Masterclass – 132kV ABB Cable Termination

Published 22 Jan 2020

By Chris Barker EHV Jointer

ABB 132kV Cable Terminations

Before we start, let us establish Chris Barker is an international class EHV Jointer conversant with the skills and techniques required for the safe jointing and terminating of cables using ABB, NKT, Tyco, Pfisterer, Prysmian, Ericsson and Nexans.

Whether you are reading this as a recruiter, jointer, friend or follower of Chris you can review his skill set in the following Photo Blog collection.

1, Stress Cone & Connector Taped Up – tinned copper mesh is carefully applied to the stress cone by the Jointer, then 5 layers of self-amalgamating tape are overlayered with two layers of PVC electrical insulation tape.

2. Ready For Insulator To Be Bolted Up – notice the highest level of care and attention is required by the cable jointer while the cable termination installation progresses, at each stage of the process the jointer is delicately padding the cable to remove any dirt, debris or particles that will potentially cause damage to the cable or accessory.

3. 3 x ABB 132kV Cable Terminations Plugged In Without Problems – next stage is to install the copper pipework and fill with insulating oil.

4. Preparation Of Semi- Conductive Screen Cut On 132kV XLPE EHV Cable – also known as “glassing”, this highly dexterous and skillful task is a key step in the EHV cable preparation process. Chris is pictured using microscope slides for cable glassing, although some jointers prefer welding glass mask inserts.

This basic staple of the EHV jointers tool kit is also complemented by the use of latest precision engineered cable jointers tools. In this application, the semi-conductive screen was accurately removed by a Hivotec peeling and stripping tool to 100mm from the actual mark, the remainder was removed with traditional glass.

Hivotec CP90 & CP130 cable jointing tools are used by EHV jointers for peeling the semi-conductive screen and for stripping the main XLPE insulation from high voltage power cables.

5. Old Cables Cut, New Cables Heated & Straightened – ready for cable terminations. ABB 132kV cable terminations with be installed horizontally, plugged in and then filled with electrical insulating oil. Although the existing cables had not suffered a cable fault the client upgraded the circuits to extend the service life of the 132kV power distribution system – cable heaters were used to provide straightening to the HV cables.

6. Taping Up Connector With Semi-Conductive Electrical Tape (3M Scotch 13 Tape) – a screw connector to a torque of 45NM is applied. Once insulator is installed the cable jointer fits a cap on the top which is then plugged in with bolts directly to the top cap. When the 132kV cable termination is completed it is filled with polybutene oil and sealed up prior to final connection to transformer.

7. 132kV Cable Termination Plugged-in & Filled – ready for final connection the 132kV cable termination is installed to the transformer side and insulated with oil. The connection is made via a flexible section of copper braid bolted to the cable termination inside the 132kV transformer.

8. 132kV ABB Cable Termination Completed.

9. Hometime

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