EN 60966-3:2009

Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies - Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies

IEC 60966-3:2008(E) is a sectional specification that relates to semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies operating in the transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM). It establishes uniform requirements for testing the electrical, mechanical and climatic properties of flexible cable assemblies composed of flexible coaxial cables and coaxial connectors. The major change with respect to the second edition is a better definition of the tests to be performed.

Konfektionierte Koaxial- und Hochfrequenzkabel - Teil 3: Rahmenspezifikation für halbflexible konfektionierte Koaxialkabel

Ensembles de cordons coaxiaux et de cordons pour fréquences radioélectriques - Partie 3: Spécification intermédiaire pour cordons coaxiaux semi-flexibles

La CEI 60966-3:2008 est une spécification intermédiaire qui concerne les cordons coaxiaux semi-flexibles fonctionnant dans le mode électromagnétique transversal (TEM). Elle établit des exigences uniformes pour l'essai des propriétés électriques, mécaniques et climatiques de cordons flexibles composés de câbles coaxiaux flexibles et de connecteurs coaxiaux. La présente spécification intermédiaire doit être lue conjointement avec la deuxième édition de la CEI 60966-1 (1999). Elle contient les mêmes articles que la CEI 60966-1 et les complète ou les modifie lorsque cela est nécessaire. Lorsqu'un article de la CEI 60966-1 n'apparaît pas dans la présente norme, elle s'applique telle quelle dans la CEI 60966-1. Lorsque la présente norme indique un "ajout", une "modification" ou un "remplacement", le texte correspondant de la première partie doit être adapté en conséquence. Cette publication doit être lue conjointement avec la CEI 60966-1:1999

Radijska frekvenca in sestavi koaksialnih kablov - 3. del: Področna specifikacija za sestave polzvijavih koaksialnih kablov (IEC 60966-3:2008)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Apr-2009
• Withdrawal Date: 31-Mar-2012
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Drafting Committee: CLC/SC 46XA - Coaxial cables
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 46 - IEC_TC_46
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 16-Apr-2009
• Completion Date: 16-Apr-2009
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60966-3:2009 - Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies - Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies (IEC 60966-3:2008)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60966-3:2003 - Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies - Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies
• Effective Date: 29-Jan-2023
• Replaced By: EN IEC 60966-3:2023 - Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies - Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies
• Effective Date: 09-Nov-2021

Overview

EN 60966-3:2009 (adoption of IEC 60966-3:2008) is a sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies used in radio frequency (RF) applications operating in the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode. Published by CLC/CENELEC in 2009, it defines uniform requirements and test methods for finished, assembled coaxial cable assemblies made of flexible coaxial cable and RF/coaxial connectors. The third edition improves and clarifies the definition of tests to be performed compared with the previous edition.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and intent: Applies to finished cable assemblies (integral units); detail specifications may supplement or limit required tests for specific applications.
• Operating mode: Designed for assemblies operating in the TEM mode (typical for coaxial RF connections).
• Design and materials:
  • Cables should conform to IEC 60096-2 or IEC 61196 unless otherwise specified.
  • Connectors should conform to IEC 61169; deviations must meet detail-specification requirements.
• Dimensions and length:
  • Length is measured between connector reference planes; for right-angle connectors the axis is used.
  • Default length tolerance: ±1% for lengths ≥ 300 mm, ±3 mm for lengths < 300 mm (unless detail specification states otherwise).
• Tests and properties:
  • Establishes uniform methods for electrical, mechanical and climatic testing of assemblies.
  • Test categories include electrical tests, mechanical robustness (e.g., flexing, connector torque), environmental/climatic tests, vibration (referenced to IEC 60068‑2‑6), and specialized tests.
  • Contains test schedules, grouping of tests and quality assessment requirements.
• Workmanship, marking & packaging: Requirements for identification, end caps and optional markers as part of the finished assembly.

