nVent ERICO, manufacturers of the CADWELD^® range of exothermic welding equipment, recently carried out some fusing tests on their CADWELD connections at their HV laboratory in Solon, USA.

In the tests, 10kA is applied until either the conductor or the CADWELD connection fails. To pass the test, the conductor must fail (melt) before the CADWELD connection does, proving that connections made using the CADWELD system are not the weak point of a grounding system.

GRC-182Q Fusing Test (cable to ground rod connections)

Conductors Used: nVent ERICO Cadweld connecting 3/4″ (19mm) ground rod to 4/0 (107mm) copper conductor.

Test Parameters: 10100A RMS 60Hz applied until fusing

Pass/Fail Criteria: The grounding connector shall not crack, break, or melt when subject to the test current.

SSC-2Q Fusing Test (cable to cable connection)

Conductors Used: 4/0 copper conductor to 4/0 copper conductor with nVent ERICO Cadweld

Test Parameters: 10100A RMS 60Hz applied until fusing

Pass/Fail Criteria: The grounding connector shall not crack, break, or melt when subject to the test current.

nVent ERICO also carried out some short-circuit current tests on their tinned copper braid (MBJ) product, in accordance with standard UL467 (Ground and Bonding). In this test 5.9kA is applied for 6.1 seconds. To pass the test, the braid must not fuse (melt) and still be able to carry current afterwards.

MBJ-50-500-10 Fusing Test (50mm² tinned copper braid bond)

Conductors Used: 556980 (MBJ 50 – 500 – 10) tinned copper earth braid (MBJ) 50mm², 500mm length, 6mm hole.

Test Parameters: 5960A RMS 60Hz applied for 6.1 seconds

Pass/Fail Criteria:

7.5.1 – A grounding or bonding device shall not crack, break, or melt when subject to the current and time specified in the Test Perameters.

7.5.2 – After having carried the current specified in Clause 7.5.1, continuity shall be maintained on the test sample assembly.

ETS are the authorised UK stockist and reseller of nVent ERICO Cadweld exothermic welding equipment and can also provide a comprehensive on-site CADWELD PLUS training course, carried out by a fully qualified ETS operative on behalf of nVent ERICO.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it!

Screened separable connectors and elbows are used to terminate polymeric (XLPE & EPR) insulated cables onto switchgear and transformers fitted with ANSI/CENELEC-style bushing interfaces up to 42kV.

Layers of alternate insulating and semi-conductive EPDM rubber replicate the cable construction and provide a touch-safe interface between the cable and equipment.

Suitable for use on the five main bushing interfaces including: Interface A, Interface B, Interface C, Interface D, and Interface E, the new CENELEC Interface F is also available for high-current applications.

There are a number of advantages of using a separable screened connector system including:

– Rugged compact design – allows installation in modern compact substations
– Full screened cable-equipment interface – touch-safe
– Maintenance free
– Quick and simple to install
– Easy to disconnect de-energised cables
– Can connect more than one cable to a single bushing interface
– Fully moisture-resistant – can be used outdoor without a cable box
– IP67 protection – dust tight and protection against the effects of moisture
– Resistant to UV, Ozone, chemicals, mechanical abuse
– Temperate range from -60oC + 130oC
– Offers many test options: capacitive test points, cable tests
– Suitable for cables between 12kV–36kV, 250amp-1250amp (42kV and 2500amp for the Interface F)

If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it!

Ex d requirements insist that cable used in hazardous areas should be a considerably compact circular cable with extruded bedding and using fillers that are non-hygroscopic.

Further more, thought should be given to the volume of cable required and how it will be terminated. If numerous cables are to be terminated at the same point, the size of glanding panel may impact on the required control box enclosure size.

Using Flexicon conduit systems removes these issues as cables can be run through a protective conduit, allowing multi-cores to share the same space and so reduce the number of entry points required into the control box.

