Search Results for: metal cable cleat

91-ST Cleat Insulation Washer

October 10, 2014 by

Under certain environmental conditions, including areas contaminated with high levels of halogen salts, galvanic reaction can occur between dissimilar metals causing them to lose their integrity. The effects of galvanic corrosion are especially profound when installing stainless steel cable cleats onto galvanised steel support structures where the cleat can hasten the corrosion of the structure. Under such circumstances we recommend the use of Cleat Insulation Washers to limit the effects of this corrosion.

The black polypropylene 91-ST cleat separation washer provides a barrier between the different metals, limiting oxidisation and loss of the integrity of the fixing.

Polyester Coated Aluminium Alpha Trefoil Cable Cleats

October 10, 2014 by

Designed to augment the standard range of trefoil Alpha cleats, the polyester powder coated Alpha cleat is a hybrid trefoil cleat suitable for installing single-core power cables within extreme or contaminated areas.

The cable retention frame is manufactured from extruded aluminium strip (6000 series), polyester powder coated and features a LSF Zero Halogen flame retardant nylon mounting base to protect the cleat and supporting steel-work from adverse metallic reactions found in more onerous environments, e.g galvanic-corrosion.

The unique design of the polyester powder coated Alpha cleat allows for rapid installation, providing a strong, robust and light cleat for applications where moderate to low levels of short-circuit withstand are required.

Maximum Short Circuit Test: 72kA peak @600mm centres (96kA peak @300mm centres)
Aluminium construction, no hinge pins to corrode.
Grip ridges to eliminate cable slippage.
Strong and robust, resists brittleness and failures.
No hidden defects from casting processes.
Meets the International Standard IEC 61914:2009.
Short circuit withstand test: 31.4kA RMS (72.4kA peak).

Trefoil cable cleat fixing kits enable the Alpha cable cleat to be easily fixed to cable ladder rungs or 41mm wide steel channel. Included in each fixing kit: M10 BZP hexagon set screw, M10 flat washer and M10 plain channel nut.

Cable Theft Prevention

October 15, 2013 by admin

At its peak, cable theft was estimated to cost the UK economy £770 million per year. Even though a £5 million funded crackdown from British Transport Police (BTP) has helped dramatically reduce the level of cable theft, in the first half of this financial year, (up to 14th September 2013) there has been 95 incidents of cable theft within the UK’s rail network alone. Causing 30,928 minutes of delays and an estimated compensation cost of over £1 million.

These figures do not include the cost of staff time to repair and replace the stolen cable, replacement of the cable itself and the cost of extra security measures implemented to try to prevent future thefts. The total cost of these measures in the 12 months up to April 2013 reaching £12.7 million.

Causes Behind Cable Theft

It’s easy to see why cable theft has seen an increase in the past decade up to its peak, with the price of copper soaring since 2002. From £1000 to around £6000 per metric tonne at its peak.

With copper becoming so valuable and with its abundance within rail networks, copper theft via cables spiralled out of control.

Combatting Cable Theft

There are a number of methods than can be implemented to help fight cable theft.

Existing Technologies

Ellis Patents Tamper Proof Cable Cleats – Ellis’s tamperproof cleats are designed to make removing copper cables almost impossible. Its box design makes the task of detaching the cleat from the cable as difficult and as time consuming as possible.

This added to the requirement (for short-circuit protection) to fit cleats at regular intervals along the length of the cable means thieves will simply not have the time to remove the cleats, and therefore the cable, in time before the authorities arrive.

RedWeb Technologies – Working alongside the BTP, RedWeb Security have designed an indelible fluid that’s applied to the surface of cables. The spray will transfer to skin, clothing or hair of the thief and remain detectable for over 6 months.

Each batch of spray contains a unique forensic code which is traceable to the location of where it was applied to the metal. By glowing bright red under a UV light, signalling the suspected criminal had an involvement with the theft by being contaminated with the dye.

SmartWater – Similar to RedWeb’s forensic fluid, Smartwater asigns trackside cables with a uniquely coded chemical signature that is identifiable by police. The liquid is almost impossible to remove and can even withstand burning. Once detected the Smartwater provides the police with irrefutable proof of involvement with a particular cable theft. It has been proven to cut cable theft on key national rail routes.

