Techlube Cable Lubricants For Cable Pulling Power, Fibre Optic & Telecoms Cables

By Chris Dodds on 14th March, 2014

Follow @ThorneanDerrick

Cable lubricants provide 3 key benefits : 

i) cable protection

ii) cable duct protection

iii) reduced cost of cable installation

Socomore fomerly PT Technologies.

Modern technology cable pulling lubricants have evolved to improve the cable installation process for LV-HV power, coaxial, telecoms and fibre-optic cables - originally cable lubrication was provided by clays and talcum powder which was later replaced by wax and soap based products.

Pictured: Techlube Cable Lubricants

Cable Pulling Power, Fibre Optic & Telecoms Cables 

However, these traditional methods of cable lubrication were proven overtime to cause degradation and damage to cable sheath and jacket materials.

Todays cable pulling lubricants, such as Socomore Techlube, are manufactured using bio-degradable, water-based polymers which are compatible with all type of cable jacket including : HDPE, LDPE, EPR Rubber, PE, Hypalon, XLPE and Neoprene.

When selecting the most suitable cable lubricant for a cable pull the contractor should carefully consider ;

• Stability
• Adherence
• Lubricity
• Safety
• Compatibility

Incompatible cable lubricant can cause cable or duct damage. For example, oil and wax-based cable lubricants applied to LDPE (low density polyethylene) cables can cause cable swelling. If the LDPE cable is then pulled in a swelled state around a bend, stress-cracking can occur to the cable jacket. Furthermore, soap and wax-based lubricants will dry to form a hard mass making re-entry or removal of cables into a cable duct or conduit difficult once the lubricant has set.

Techlube cable lubricants contain no harmful chemicals and are safe to handle in line with the manufacturers MSDS sheet. Techlube contains no skin irritants and are also odourless and inflammable.

Techlube demonstrates a very low coefficient of friction - once lubricated the cable provides limited resistance to the inner cable duct wall enabling a more time-efficient cable pull installation. High-cling consistency of Techlube to cable sheath and duct further eases the cable installation. Some cable lubricants induce "viscosity drag" due to the thickness of the lubricant which decelerates the cable pull. Techlube "Cling & String" consistency ensures strong adhesion to the cable duct wall/cable with superior friction reduction. This enables Techlube to lubricate cables even when ducts are flooded with water.

Techlube is a pourable cable lubricant, easily applied with high cling for long haul cable pulls whether power or fibre-optic cables. Techlube cable lubricant is also compatible with graphite coated high voltage rail track feeder cables.

 

An industry rule of thumb to calculate the total quantity of cable lubricant required per cable pull :

length of cable pull in feet x diameter of conduit in inches x 0.002

 

How To Install Techlube Cable Lubricants

1. Apply by hand or manual pouring on cable are effective
2. Apply by pumping or cone feeder systems
3. Can be used for pre-lubrication by sponge pigging or pre-lube bag methods

 

The Techlube Cable Lubricant Range

• Techlube HD - Heavy duty cable pulling lubricant for heavy cables and difficult pulls. Viscosity = 5400 - 7400 cSt
• Techlube Multi - All purpose cable lubricant. Intermediate viscosity between PHD and HD. Viscosity = 4500 - 6500 cSt
• Techlube PHD - Pourable cable lubricant for medium weight and lighter cable installations. Viscosity = 1800 - 3500 cSt
• Techlube M - Specially designed lubricant with microspheres for telecoms cables. Viscosity = 1880 - 3500 cSt
• Techlube FO - Fibre optic and sub-duct installation lubricant with high elasticity for reduced consumption. Viscosity = 1600 - 3000 cSt

 

Video: Techlube Cable Lubricants

Cable Pulling Power, Fibre Optic & Telecoms Cables 

 

• Further reading :

Cable Laying & Pulling - Installing LV-HV Cable In Duct (Part 1 of 2) 

Cable Laying & Pulling - Installing LV-HV Cable In Trench (Part 2 of 2) 

 

Invitation

Thorne & Derrick are inviting you to join LinkedIn’s fastest growing Discussion Group : Low & High Voltage Power, Cabling, Jointing, & Hazardous Area Electricals (LV-HV).

Discussion subjects include cable installations, cable jointing, electrical substation, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.

Network, engage and promote your profile, company or products with over 10,000 influencers.

 

Techlube - HD Techlube (Heavy Duty) Cable Pulling Lubricant

Category:  Cable Laying & Cable Pulling

Go back to blog index