Most of the tests are done in the laboratory which is housed at the KEBS head office in Nairobi and other tests are done at client’s premises. The lab which is accredited by SANAS implements ISO 17025 and the staff is highly competent.

Instrumentation:
Electrical laboratory houses several versatile and equipment and instruments as below

1. Power input tester
2. Lamp testing Machine
3. Switch testing machine
4. Earth resistance tester
5. Cranking machine
6. Battery Charging and discharging testers
7. Dry cell tester
8. Secondary Battery analyzer
9. Rigid Test fingers
10. Glow Wire Test Apparatus.
11. High Voltage Test Apparatus (0-10 kV AC).
12. High Voltage Test Apparatus (0-5 kV AC).
13. Kelvin's Double Bridge.
14. Mega Ohm Meter.
15. Digital data logger.
16. Torsion Test Apparatus.
17. Tumbling Barrel.
18. Projection Microscope
19. Tracking Current Test Apparatus.
20. Universal Tensile Test Apparatus.
21. Vernier Caliper.
22. Micrometer.
23. Multimeters.
24. Etc.

Products tested

1. Electrical & Communication Cables
2. Enameled Winding Wires
3. A.C.S.R
4. Bus-Bars, Earthing Rods & Strips
5. Adhesive PVC Tapes
6. Miniature Circuit Breakers
7. Electrical Accessories
8. Conduits
9. Switches
10. Plugs
11. Socket-Outlets
12. Lamp Holders
13. Electrical Home Appliances
14. Refrigerators » Cookers
15. Audio visual Equipment
16. Instantaneous Water Heaters
17. Primary and secondary cells
18. Immersion Water Heaters
19. Electrical Iron Box
20. Different Insulation Materials
21. Consumer units
22. switch gears and panel boxes
23. Solar modules
24. Automobile Cables »Etc.

Tests Performed on Cables

1. Annealing Test for Copper Conductor
2. Tensile Strength for Aluminum Conductor
3. Wrapping Test for Aluminum Conductor
4. Conductor Resistance
5. Physical Tests for Insulation and Sheath
   1. Thickness of Insulation and sheath
   2. Tensile Strength and Elongation
   3. Aging in Air Oven, and Elongation
   4. Loss of Mass after Aging
   5. Heat Shock
   6. Thermal Stability
6. Flammability
7. Insulation Resistance
8. High Voltage
9. High Voltage Water Immersion
10. Tensile Strength & Elongation of Armouring
11. Dimension of Armouring
12. Zinc Coating of Armouring

Tests Performed on Home Appliances:

1. Safety Requirements
   
   1. Protection against Elect. Shock
   2. Input power
   3. Temperature Rise
   4. Operation Under Overload Conditions
   5.  Elect. Insulation
   6. Leakage Current
   7. Electric Strength
   8. Abnormal Operation
   9. Stability & Mechanical Hazards
   10. Mechanical Strength
   11. Construction
   12. Internal Wiring
   13. Cord Grip & Cord Guard
   14. Terminal for External Conductor
   15. Provision for Earthing
   16. Screw & Connection
   17. Creepage Distance & Clearances
   18. Resistance to Heat, Fire & Tracking
   19. Endurance
   20. Insulation Resistance
2. Measurement of Heating Up Time
3. Measurement of Sole Plate Temperature
4. Measurement of Temperature Distribution
5. Temperature rise
6. Measurement of thermostatic Stability

Tests Performed on Plugs & Sockets:

1. Checking of Dimensions
2. Protection Against Electric Shock
3. Construction
4.  Insulation Resistance and Electric Strength
5. Temperature Rise
6. Breaking Capacity
7. Endurance Test for Shutters
8. Withdrawal Pull
9. Cord Grip
10. Mechanical Strength
11. Resistance to Heat
12. Screws and Connection

Tests performed on Winding Wires:

1. Resistance
2. Elongation
3. Flexibility and Adherence
4. Mandrel Winding
5. Heat Shock
6. Break-down Voltage

Tests Performed on Switches :

1. Visual Examination of Marking
2. Protection Against Electric Shock
3. Terminals & Screws
4. Insulation Resistance & Electric Strength
5. Temperature Rise
6. Making & Breaking Capacity
7. Endurance
8. Mechanical Strength
9. Resistance to Heat
10. Creepage Distance & Clearance
11. Resistance to Rusting

Tests Performed on Pressure Sensitive Adhesive PVC Tapes for Electrical Purposes

1. Dimensions
2. Adhesion to Steel
3. Adhesion to Backing
4. Elongation and Tensile Strength
5. Electrical Strength
6. Flammability
7. Accelerated Aging

Tests Performed on M.C.B

1. Indelibility of Marking
2. Reliability of Screws, Current Carrying Parts & Connections.
3. Reliability of Terminals for External Conductors.
4. Protection Against Electric Shock.
5. Dielectric Properties
   
   1. Insulation Resistance of Main Circuit
   2. Dielectric Strength of Main Circuit.
   3. Dielectric Strength of Auxiliary and Control Circuits.
6. Temperature Rise.
7. Resistance to Mechanical Shock & Impact.
8. Resistance to Heat.
9. Resistance to Abnormal Heat & Fire.
10. Resistance to Rusting.

Tests Performed on Aluminium Conductor for Overhead Transmission Purposes.

1. Test for Ultimate Breaking Load on Stranded Conductor.
2. Measurement of Diameter of Individual Aluminum and Steel Wires.
3. Measurement of Lay Ratio.
4. Breaking Load of Individual Wires.
5. Ductility Test.
6. Wrapping Test.
7. Resistance Test.
8. Galvanizing Test.

Tests Performed on Photovoltaic solar modules

1. Marking
2.  Insulation Resistance
3. Power output

Industries we serve

1. Electrical and Electronic Appliances
2. Battery
3. Renewable Energy
4. Audio Visual
5. Industrial
6. Power, metering and distribution
7. Government
8. Automotive
9. Telecommunications

Contacts:
Michael Oganga
Head of Laboratory
Testing Services Department
Kenya Bureau of Standards
Popo road, off Mombasa road
P. O. Box 54794 – 00200
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.