Applications and who uses this standard

EN 60966-3:2009 is practical for:

• Cable assembly manufacturers developing semi-flexible RF coaxial assemblies.
• Test laboratories and quality assurance teams establishing inspection and acceptance procedures.
• Design and procurement engineers specifying cable assemblies for RF systems.
• Industries that rely on reliable RF interconnects (telecommunications, broadcast, instrumentation and other electronic equipment) will use EN 60966-3 as part of product specifications and conformity assessment.

Related standards

Key normative references and related standards to consult:

• IEC/EN 60966-1:1999 (generic specification and test methods)
• IEC 61169 series (radio-frequency connectors)
• IEC 61196 series / IEC 60096‑2 (coaxial cable specifications)
• IEC 60068‑2‑6 (vibration testing)
• IEC 60410, IEC QC 001002, ISO 9000 (quality and sampling)

EN 60966-3:2009 provides a clear, test-focused framework for the specification and verification of semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies, helping ensure consistent performance and interchangeability in RF systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2009
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SIST EN 60966-3:2004
5DGLMVNDIUHNYHQFDLQVHVWDYLNRDNVLDOQLKNDEORYGHO3RGURþQDVSHFLILNDFLMD]D
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Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies - Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-
flexible coaxial cable assemblies (IEC 60966-3:2008)
Konfektionierte Koaxial- und Hochfrequenzkabel - Teil 3: Rahmenspezifikation für
halbflexible konfektionierte Koaxialkabel (IEC 60966-3:2008)
Ensembles de cordons coaxiaux et de cordons pour fréquences radioélectriques - Partie
3: Spécification intermédiaire pour cordons coaxiaux semi-flexibles (CEI 60966-3:2008)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60966-3:2009
ICS:
33.120.10 Koaksialni kabli. Valovodi Coaxial cables. Waveguides
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 60966-3
NORME EUROPÉENNE
April 2009
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 33.120.10 Supersedes EN 60966-3:2003

English version
Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies -
Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies
(IEC 60966-3:2008)
Ensembles de cordons coaxiaux  Konfektionierte Koaxial-
et de cordons pour fréquences und Hochfrequenzkabel -
radioélectriques - Teil 3: Rahmenspezifikation
Partie 3: Spécification intermédiaire für halbflexible konfektionierte
pour cordons coaxiaux semi-flexibles Koaxialkabel
(CEI 60966-3:2008) (IEC 60966-3:2008)

This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2009-04-01. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2009 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 60966-3:2009 E
Foreword
The text of document 46/264/CDV, future edition 3 of IEC 60966-3, prepared by IEC TC 46, Cables,
wires, waveguides, R.F. connectors, R.F. and microwave passive components and accessories, was
submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 60966-3 on
2009-04-01.
This European Standard supersedes EN 60966-3:2003.
The major change with respect to EN 60966-3:2003 is a better definition of the tests to be performed.
This sectional specification is to be read in conjunction with EN 60966-1:1999. It contains the same
clauses as that of EN 60966-1 and completes or amends them when required. When a clause of
EN 60966-1 does not appear in this standard, it applies as it is in EN 60966-1. When this standard states
"addition", "modification" or "replacement", the relevant text in Part 1 is to be adapted accordingly.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2010-01-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2012-04-01
Annex ZA has been added by CENELEC.
__________
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60966-3:2008 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.
__________
- 3 - EN 60966-3:2009
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

NOTE  When an international publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant EN/HD
applies.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year

1) 2)
IEC 60068-2-6 - Environmental testing - EN 60068-2-6 2008
Part 2-6: Tests - Test Fc: Vibration
(sinusoidal)
1)
IEC 60096-2 - Radio-frequency cables - - -
Part 2: Relevant cable specifications

1)
IEC 60410 - Sampling plans and procedures - -
for inspection by attributes
2)
IEC 60966-1 1999 Radio frequency and coaxial cable EN 60966-1 1999
assemblies -
Part 1: Generic specification - General
requirements and test methods
IEC 61169 Series Radio-frequency connectors EN 61169 Series

IEC 61196 Series Coaxial communication cables EN 61196 Series

IEC QC 001002 Series IEC Quality Assessment System - -
for Electronic Components (IECQ) -
Rules of procedure
1) 2)
ISO 9000 - Quality management systems - EN ISO 9000 2005
Fundamentals and vocabulary
1)
Undated reference.
2)
Valid edition at date of issue.

