In order to analysis the type of XLPE cable partial discharge, and grasp characteristics of partial discharge caused by different defects. In this paper, we use a 10kV 30-meter-long XLPE cable and design different types of defects. Then we collect the PD data of different defect model by PD data acquisition system. To characterize Partial discharge signals generated by different defect model by use of discharge capacity qs, discharge times n, the average discharge amount qn and phase distribution function include the maximum discharge amount distribution HQmax (φ), the average discharge amount distribution HQmean (φ), the discharge times phase distribution HN(φ) as well as φ-Q-N distribution map and so on. The results show that the partial discharge signals produced by different defect model have different statistical characteristics.