Can 3M Cold Shrink Joints be Encapsulated in Resin?

By Chris Dodds on 27th July, 2012

Follow @ThorneanDerrick

An expert details resin encapsulation for 3M Cold Shrink Joints.

3M Cold Shrink High Voltage Terminations & Joints 11kV-33kV

What's Hot & What's Not.......
Cold shrink and heat shrink HV cable terminations and cable joints require different installation techniques - heat shrink terminations and cable joints require the skill sensitive use of multiple tools including gas torches, igniters and spare LPG gas cylinders. Heat shrink kits have varying insulation wall thicknesses depending on cable jointer skills - uneven heat shrinking caused by limited working access in cable boxes or cable joint holes produces inconsistent installations. Overheating with heat shrink flames can cause scorch damage to high voltage cables. 3M Cold Shrink cable terminations and cable joints install with reliable consistency reducing human error scope whilst working on high voltage cables - simply position 3M Cold Shrink over the cable and unwind.

Cold Shrink Facts - Cold shrink tubing, like heat shrink tubing, is used to achieve a tight fit around cables and connectors as part of cable splices, cable joints and cable terminations and for bundling cables together for strain relief or protection against the environment. Cold shrink tubing is easier to install than heat shrink tubing, without requiring any special tools or training. Essentially, a cold shrink tube is an open ended rubber sleeve, made primarily from rubber elastomers with high-performance physical properties, that has been factory expanded, or pre-stretched, and assembled onto a supporting removable plastic core. Cold shrink tubing shrinks upon removal of that supporting core during the installation process. The electrician slides the tube over the cable to be terminated or jointed and unwinds the core, causing the cold shrink tube to collapse down, or contract, in place. Once they are installed, cold shrink tubes create a dynamic, compressive environmental seal and electrical interface without sealants and adhesives. The tubes are always "attempting" to return to original size (smaller than the conductor it is on). The constant inward pressure means the cable can be flexed and the seal will not be broken. Silicone cold shrink assemblies are inherently UV resistant and with an additive, EPDM becomes UV resistant. Both are water resistant and good performers in a broad range of temperatures. Cold shrink technology is well suited to outdoor applications as well as to medium- and high voltage cable splices, cable joints and cable terminations. Generally, cold shrink tubing is more flexible and pliable than heat shrink tubing. Those qualities allow the cold shrink products to move with the cable as it goes through thermal expansions and contractions - T&D UK carry extensive stocks of 3M Cold Shrink Cable Joints and Cable Terminations for LV and HV cables.

Why Play With Fire? Keep Your Cool with 3M Cold Shrink......

Heat shrink cable joints, terminations and cable accessories require naked flames. But hot-working poses serious dangers with respect to ignition sources in industrial and hazardous areas - air, naked flames and the presence of atmospheric combustible substances trigger the Ignition Triangle. Install 3M Cold Shrink for a first class safety and service record without any hidden dangers. 3M Cold Shrink products include cable joint kits, cable termination kits, cable abandonment kits and cold shrink tubing. Perfect for offshore oil, gas, petrochemical, rail, utility and construction projects at low and high voltages.
 

Thorne & Derrick UK (tel 0191 4901547) are national distributors and worldwide exporters of LV-HV Cable Installation, Cable Jointing & Electrical Equipment - we service UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, substation and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV. T&D service utilities, power, construction, rail, mining, offshore, oil, gas, petrochemical and hazardous area industries.
For more products please visit www.cablejoints.co.uk
 

Category:  HV Cable Jointing & Terminating

Go back to blog index