Connections made between conductors, in joining two ends together or in making a tap off the other, should be electrically and mechanically sound. They not only should introduce no additional resistance (and associated heating) at the points of contact, but they should also not be subject to corrosion or conductor stresses or movements.
In earlier times, such connections usually consisted of wires wrapped together and soldered. Later, twisted sleeves were employed in which the two ends of the conductor were inserted in a sleeve and the whole assembly twisted.
Stranded conductors had each strand serviced separately before soldering. Many of these connections still exist.
The later development of “solderless” or mechanical connectors made obsolete the wrapped and soldered splices. Parallel-groove clamps, split-bolt connectors, and crimped sleeves made splicing more simple and more uniform, with substantial reduction in labor costs.
Some of these are shown in Figure 9-1.
For rapid installation, usually during periods of emergency, the “automatic” splice, employing wedges which, under pressure of the sagging wire, grip the ends of the conductors to be spliced, was also developed; this is relatively more expensive.
When necessary, friction tape, or insulating tape covered with friction tape, is employed to continue the covering or insulation. In present day applications, the splices are often left bare.
In many instances, where it is desirable to disconnect the connection readily, special clamps, sometimes known as “live-line” or “hotline” clamps, are used; these are shown in Figure 9-2.
The advent of aluminum conductors into a field in which the conductors previously were exclusively copper presents problems where conductors of dissimilar metals need to be connected together.
Special care is exercised, since the connection may be affected by chemical interaction between the two metals, especially when wet and in the presence of some pollutants; but even more, because of the different rates of expansion when heated.
The uneven expansion and contraction will eventually cause such splices to become loose, and their resistance to increase with consequent abnormal heating, with possible dire results.
Connectors for copper-to-copper conductors are usually made of copper, though bronze is sometimes used for greater strength. Where aluminum or ACSR conductors are to be connected to similar conductors, connectors of aluminum are used.
Where the conductors to be connected are of dissimilar metals, connectors are so designed that only surfaces of similar metals come in contact with each other; aluminum clamps with copper bushings, or vice versa, are employed for this purpose. Care is taken to prevent water dripping from copper items, which may contain copper salts, from coming into contact with aluminum items.
While this discussion applies equally to overhead and underground installations, it must be noted that splices on underground cables, especially where lead-sheath cables are involved, are very much more complex. The connector must be smooth so that no corona discharge will pit the metals.
The insulation covering the connector is carried over from one cable to the other by means of insulating tapes wound about the connector.
The lead sheath is sweated or soldered to the cable sheaths and is usually larger in diameter. The splice may be filled with an insulating compound, which is heated and poured into the splice, where it hardens on cooling.
The new plastic-insulated cables are spliced with a connector between the two conductors and plastic tape of the same material as the insulation wrapped about the assembly; the tape tends to become homogeneous with time.
In earlier times, such connections usually consisted of wires wrapped together and soldered. Later, twisted sleeves were employed in which the two ends of the conductor were inserted in a sleeve and the whole assembly twisted.
Stranded conductors had each strand serviced separately before soldering. Many of these connections still exist.
The later development of “solderless” or mechanical connectors made obsolete the wrapped and soldered splices. Parallel-groove clamps, split-bolt connectors, and crimped sleeves made splicing more simple and more uniform, with substantial reduction in labor costs.
Some of these are shown in Figure 9-1.
For rapid installation, usually during periods of emergency, the “automatic” splice, employing wedges which, under pressure of the sagging wire, grip the ends of the conductors to be spliced, was also developed; this is relatively more expensive.
When necessary, friction tape, or insulating tape covered with friction tape, is employed to continue the covering or insulation. In present day applications, the splices are often left bare.
In many instances, where it is desirable to disconnect the connection readily, special clamps, sometimes known as “live-line” or “hotline” clamps, are used; these are shown in Figure 9-2.
The advent of aluminum conductors into a field in which the conductors previously were exclusively copper presents problems where conductors of dissimilar metals need to be connected together.
Special care is exercised, since the connection may be affected by chemical interaction between the two metals, especially when wet and in the presence of some pollutants; but even more, because of the different rates of expansion when heated.
The uneven expansion and contraction will eventually cause such splices to become loose, and their resistance to increase with consequent abnormal heating, with possible dire results.
Connectors for copper-to-copper conductors are usually made of copper, though bronze is sometimes used for greater strength. Where aluminum or ACSR conductors are to be connected to similar conductors, connectors of aluminum are used.
Where the conductors to be connected are of dissimilar metals, connectors are so designed that only surfaces of similar metals come in contact with each other; aluminum clamps with copper bushings, or vice versa, are employed for this purpose. Care is taken to prevent water dripping from copper items, which may contain copper salts, from coming into contact with aluminum items.
While this discussion applies equally to overhead and underground installations, it must be noted that splices on underground cables, especially where lead-sheath cables are involved, are very much more complex. The connector must be smooth so that no corona discharge will pit the metals.
The insulation covering the connector is carried over from one cable to the other by means of insulating tapes wound about the connector.
The lead sheath is sweated or soldered to the cable sheaths and is usually larger in diameter. The splice may be filled with an insulating compound, which is heated and poured into the splice, where it hardens on cooling.
The new plastic-insulated cables are spliced with a connector between the two conductors and plastic tape of the same material as the insulation wrapped about the assembly; the tape tends to become homogeneous with time.
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