During the production and use of cables, cables may encounter various forms of damage, such as mechanical damage, thermal damage, chemical corrosion or natural aging. Correct repair measures can extend the service life of the cable and ensure the normal operation of the system. The following are repair measures for cable damage in different situations:
1. Minor damage
Inspection and cleaning: First confirm the degree of damage and clean up dust, oil stains and other impurities around the damaged area.
Insulation repair: For small-scale damage limited to the insulation layer, you can use insulation tape or heat shrink tubing for repair. Make sure that the insulation material is tightly combined with the cable surface to prevent air or moisture from penetrating.
Marking: Mark the location of the repair for identification during future inspection or maintenance.
2. Moderate damage
Cutting and jointing: If the damage affects the conductor layer of the cable, it may be necessary to cut the cable at appropriate locations on both sides of the damage, and then use a dedicated cable joint for connection. The joint should have good sealing and insulation properties.
Joint box: For larger-scale damage, you can consider using a joint box. Introduce both ends of the cable into the joint box, complete the connection according to the instructions in the joint box, and finally close the joint box.
3. Severe damage
Replace the cable: When the cable is seriously damaged, such as the conductor is broken, the insulation layer is seriously damaged, etc., the repair often cannot guarantee the original performance and safety of the cable. At this time, the best solution is to replace the entire cable.
Professional maintenance: For cables used in some special occasions, such as high-voltage cables and submarine cables, professional technicians should evaluate and perform repair or replacement operations.
4. Precautions
Regular inspection: Regularly inspect the cables to detect potential problems and deal with them in time.
Install protective devices: Install protective sleeves or other protective devices in places that are prone to physical damage to prevent the cables from being damaged by external factors.
Reasonable wiring: Follow the correct wiring principles when laying the cables to avoid unnecessary pressure or bending of the cables.
Precautions
Before performing any repair operations, make sure that the cable has been disconnected from the power supply and take necessary safety precautions.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as insulating gloves, goggles, etc.
After the repair is completed, the cable should be tested for electrical performance to ensure its safety and reliability.
Cable repair work needs to be treated with caution, especially for high-voltage cables or cables used in special environments. They should be operated in strict accordance with relevant standards and regulations. If necessary, please seek help from professionals.
Of course, continue to explore the repair measures and precautions for cable damage in depth:
5. Cable joint production
For cables that need to be reconnected, it is very important to make cable joints correctly:
Stripping length: According to the requirements of the cable joint, accurately strip a certain length of insulation to expose the conductor.
Cleaning conductors: Use special tools or cleaners to clean the exposed conductors to ensure that there is no oxide layer or other impurities.
Connecting conductors: Use appropriate crimping tools and terminal blocks to firmly connect the conductors together. Ensure the quality of crimping to prevent poor contact or looseness.
Insulation recovery: After completing the conductor connection, use insulating materials (such as insulating tape, heat shrink tubing) to restore the insulation performance of the cable to ensure that there is no exposed part.
6. Testing and verification
The repaired cable needs to undergo rigorous testing to ensure that its electrical performance meets the standards:
Resistance measurement: Use a multimeter or megohmmeter to measure the resistance value of the cable to confirm that there is no short circuit between the conductors.
Insulation resistance test: Perform insulation resistance test to check whether the insulation layer is intact after repair.
Withstand voltage test: For high-voltage cables, withstand voltage test is also required to simulate the electrical performance under normal working voltage conditions.
7. Repair in special environments
For cables used in special environments, such as underground, underwater or high-temperature places, specific conditions need to be considered when repairing:
Underground cables: When repairing underground cables, not only waterproof performance should be considered, but also ensure that the repair material will not be degraded by chemicals in the soil.
Underwater cables: Underwater cable repairs usually require the use of waterproof connectors, and the repaired parts must be able to withstand water pressure to prevent moisture intrusion.
High temperature environment: For cables working under high temperature conditions, the repair materials must have high temperature resistance to prevent secondary damage caused by excessive temperature.
8. Maintenance and care
In addition to repairing damage, daily maintenance and care are equally important:
Environmental monitoring: Regularly check the cable laying environment to ensure that there are no factors that may cause cable damage.
Record management: Establish cable maintenance records to record the time, location, content and results of each inspection to facilitate tracking of cable status.
Training and education: Regular training is provided to cable operators to improve their awareness of cable management and maintenance.
Cable damage repair is a highly technical job that requires not only professional knowledge and skills, but also compliance with relevant safety regulations. Correct repair can effectively extend the service life of the cable and ensure the stable operation of the power system. For complex or special cable damage situations, you can email TST CABLES professional cable technology engineers (Email:alixich@tstcables.com) to ensure the quality and safety of the repair.