Anti-Vandal Guards – These galvanised steel anti-vandal guards provide protection from vandalism and theft. Designed primarily for 25x3mm earthing tape, the guard is also suitable to secure and protect smaller cable systems. Easy to fix and with long lasting corrosion resistance, it is a further deterant to copper cable theives. Please contact us for price and availability.

New Legislation

The new Scrap Metal Dealers Act has now come into force, making it harder for metal thieves to sell on stolen metal. Replacing the 1964 act, it requires all dealers to have a licence, which it makes tougher to get, as well as requiring sellers to provide ID at the point of sale and have it recorded by the dealer.

It is hoped the new traceability deters criminals from carrying out copper theft.

These preventative technologies and innovations, along with tougher legislation and police crackdowns have helped reduce cable theft from its peak. Time will only tell whether or not this new scrap metal law will have the desired effect, however we believe the combination of these tactics, although incurring additional costs, will be beneficially in the long run compared to downtime, replacement cable and labour costs. Learn more about our offer of power cable lugs.

Video: Cable Thefts Reach Crisis Point

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Stainless Steel Cable Cleats and Galvanic Corrosion

May 7, 2013 by admin

How the issue of galvanic corrosion affects installation of stainless steel trefoil cleats onto galvanised steel support structures in various environments.

The term galvanic corrosion refers to corrosion induced when there is electrical contact between two dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte, i.e. water or corrosive vapour. The severity of the corrosion is determined by whether the metal is deemed cathodic, e.g. 316 stainless steel in its passive state, or anodic, e.g. zinc (the predominant metal of galvanised coatings).

In the majority of cable cleat installations, galvanic corrosion is not experienced due to the lack of an electrolyte in the atmosphere. Stainless steel has an inherent chrome oxide film layer which protects it from the environment, in what is deemed an “active” state, this layer can however be eroded in the presence of halogen salts in the form of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine or astatine, many of which can be found in contaminated water or gas vapour. As the majority of ETS stainless steel cable cleats are installed within dry industrial or commercial environments, without the presence of any electrolyte and remaining in their “active” state, galvanic corrosion does not occur between the cleat and the surrounding galvanised steel support structure.

Cause and effect of galvanic corrosion

Galvanic corrosion is an issue which must be addressed in areas contaminated with high levels of halogen salts, namely exposed environments close to the sea or areas prone to contaminated rainfall, e.g. major conurbations and oil or gas fuelled power stations etc. In such areas the integrity of the stainless steel product is attacked by these halogen salts, breaking down the protective chrome oxide film, making the material deemed to be “passive” in its characteristics. Over a period of time and in the continual presence of an electrolyte, any zinc coated (galvanised) structure is adversely affected, dissolving the zinc and corroding faster than it would if not in contact with the passivated stainless steel, which conversely corrodes slower! In real terms, this means that the galvanised coated steel-work would corrode due to the loss of its zinc coating, although the stainless steel cleat suffers no adverse effects.

Avoid galvanic corrosion with a 91-ST washer

To overcome the issue of galvanic corrosion in such areas, we recommend the use of the 91-ST cleat separation washer. This provides an insulation layer between the dissimilar metals, increasing the distance between each metal and removing the electrical and physical contact points critical to the development of corrosion.

The importance to this process of time and “wetness” (as well as the chemical characteristics of the “wetness”) should be stressed. There is no definite period of time which can be mentioned as there are so many variables to the process, consideration should be paid to the projected life-span of the installation and the potential corrosiveness of the environment. In general terms, we would advise the use of the cleat separation washer for all external installations.

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SAPPHIRE (SHDSS)

October 31, 2024 by

The SHDSS cable cleat range consists of metallic cable cleats which have been designed, constructed, and tested in accordance with the International Standard IEC 61914: Cable cleats for electrical installations.

FEATURES:

Third party certification to IEC 61914
316L stainless steel
19 to 150mm in 13 sizes for single / parallel formation
Operating temperature -60°C to +60°C
Standard Polymer Liners are classified as Low Smoke and Fume Zero Halogen (LSF0H), Phosphorus-free
Combined single (M12) and two bolt (M10) fixing design

Click here to download Datasheet

SOLACE (1BCHT)