Calculating the cross-sectional area of the cables to be run through a single conduit will enable the correct specification and selection of conduit system required.

Key benefits of using a Flexicon conduit with a flameproof EXD barrier gland over cable:

	Simplified termination and greater enclosure integrity
	Reduced installation time – less terminations
	Cable is mechanically protected
	No need for specialist cables
	Can provide EMC screening (braided versions)
	No need for use of SWA cables
	Flameproof integrity and self-extinguishing properties
	Future proofing the installation – easier to upgrade

For more information on our range of Flexicon flexible conduits, please contact our Sales Team.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it!

Nexans WINDLINK enclosures for offshore wind farms aim to reduce installation time on site as well as offering considerable cost savings. The available range of offshore junction cabinets (OJC) and frames for use in turbine towers, along with the ability to manufacture and supply pre-terminated leads offer considerable cost saving compared to traditional cable installation in the towers.

For offshore wind farms, the Nexans offshore junction cabinet/chamber can be used as a connection point for tower cables to subsea array cables. This can be used as a demarcation point between tower / transition piece and/or array cable responsible parties.

Fully commissioned and tested

Rated up to 42kV, the offshore cabinet is manufactured from marine grade 316L stainless steel, with a robust design with IP66 protection (BS EN 60529:1992), specifically suitable for use in offshore weather conditions.

The Nexans junction cabinet has been short circuit tested to DIN VDE 0278-626-1 (HD 629.1 S2:2006 + A1:2008). 2009:07. EN IEC 61442, IEC62271-201: High Voltage switchgear and control gear.

Accessories and reliability

These Nexans offshore enclosures can be equipped with different connector combinations and surge arresters to protect tower equipment from HV surges. These, together with pre-terminated and tested leads to connect the junction cabinet with turbine tower equipment, we believe reduces the installation time and increases the quality of the installation.

All Medium Voltage connection cabinets are reliable, safe and can be tailored to meet customer specific requirements. It can provide a convenient test point and can help with earlier generation of power.

Benefits of the Nexans OJC

– Chamber design is specifically suitable to be installed in the severe conditions of the transition piece of the tower.
– Easy to install due to high accessibility.
– Ideal test and demarcation point.
– Time saving.
– Reducing overal cost of installation.
– Possibility to use pre-terminated and tested jumpers to tower equipment.

For more information on Nexans products and off-shore wind farm cable accessories please contact our Sales Team.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it!

To allow compliance with the LUL fire regulation standards, all joints for use within Section 12 of the London Underground Network must comply with the LUL 1-085 standard.

To enable compliance for joints required in Section 12 areas, 3M developed a universal joint protection system to manage this. It is known as the Smoke, Toxicity, Fire and Fume joint sleeve or STFF for short.

Installation of the STFF sleeve

The sleeve is slipped onto one of the cables ready to be joined and parked back along the cable. The joint is made off in the normal way and the STFF sleeve is now slid over the joint and held in place by two stainless steel cable ties, one at each end.

LUL approved HellermannTyton MBT-type stainless steel cable ties should be used to secure the joint sleeve over the joint. A MK9-SST tensioning tool can also be used to achieve maximum tension on the ties.

There are a number of variants of the STFF shield, including a sleeve design for joints or with a closed end, suitable for cable abandonment applications. A retrofit wrap around version can also be supplied if the joint has already been installed.

Suitable LUL Section 12 and Hazardous Area applications

Designed for use with all single or multi core HV and LV cable joints as well as cable abandonment applications, the STFF joint sleeve is approved on the LUL register (Register Number 1106) for use with 3M Cold Shrink jointing systems.

The joint protection sleeve has applications for jointing on LUL projects as well as other hazardous and petrochemical applications, both on and off-shore.

The 3M joint sleeve can only be purchased with the appropriate joint and is not available as a separate item.

For more information on the 3M STFF sleeves applications, prices and availability, please contact our Sales Team.

If you found this article helpful or interesting, please share it!