SGS documentation, and test reports can be provided according to the applicable equipment configuration and customer requirements.