Insulating properties limiting performance of low voltage aerial bundled cable reticulation systems

In this paper the authors examine the main limiting stresses on the LV ABC (aerial bundle cable) system and identify desirable characteristics of the polymeric materials. It has been established that properties of polymeric parts of low voltage ABC play an important part in the performance of the system. Problems identified in the performance of materials are: (i) limitation of mechanical strength of ABC lines due to poor adhesion of XLPE to the aluminium conductor; (ii) loss of good electrical contact between connectors and cable strands due to relaxation of insulation piercing connector (IPC) bodies; and (iii) moisture ingress to the cable conductors at the point where the IPC teeth puncture the insulation due to inadequate moisture sealing. The above problems have lead to the identification of some of the necessary characteristics of the polymeric materials to be used in ABC systems