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Cable Cleats | Importance of Short Circuit Testing by Ellis Patents

Published 31 Oct 2023

Cable Cleats | Importance of Short Circuit Testing

Cable Cleats | Importance of Short Circuit Testing

Ellis Patents Short Circuit Testing

Short-Circuit Testing is critical to the performance, reliability and safety of cable cleats and management systems- Ellis Patents, a global leader in the manufacture and innovation of cable cleats ensure that all their cable support products are tested to the latest version of the IEC 61914 International Standard.

Conducting a short-circuit test is a reliable solution to prove that a cable cleat can be capable of withstanding a specific set of fault conditions.

During a Short Circuit Test specifiers, consultants and engineers should also request, as standard, a complete Test Report. The Short Circuit test Report should include before and after photographs, and a table of results demonstrating the Short Circuit Test conclusions.

Live Cables and Health & Safety Improvements

The initial problem encountered by Network Rail was that live cables were having to be removed from cable cleats, work carried on around them, and then somehow placed back between tightly spaced upright studs at regular intervals along an entire cable run. Ellis Patents addressed the issue by designing a brand new cable cleat that could be stacked and fixed with nothing more complicated than a quarter turn fixing lock.

This means additional cable runs can be added quickly and easily, without any need to tamper with existing cable installations. The rapid-fit nature of the Ellis No Bolts cleat is further enhanced by the replacement of fixing nuts with a push-fit locking mechanism that securely fastens the lower and top section of the clamp together. In addition to its PADS approval, the Ellis No Bolts cleat also meets the London Underground 1-085 approved material standard, and conforms with international cable cleat standard IEC 61914.

Cable Cleats & Short Circuit Testing

Cable Cleats & Short Circuit Testing

pURPOSE OF sHORT ciRCUIT tESTING

Ellis Patents conducts Short Circuit Testing as a reliable way of proving that their cable cleats are capable of withstanding any specific set of fault conditions.

Conducting a Short-Circuit Test is the industry trusted procedure to demonstrate a cable cleat is capable of withstanding a specific set of electrical fault conditions.

Ellis Patents insist that any claims of cable cleat strength and performance should be supported by a short-circuit test carried out in an independent and accredited laboratory and appropriately certified.

This methodology is becoming commonplace, but prior to the publication of the international standard IEC 61914 many cable cleats were not tested, and those that were had no standardised testing method by which to gauge success or failure. As a result, test results were open to a wide range of differing interpretations.

IEC 61914 has provided a standardised method for conducting a short-circuit test and a definition of the criteria for a pass. It does though allow for a significant degree of latitude and so caution must be employed when interpreting results. Note should also be taken of the full report as opposed to just its headline page.

In the below video the team from Ellis Patents are showing witnessing testing of their cable cleat products at a independent laboratory in the Netherlands- this ensures the safety and reliability of LV MV & HV power systems.

Cable Cleats

Fix, Clamp & Support Cables

Cable cleats are used to provide effective short circuit protection, support and retention to LV, MV and HV power cable systems. When installed at intervals to circuits cable cleats and hangers are used to secure and retain power cables from 600V to 132kV.

Cable cleats or cable clamps manufactured from nylon, aluminium or stainless steel are installed to retain cables in the event of a short circuit – custom designed and engineered single and trefoil cable cleats are available.

These specific correct cable cleats will withstand forces corresponding to the values of the peak prospective short circuit current.

Specialist application cable cleats are available from stock for high performance cable applications including fire resistant, low smoke zero halogen/LSF, flame retardant and with specific end-user UK DNO utility approvals for medium/high voltage power cable cleating applications such as Triplex cables.

Key Benefits of Short Circuit Testing

  • Provides short circuit protection up to 235kA
  • Custom designed trefoil cable cleats to retain cables in event of a short circuit.
  • Identifies capability of withstanding a specific set of fault conditions.

Further Reading

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Thorne & Derrick

Specialist Distributors to the UK and international Offshore Wind & Renewable industry to provide safe and reliable LV HV Electrical Cable & Power Distribution Systems up to 66kV – we are highly customer responsive and absolutely committed to providing a world-class service. Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

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Contact us for 3M Electrical, ABB, Alroc, AN Wallis, CATU Electrical, Cembre, Centriforce, CMP, CSD, Elastimold, Ellis Patents, Emtelle, Euromold, Filoform , Furse, Lucy Electric & Zodion, Nexans, Pfisterer, Polypipe, Prysmian, Roxtec, Sicame, WT Henley.

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