IEC 60966-3
Edition 3.0 2008-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies –
Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible coaxial cable assemblies

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
R
ICS 33.120.10 ISBN 2-8318-1006-1
– 2 – 60966-3 © IEC:2008(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3
1 Scope.5
2 Normative references .5
3 Terms and definitions .5
4 Design and manufacturing requirements.6
4.1 Cable design and construction.6
4.2 Connector design and construction.6
4.3 Outline and interface dimensions.6
5 Workmanship, marking and packaging.7
6 Quality assessment .8
7 Test methods – General .8
8 Electrical tests.8
9 Mechanical robustness tests.9
10 Environmental tests .9
11 Specialized test methods.11
12 Test schedules .11

Figure 1 – Length definition of cable assemblies.7
Figure 2 – Example of a cable assembly.7
Figure 3 – Preferred arrangement for the vibration test .10
Figure 4 – Example production flow chart for a flexible cable assembly .14

Table 1 – Grouping of tests for specification purposes .12
Table 2 – Test schedule.13
Table 3 – Assignment of CQCs .15

60966-3 © IEC:2008(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
RADIO FREQUENCY AND COAXIAL CABLE ASSEMBLIES –

Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible
coaxial cable assemblies
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with an IEC Publication.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60966-3 has been prepared by IEC technical committee 46: Cables,
wires, waveguides, R.F. connectors, R.F. and microwave passive components and
accessories.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2003. It constitutes a
technical revision.
The major change with respect to the second edition is a better definition of the tests to be
performed.
This sectional specification is to be read in conjunction with the second edition of
IEC 60966-1 (1999). It contains the same clauses as that of IEC 60966-1 and completes or
amends them when required. When a clause of IEC 60966-1 does not appear in this standard,
it applies as it is in IEC 60966-1. When this standard states "addition", "modification" or
"replacement", the relevant text in Part 1 is to be adapted accordingly.

– 4 – 60966-3 © IEC:2008(E)
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
46/264/CDV 46/297/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts of the IEC 60966 series, under the general title: Radio frequency and coaxial
cable assemblies, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in
the data related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

60966-3 © IEC:2008(E) – 5 –
RADIO FREQUENCY AND COAXIAL CABLE ASSEMBLIES –

Part 3: Sectional specification for semi-flexible
coaxial cable assemblies
1 Scope
This part of IEC 60966 is a sectional specification that relates to semi-flexible coaxial cable
assemblies operating in the transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM). It establishes uniform
requirements for testing the electrical, mechanical and climatic properties of flexible cable
assemblies composed of flexible coaxial cables and coaxial connectors.
NOTE 1 For the purposes of this sectional specification, a cable assembly is always regarded as an integral unit.
All specifications apply to the finished assembly and not to individual and non-assembled parts thereof.
NOTE 2 This sectional specification should be supplemented with detail specifications giving additional details as
required by the particular application. This application will not necessarily require all tests.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60068-2-6, Environmental testing – Part 2-6: Tests − Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal)
IEC 60096-2, Radio-frequency cables – Part 2: Relevant cable specifications
IEC 60410, Sampling plans and procedures for inspection by attributes
IEC 60966-1:1999, Radio frequency and coaxial cable assemblies – Part 1: Generic
specification – General requirements and test methods
IEC 61169 (all parts), Radio-frequency connectors
IEC 61196 (all parts), Coaxial communication cables
IEC QC 001002 (all parts), IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components
(IECQ) – Rules of procedure
ISO 9000, Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in IEC 60966-1 apply.

– 6 – 60966-3 © IEC:2008(E)
4 Design and manufacturing requirements
Clause 4 of IEC 60966-1 is applicable except as follows.
Replacement:
4.1 Cable design and construction
Cables should conform to IEC 60096-2 or IEC 61196. Where cable designs deviating from
these publications are required, they shall comply with the requirements of the detail
specification.
If required, the manufacturer may use additional protective tubing or cable deviating from
IEC 61196 in orde
...