Application and Performance Analysis of Glow-Wire Tester in Glow Wire Ignition Test

Abstract
This paper focuses on the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester, a high-precision testing device developed by LISUN specifically for evaluating the flame-retardant properties of electrical and electronic products, household appliances, lighting equipment, and plastic components. By simulating the “glow-wire high-temperature contact” scenario, it conducts glow wire ignition tests to detect the ignition tendency, ignition temperature, flammability, and flammability index of materials under specific thermal loads. This provides critical data support for product fire safety design and compliance certification. The paper details the principle of the glow wire ignition test, the product characteristics, technical parameters, compliance standards, and practical applications of the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester. It also analyzes the device’s performance advantages with specific data tables, aiming to provide comprehensive application references for practitioners in related industries.

1. Introduction
In the field of electrical and electronic products, household appliances, and lighting equipment, plastic components are widely used due to their advantages such as light weight and easy processing. However, the flammable nature of plastics also poses significant fire safety hazards. To ensure the safety of products during use, professional testing equipment is required to evaluate the flame-retardant properties of materials, and the glow wire ignition test is one of the key testing methods. The ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester developed by LISUN GROUP, as a high-precision testing device, can accurately simulate the glow-wire high-temperature contact scenario and conduct glow wire ignition tests. It provides reliable data for product fire safety design and compliance certification, playing an important role in flame-retardant testing work of quality supervision departments and related enterprises.

2. Principle of Glow Wire Ignition Test
The glow wire ignition test is a physical thermal testing method for solid insulating materials such as plastics. Its core principle is to simulate the scenario where local high-temperature heat sources (such as glowing metal wires) generated by circuit faults, overloads, or other conditions come into contact with materials during product use, thereby evaluating the flame-retardant properties of the materials.

During the test, a glow wire made of nickel-chromium alloy wire (80% nickel, 20% chromium) is heated to a specific temperature (up to 1100°C) and brought into contact with the test sample under a specified pressure (0.95±0.1N). By controlling the glowing time, indicators such as whether the sample ignites, the ignition time, and the flame extinction time under thermal load are observed. At the same time, the ignition temperature and flammability index of the sample are detected to determine the fire safety of the material in high-temperature contact scenarios. If the sample does not ignite during the test, or if it ignites but extinguishes itself within the specified time without causing the combustion of surrounding materials, it indicates that the flame-retardant properties of the material meet the requirements of relevant standards.

3. Product Characteristics of LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester
3.1 Equipment Structure and Material
The LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester adopts a high-temperature spray-coated steel structure, which has excellent high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. It can adapt to long-term high-temperature test environments, ensuring the stability and service life of the equipment. The device is equipped with an imported instrument display system, which enables clear and accurate data reading. The operation interface is simple and easy to understand, allowing operators to get started quickly without complex training, effectively improving test efficiency.

3.2 Core Functional Advantages
• Automatic Control and Recording: The device can automatically control and record the glowing time, ignition time, and flame extinction time. The range of glowing time, ignition time, and flame extinction time is 0.1-999.9s, with a time accuracy of ±0.1s. It also supports manual pause recording to ensure the accuracy and completeness of test data.
• Automatic Disengagement Function: When the sample reaches the specified glowing time, the device can automatically control the glow wire to disengage from the sample. This prevents excessive combustion of the sample due to long-term contact with the high-temperature glow wire, ensuring the standardization and safety of the test process.
• High-Precision Temperature Measurement: The device uses a φ1 armored nickel-chromium/nickel-aluminum wire (K-type) thermocouple, which can accurately measure the heating temperature of the glow wire. The temperature measurement range is from room temperature to 1100°C, with a temperature measurement accuracy of ±5°C, which can meet the strict temperature requirements of different materials for the test.

4. Technical Parameters of LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester
To clearly display the performance indicators of the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester, the core technical parameters of the device are listed in the table below:

5. Practical Application of LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester
5.1 Application Fields
The LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester is mainly used in the industries of lighting equipment, electrical and electronic products, and household appliances. It is used to detect the flame-retardant properties of plastic components in these products through glow wire ignition tests, including:
• Lighting Equipment: Detecting the ignition tendency and flammability of plastic parts such as lamp housings, lamp shades, and lamp holders. This ensures that even if the internal circuit of the lamp fails and generates high temperatures during use, the plastic parts will not catch fire;
• Electrical and Electronic Products: Conducting glow wire ignition tests on plastic housings and internal insulating plastic parts of electrical and electronic products such as mobile phones, computers, and chargers. This evaluates their fire safety performance in high-temperature environments and prevents product damage or fire caused by material combustion;
• Household Appliances: Carrying out tests on parts such as plastic liners and control panels of household appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners to ensure the fire safety of household appliances during long-term use.
In addition, the device is also widely used in product quality supervision and testing work of quality supervision departments, as well as quality control links in product research and development and production processes of related enterprises, providing strong support for product quality control.

5.2 Application Case
When a household appliance enterprise was developing a new type of washing machine, it needed to test the flame-retardant properties of the plastic material used in the washing machine’s control panel. The enterprise used the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester to conduct a glow wire ignition test, and the test process was as follows:
• Set the test temperature to 960°C (simulating high temperatures generated by circuit faults), the glowing time to 30s, and fix the plastic sample on the test bench in accordance with the equipment operation specifications;
• Start the device. The glow wire is automatically heated to the set temperature and maintained stably. Then, it comes into contact with the sample under a pressure of 0.95±0.1N, and the device starts to automatically record the glowing time;
• During the test, observe whether the sample ignites. If the sample ignites, the device automatically records the ignition time; after the sample’s flame is extinguished, it automatically records the flame extinction time;
• After the test, calculate the flammability index of the sample based on the recorded data and determine whether the sample meets the requirements in combination with relevant standards.
Through this test, the enterprise can accurately understand the flame-retardant properties of the plastic material. If the flame-retardant properties of the material are not up to standard, it can promptly adjust the material formula or replace the material to ensure the fire safety of the washing machine’s control panel during actual use. At the same time, the test data also provides a key basis for the product to pass certification in accordance with relevant standards such as GB 4706.1-2024.

 Glow Wire Test Apparatus

6. After-Sales Support for LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester
The LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester has been on the market for more than 10 years and has won wide recognition from users due to its stable performance and reliable quality. To better serve users, LISUN GROUP has established a professional engineer service team and summarized a large number of after-sales Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). When users encounter problems during the use of the equipment, they can solve most problems by referring to the FAQ, which effectively reduces equipment downtime and improves work efficiency.

7. Conclusion
As a high-precision testing device developed by LISUN specifically for evaluating the flame-retardant properties of electrical and electronic products, household appliances, lighting equipment, and plastic components, the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester demonstrates excellent performance in glow wire ignition tests. Its precise temperature control, automatic data recording and sample disengagement functions, combined with the feature of complying with multiple domestic and foreign authoritative standards, can provide users with accurate and reliable test data, effectively supporting product fire safety design and compliance certification.

In practical applications, the device can not only meet the quality control needs of enterprises in product research and development and production processes but also provide strong support for the supervision and testing work of quality supervision departments. It plays an irreplaceable role in ensuring the fire safety of products in the electrical and electronic, household appliance, and lighting equipment industries. With the continuous improvement of people’s attention to product safety, the LISUN ZRS-3H Glow-Wire Tester will be widely used in more fields, contributing to promoting the improvement of product quality and safe development in the industry.