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.

 

[Engineer54]

View attachment 16434
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.

No, never seen them before. But i have come across plastic SWA glands recently, that would be very handy for isolating the armouring, in say supplying a TT system from a TNC-S supply. Virtually exactly the same idea as the standard brass gland, in that they lock the armour to the gland body. Only seen them in 20 and 25mm sizes though!! Made in China!! lol!!

 

[hoover]

I do hope your joking here?? lol!!

No? It works. It doubles up as an earth.

 

[Knobhead]

I’ve heard of “string theory”, you’re string earthing theory is a new one on me.

Having had a quick look at one of you’re previous posts, Using generator for Ze reading. I’m of the opinion you’re somewhat tenuous grasp of the principals of earthing and continuity has decidedly slipped.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I’ve heard of “string theory”, you’re string earthing theory is a new one on me.

Having had a quick look at one of you’re previous posts, Using generator for Ze reading. I’m of the opinion you’re somewhat tenuous grasp of the principals of earthing and continuity has decidedly slipped.

Superconducting cables!

No more need for any cable calcs!!!!

 

[Engineer54]

No? It works. It doubles up as an earth.

I've yet to see a conductive or semi conductive filler material used in any multicore LV cable i've ever seen or worked with.

I think it would be a ''new one'' to know, for the cable manufacturers too!! lol!!

 

[markc123]

You can't honestly expect anyone to take them comments seriouslly can you hoover? Lets just say you're actually telling the truth, what / who told you to do that in the first place? There is noway a piece of filler string is doubling-up as an earth in any cable, in any installation on any planet!

Definitley a wind-up merchant lol! Well played though hoover, you did mak me laugh.

 

[Sintra]

You know what that's going to be my new apprentice joke.

Right young man get that string core sleeved green / yellow and connect it to the earth bar lol.

 

[markc123]

You know what that's going to be my new apprentice joke.

Right young man get that string core sleeved green / yellow and connect it to the earth bar lol.

I can literally imagine the assessor's face when he'd be doing the workshop sessions at college haha.

 

[Brightspark2]

String is a conductor...how do you think it transmits the data when you put 2 empty cans on the end to make a phone line...

Come on guys, simple...

 

[markc123]

String is a conductor...how do you think it transmits the data when you put 2 empty cans on the end to make a phone line...

Come on guys, simple...

Haha, we wish!

If string was a conductor i'd be straight down the local £1 shop buying a massive ball of it and using it as singles haha

 

[Brightspark2]

Haha, we wish!

If string was a conductor i'd be straight down the local £1 shop buying a massive ball of it and using it as singles haha

You'd have to buy some felt tips while you where there to colour it in though...identify conductors, dont want to fall foul of the regs...

 

[Silly Sausage]

Easier dyeing it, Brown, Blue & Stripey Green/Yellow, readily available from your local haberdashery shop.

 

[hoover]

Lol some guys on here need to lighten up. I was flat out on the whiskey over Christmas.

 

[Knobhead]

You know what that's going to be my new apprentice joke.

Right young man get that string core sleeved green / yellow and connect it to the earth bar lol.

Knowing you, you would!

 

[Engineer54]

Lol some guys on here need to lighten up. I was flat out on the whiskey over Christmas.

I thought it was on the whole, ''Lighthearted'' couldn't be anything else really could it?? lol!!!!

 

[Knobhead]

Haha, we wish!

If string was a conductor i'd be straight down the local £1 shop buying a massive ball of it and using it as singles haha

Could you run it in conduit? Wouldn't all those electric thingies leak out?

 

[Sintra]

Oh I will it sure beats a long weight and tartan paint etc. I really can't wait to put this one into practice.

 

[Knobhead]

Hang on, tie little bells to the strings. Run it in conduit to a little tassled thing at the end.

 

[Brightspark2]

Could you run it in conduit?

You could...you just have to pull it through with some cable first...

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I will say one thing about the string conductor, I have never had a low IR reading, although R1 can be a bit interesting!:rolleyes2: