Cold Shrink Cable Joints

Cold Shrink Cable Joints – 3M LC

Cold-Shrink

Cold Shrink Joints for Single & 3 Core Low Voltage Polymeric Cables Up To 3.3kV

3M Cold Shrink Cable Joints form part of the LC Series of low voltage cable joints that are suitable for jointing polymeric (XLPE EPR) 600/1000V cable and unscreened 3 Core XLPE 1.9kV/3.3kV power cables with SWA (steel wire armour) to BS5467.

Cold Shrink joints are compatible with copper or aluminium phase conductors including cross sectional area of 1.5-300sqmm (multi-core) and 50-1000sqmm (single-core) – with or without lead sheath/jacket.

Also suitable to joint marine and offshore EPR insulated cable according to BS6883 with galvanised wire braid to provide power to emergency lighting units, shut down control systems, gas detectors, alarm systems, fire pump systems, social areas, control rooms, computer suites and accommodation modules.

Cold Shrink Joints | Manufactured by 3M Electrical are used to be connect two cables together when the insulation material is polymeric type – straight joints are suitable for the repair, extension or connection of XLPE EPR cables with single wire armour, braid or unarmoured type cables up to 3.3kV.

Specified due to the flexibility and workability of the compact, smooth profile cable joint for use in limited working and confined space locations in manholes.

Stranded copper conductors can be effectively terminated using either Cembre crimp connectors and associated crimping tools or shearbolt cable connectors.

Low voltage cable joints utilise 3M tool free cold shrink technology without requirement for heat, Jointers gas torches or additional adhesives. Specialist application resin cable joints are also available for zero halogen, fire resistant, hydrocarbon resistant and hazardous area locations according to the ATEX Directive (Zone 1 & Zone 2 Potentially Explosive Atmospheres).

Flameless is Blameless | Safe & Shorter Installation Times

Heat shrink cable accessories, including joints and terminations, require a naked flame to heat and shrink the tubings and melt the glue and mastics present on the coating of the inner wall of the heat shrink – Cold Shrink joints and cable accessories are the safe solution where hot work is forbidden or permits are difficult to obtain. An EPDM rubber body manufactured by 3M Electrical with integrated components is moulded and the pre-expanded onto a spiral or tube, ready to hand installed without use of specialist tools, heat or flames.

3M LC series of cable joints are designed for use with selected multipair instrumentation cables and flexible or trailing cables.

3M cold shrink range is an effective alternative to traditional resin based or heat shrink methods and can be used in indoor, outdoor, overhead, or use in cable trays. Additional mechanical protection may be required for direct burial of the cable joint.

The cold shrink outer protection tube provides a reliable environmental seal and is resistant to acid, alkalis, ozone and UV light.

3M Cold Shrink Cable Joints – Features

Simple installation – no special tools required
No Jointer gas torches or heat required
Safe installation – alternative to conventional resin jointing method
Cold shrink accommodates a wide range of cable sizes
Waterproof seal
Rated up to and including 1.9/3.3kV
Also Cold Shrink Cable Terminations LV Up To 3.3kV

➡ Blog: ATEX & Cold Shrink | Certification & Working In Zone 1 / Zone 2 Hazardous Areas

3M Cold Shrink Cable Joints – Kit Contents

3M LC cold shrink inline cable joints contain the following:

Cold shrink pre stretched outer tube
Self amalgamating insulation tape – 3M Scotch 23
Armour/earth connection components for wire armoured/wire braided cables
Full Jointers installation instructions

Technical Specification – Multicore Cables

Following table enables selection of Cold Shrink joints for power cables:

3M Cold Shrink Cable Joint Part Number	Cross Sectional Area (mm²)					Cable Diameter Range (mm)	Cable Armour Range (mm)
3M Cold Shrink Cable Joint Part Number	Single Core 1kV	Two Core 1kV	Three Core 1kV	Four Core 1kV	Three Core 3.3kV	Cable Diameter Range (mm)	Cable Armour Range (mm)
3M LC1	N/A	1.5 – 4	1.5 – 4	1.5 – 2.5	N/A	16.1 – 33.1	9 – 15
3M LC2	50 – 95	6 – 10	6 – 10	4 – 6	N/A	16.1 – 33.1	14 – 22
3M LC3	120 – 150	16 – 50	16 – 25	10 – 16	N/A	16.1 – 33.1	18.5 – 29
3M LC4	185 – 400	70 – 120	35 – 70	25 – 50	16 – 50	24.9 – 56.4	23.5 – 37
3M LC5	500 – 630	150 -185	95 – 150	70 – 120	70 – 150	37.8 – 84.3	31 – 50
3M LC6	800 – 1000	240 – 300	185 – 240	150 -185	185 – 240	37.8 – 84.3	44 – 70
3M LC7	N/A	N/A	300	240 – 300	300	62.5 – 128.5	44 – 70

Note: For cables with more than 4 cores, please use the cable diameter and armour diameter to select, taking into account the space needed to install the chosen connectors.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION – Multipair cables

Following table enables selection of Cold Shrink joints for instrumentation cables:

3M Cold Shrink Cable Joint Part Number	Cable Size	Cable Diameter Range (mm)	Cable Armour Range (mm)
LC1	2 Pair 1.5mm²	16.1 – 33.1	9 – 15
LC2	4 Pair 1.5mm²	16.1 – 33.1	14 – 22
LC3	7 Pair 2.5mm²	16.1 – 33.1	18.5 – 29
LC5	24 Pair 1.5mm²	37.8 – 84.3	31 – 50

Note: For other Multipair combinations, please contact us for help with selection.

3M LC cold shrink tubes and insulation tapes have a 5 year shelf life from the date of manufacture when stored between 10-27ºC at <75% relative humidity.

3M Cold Shrink cable jointing kits offer faster, safer and simpler installations without the dangers and hassles of “hot-working” – no naked flames, no gas torches, no ignition tooling, no “hot-work” permit applications.

➡ Should you require customer service or technical support on the selection or specification of LV MV HV Cable Accessories please contact us – view the full range of 3M Cold Shrink Cable Joints below.

♦ For LV Low Voltage Cables | Cold Shrink Cable Terminations MV | Cold Shrink Cable Abandonment | Cold Shrink Tubes