Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant – TechLube FO Lubricant For Fibre Optic Cable Pulling

Techlube FO Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant

Techlube FO

Cable Lubricant

LV MV HV Power Cable Pulling Lubricant

Techlube FO cable lubricant manufactured by Socomore is a water-based underground cable installation lubricant for fibre optic cable pulling operations and is designed to meet the special requirements of pulling inner duct (sub duct), communications, and fibre optic cables.

Techlube FO is very effective for long distance, difficult fibre optic cable pulling situations. Its string & cling consistency adheres perfectly to cables in wet weather and has a resistance to wash off in water filled ducts. Techlube FO is a non-flammable, non-toxic and substantially biodegradable cable lubricant with high elasticity for reduced consumption.

Thorne & Derrick offer a full range of cable lubricants and cable pulling and laying equipment.

➡ Blog Cable Laying & Pulling – Installing LV-HV Cables Into Duct

Techlube FO – Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant

Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant

Features & Benefits

Easy to apply water-based, high performance cable lubricant
Superior friction reduction and strong adhesion to cable/duct wall
Regular pulling tension reduces risk of cable damage during the cable pull
Dries slowly to form a thin friction reducing film which retains its slip
Allows additional cable installs or removals in same duct at a later date
Continues to lubricate the cable jacket even in flooded ducts
Temperature stability
Compatibility tested with materials used in cable jackets, cable joints and accessories
Does not contain salt, detergent or grease which can degrade cable jackets
No threat to the environment
Nexans approval – recommended after compatibility testing with cable jacket material
Bellcore approval – requirements for cable pulling lubricants/technical audit report AU_NWT-000077
Specific gravity – 1.0
PH Neutral
Viscosity – ISO 2555 (at 25ºC) 2000 – 35000 cPs

Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant – Applications

Techlube FO is a high performance, pourable liquid, water polymer lubricant to meet the special requirements of pulling communication and fibre optic cables.

Underground fibre optic cable placements
Copper and lightweight telecommunication cable installations
Sub-duct installations
Duct pre-lubrication

How to use Fibre Optic Cable Pulling Lubricant

Due to the light weight of fibre optic cables and inner-ducts, it is desirable to have as thick and even coating of lubricant on the surface as long as possible. Uneven lubricant coatings with little surface thickness can lead to a dramatic increase of pulling tension over the long run.

To obtain maximum friction reduction during a communications cable pull, lubricant should be present at all cable/conduit points of interface. To achieve maximum friction reduction between cable and conduit interface, lubricant should be spread evenly throughout the conduit system.

The amount of lubricant required for most inner-duct or fibre optic cable pulls is small (pulling 6.35 mm fibre optic cable into 25.4 mm polyethylene inner-duct for a distance of 305 metres requires only 5.68 litres of Techlube FO (see formula outlined below).

Because it is a pourable liquid with a low viscosity, Techlube FO can easily be moved through the long conduit runs associated with inner-duct fibre optic pulls by pushing, spreading or blowing.

Any attempt to quantify exactly the amount of lubricant that is needed on any individual installation will fall short of being accurate. In general, experience has revealed that some valid assumptions can be made. Formulas are presented below that have been found to be acceptable for most installations.

However, there are field conditions which may require more lubricant than the formulas provide. Knowledge of specific local conditions and experience has proven to be the best judge in these cases.

1. For plastic conduit (PVC, ABS, Polyethylene) use the following:

Q = 0.0080 x L x D

2. For multiple concrete, clay tile, fibre cement, fibre filled and wood conduit use the following:

Q = 0.0120 x L x D

Where Q = Amount of Techlube FO needed in litres

Where L = The total length of pull in metres

Where D = The inside diameter of the individual conduit in centimetres

➡ Power Fibre Telecom | 11kV 33kV | MV HV Medium High Voltage | 66kV 132kV EHV Cable Lubricants

Cable Pulling Equipment Suppliers

Thorne & Derrick International distribute the most extensive range of Cable Pulling & Cable Laying Equipment to enable the installation of low, medium and high voltage power cables into underground trench or duct – products also supplied for fibre optic blowing, subsea trenching, offshore umbilical installations and pulling armoured cables onto cable tray.

Our complete range of LV MV HV Cable Pulling & Blowing Lubricants for Power & Telecom Cables includes water-based low (LV), medium (MV) and high (HV) lubricant and electrical equipment and power cable cleaning solvents and wipes for the removal of grease and dirt from switchgear and substation.

Techlube HD | the cable lubricant can be applied manually by hand or electrically pumped directly and evenly onto the cable, the cling and stringy consistency assists the transfer of the Techlube HD into the cable duct. The water-based underground cable lubricant with high viscosity is used for installing heavy power and complex cable routes and pulls (LV HV). Techlube HD has a process temperature of -5 to 60° Celsius and can be applied by brushing, pimping or manual pour.

T&D distribute the complete range of LV-HV Cable Pulling and Laying Equipment including cable rollers, cable socks, cable jacks, cable drum trailers, cable lubricant, underground cable protection and conduit duct rod.

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