String in SWA cables

[Stroppy]

Here's a question: What is the purpose of the length of string found in the middle of larger CSA SWA cables? Strain relief when pulling the cable, or something else?

 

[snowhead]

Filler

 

[Lighthouse Phil]

To help maintain the shape of the cable ???

 

[Plonker 3]

To help keep the round shape of the outer insulation.

 

[sjhall]

How large are you talking?

There was string in the SWA I've just done but it was only small 5 core 10mm .... I used it to strip the rather stiff sheath from the cores

 

[Stuuk1]

I've always been lead to believe its to fill the empty space to maintain the rounded shape

 

[snowhead]

The bigger the cores get the bigger the hole in the middle gets, unless the cores are triangular.

I'd guess it's more to keep the shape during production than for any benefit afterwards.

 

[Knobhead]

It's called worming. Just fills the gaps and gets in the bloody way when making off the cable. It's a hangover from the days of PILC cables.

 

[Stroppy]

The gap-filling idea seems to make sense. I saw it in a 35mm cable, I think. Thanks for the replies.

 

[markc123]

Its there to test you when you come to snip it off tight that you don't snip abit of the insulation on the cores at the same time

 

[telectrix]

all wrong. the string is the drag cord for the little tiny men to pull the conductors in with. they always pull in an extra string so they know the shortest way out from the tunnel.

 

[Guest111]

it is indeed a filler,it has only 2 purposes in life one is to help maintain the shape of the overall cable and the other is to get in the way when working with said cable. lol

 

[CSEE]

I thought it was there to allow the gypsies to hold up there trousers after losing weight nicking copper cables and stripping it for cash?
Damn !!!

 

[Engineer54]

Talking about SWA cables, ...How many of you use ''breakouts'' when terminating SWA ends in external installations, wet/humid environments, or Switchboards etc?? Not many i'll wager!! lol!!

 

[telectrix]

i just bung 1/2 tube of silicon in and around. keeps the spiders out as a bonus.:24:

 

[mackers]

its a draw wire in case you need another core!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Plonker 3]

Talking about SWA cables, ...How many of you use ''breakouts'' when terminating SWA ends in external installations, wet/humid environments, or Switchboards etc?? Not many i'll wager!! lol!!

Breakouts?

 

[JulianC]

It's not the cpc then? Bugger.....

 

[JD6400]

Talking about SWA cables, ...How many of you use ''breakouts'' when terminating SWA ends in external installations, wet/humid environments, or Switchboards etc?? Not many i'll wager!! lol!!

Humid ? I think you may have been away from Blighty a bit too long !:stuart:

 

[telectrix]

not humid here, just bloody wet.

 

[Knobhead]

Humid ? I think you may have been away from Blighty a bit too long !:stuart:

With he recent weather we should be using sub-aqua joints.

 

[telectrix]

just too difficult to get the tape to stick when everything is pi$$ wet through.

 

[hoover]

If you terminate ths"string" to earth you will find you get a lower zs reading. This actually works.

 

[Engineer54]

Breakouts?

Here you go, they come in all sorts of configurations

Heat Shrink Cable Breakouts | ETS Cable Components

 

[Engineer54]

If you terminate ths"string" to earth you will find you get a lower zs reading. This actually works.

I do hope your joking here?? lol!!

 

[Sintra]

Talking about SWA cables, ...How many of you use ''breakouts'' when terminating SWA ends in external installations, wet/humid environments, or Switchboards etc?? Not many i'll wager!! lol!!

Found them very hard to get from suppliers along with larger sized CW glands and believe it or not brass nuts and bolts for the banjo's. One place in London actually suggested I wrap black insulating tape around the shroud and it would do the same job.

 

[Engineer54]

Found them very hard to get from suppliers along with larger sized CW glands and believe it or not brass nuts and bolts for the banjo's. One place in London actually suggested I wrap black insulating tape around the shroud and it would do the same job.

That doesn't really surprise me. lol!!

I only asked, because being mainly involved on larger projects. i haven't seen a SWA end made off without a breakout for many years now. Same goes for MV cable lug connections, they are all mastic and booted (straight or angle). whereas in the UK, i'm told the usual way is amalgamated wrapped tape enclosing the connections....

 

[Knobhead]

That doesn't really surprise me. lol!!

I only asked, because being mainly involved on larger projects. i haven't seen a SWA end made off without a breakout for many years now. Same goes for MV cable lug connections, they are all mastic and booted (straight or angle). whereas in the UK, i'm told the usual way is amalgamated wrapped tape enclosing the connections....

I liked the H/S boots.
But there was one job I had to do every year where I still used varnished silk tape. OK 1250V water cooled flexible cable is a bit of an odd bod.

 

[Engineer54]

I liked the H/S boots.
But there was one job I had to do every year where I still used varnished silk tape. OK 1250V water cooled flexible cable is a bit of an odd bod.

Agree they not only look a far more professional job, they serve many real purposes when correctly installed!! The only drawback, is having to remove them, now that can be a very mucky and sticky job and take 3 times longer to remove, than to fit them!! ...lol!!

 

[markc123]

Did any one use this type of SWA gland? For interior use only, i loved them - our local wholesaler salesman gave us a couple to try a few years ago and they were so easy to use.

I've just got that picture from google now, so obviouslly some dodgey websites are still selling them - however our wholesaler had said they have become defunct.