Factors affecting the reliability of low voltage aerial bundle cable systems

Low voltage aerial bundle cable (ABC) has been used for electrical reticulation in Australia since the mid 1980s. The advantages to be obtained from using this type of cable were primary environmental in that trees adjacent to the cable did not have to be lopped excessively, and the risk of bush fires was reduced as the insulated cable system was seen as being less likely to cause arcing than traditional open wire systems. Whilst ABC systems had been used overseas the authors were not convinced that the systems used in Australia would give acceptable long-term performance. Areas that seemed to require further investigation were: the long-term behaviour of the XLPE insulation under the wide range of system and environmental conditions encountered in Australia, and the long term behaviour of the insulated connectors used to interconnect main and branch cables. This paper describes results from a research project undertaken to examine limits of performance for ABC systems, and to identify areas of possible weakness. The authors discuss mechanical strength, protection requirements, and water penetration