Cembre B-TC950 Cutting Tool
Uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales & Marketing Manager
Thorne & Derrick International are Main UK Stockists and Suppliers of Cembre tools including crimping and cutting types for all constructions of LV MV HV cable including medium/high voltage 11kV/33kV power cables.
The following short article provides useful instructions about how to correctly use the Cembre model B-TC950 cutting tool – prolonged use of the cordless hydraulic cutting tool can cause bluntening of the blades when cutting conductors, wires and cables.
The following excerpts from the Operating Manual of Cembre B-TC950 – however this information applies to the following tool model variants B-TC950A B-TC950E B-TC950T.
Cembre B-TC50 is a battery operated cable cutting tool suitable for diameters up to 95mm outside diameter and features their new Li-Ion 18V 4 Ah batteries providing improved cutting speed and cutting force with double-speed action for jointing and terminating copper or aluminium type cables.
For competitive prices, stock availability and technical advice about the Cembre B-TC950 tool please do not hesitate to contact us.
♦ Warning: Before starting any work, check the battery charge and recharge if necessary.
Follow the instructions in the battery charger user manual.
The tool can be easily carried using either the handle or the shoulder strap attached to rings (12).
To replace the battery, remove it by pressing the release button (10) then insert the new battery, sliding it into the guides until it locks.
Cutter Head Rotation
For ease of operation the tool head can rotate through 335° allowing the operator to work in the most comfortable position.
♦ Warning: Do not attempt to rotate the cutting head when the hydraulic circuit is pressurised.
Setting
Figure 3 & 3a Insert the conductor between the blades up to the cutting point
Insert the conductor between the blades, up to the desired cutting point (Fig. 3). For a running conductor, press the locking lever (1) and open the tool head (Fig 3a).
Fully retract the lower blade (3) before attempting to open the tool head. With the conductor on the lower blade (3), close the tool head and fully secure the lever (1).
♦ Warning: Before commencing the cutting operation ensure that the lever (1) is fully secured: partial closure may damage the tool head.
Cutting Blade Advancement
Press the operating button (5) (Ref. to Fig. 3) to activate the motor-pump. The ram will gradually move forward until the lower blade (3) touches the conductor.
To halt the advancement release the button (5) and the motor will cut out.
♦ Warning: Make sure the blade is exactly positioned on the desired cutting point otherwise re-open the blade following instructions and reposition it.
Cable Cutting
Firmly hold the tool and operate the button (5) to gradually move the lower blade (4) to cut through the conductor.
When the cut is performed release the button (5) to ensure the maximum pressure relief valve isn’t activated.
LED Worklights
Whilst the tool is in operation, the work area is illuminated by two high luminosity LED Worklights that switch off automatically at the end of the cycle.
Blade Retraction
By operating the pressure release button (6) the ram will retract and open the lower blade.
Battery Status
Figure 4 Battery Level Indicator
The battery is equipped with LED indicators that indicate the remaining battery life at any time by pressing the adjacent button (9):
Worklights (11) illuminated combined with an alarm audible when the operating button (5) is pressed (Fig.4) is an indication that the battery voltage has dropped below a minimum safety threshold
Under these conditions the tool will not start and the battery should be replaced or recharged (80 minutes to fully recharge battery).
After each working cycle and the extraction of the battery from the tool, an integrated battery cut-off device will operate after approximately 70 s.
The LED nearest to button (9) will then flash 5 times each 14 s approx. The battery will be reactivated when it is reintroduced into the tool and the operating button is pressed.
Using The Battery Charger
Carefully follow the instructions in the battery charger user manual.
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by Chris Dodds T&D - estimated reading time 5 minutes
Product Category: Cable Cutting Tools
Featured Manufacturer: Cembre
Cable Cutting Tool Model: Cembre B-TC950 Cordless Hydraulic Cutting Tool
Contributed By: Watkins and Jacomb Construction Power & Consultancy
WJCPC are specialist LV HV Cable Jointing contractors with over 20 years experience in the electrical industry covering the utilities, renewable energy, rail, data centre and general industry sectors – with UKPN competency for LV HV Jointing, Confined Spaces, Substation Entry and Fault Finding.
The video below shows WJCPC cutting a section of BS6622 11kV 3 core medium voltage power cable using the battery operated Cembre B-TC950 tool prior to terminating into the MV cable box using heat shrink terminations.
The Cembre B-TC950 battery operated cable cutting tool has a capacity to cut up to 95mm outside diameter power cables including 11kV and 33kV. The Cembre tool features a dual speed cutting action – the two speed operation and automatic switching from a rapid advancing speed of the ram to a slower, more powerful speed for cutting copper and aluminium conductors.
Not suitable for cutting steel wire armour (SWA) or live/energised cables.
Cembre B-TC950 has a cutting power of 880 bar (12,700 psi).
The user or jointer should press the operating button (5) to activate the motor-pump – the ram will gradually move forward until the lower cable cutting blade (3) touches the cable conductor. To halt the advancement of the tool blade, release the button (5) and the motor will cut out. Ensure the cutting blade is exactly positioned on the desired cutting point of the cable – if not re-open the blade following instructions and reposition it.
Firmly hold the Cembre tool and operate the button (5) to gradually move the lower cutting blade (4) to cut through the conductor. When the conductor cut is clean and complete, release the button (5), otherwise the maximum pressure relief valve has activated.
By operating the pressure release button (6), the ram will retract and open the lower cutter blade of the tool.
Cembre B-TC950 Cable Cutting Tools – Distributed by T&D
Dimensions 518 x 468 x 83 (20.4 x 18.4 x 3.3).
T&D distribute a complete range of cable cutters including ratchet, hydraulic and battery operated for precise and clean cutting of power, control and instrumentation cables with steel wire armour or braid and lead covered sheathings – ratchet cable cutters are recommended for cropping cable conductors of LV-HV cables where working space and access is confined in high voltage cable end termination boxes.
Failure to effectively and precisely prepare MV-HV cables by the jointer is a common cause of 11kV cable failure – images 1+2 below are clear examples of jointers workmanship deficiencies on a recent project which WJCPC were contracted to correct and complete following the condemning of the 11kV cable installation by the main contractor.
The 11kV 3 core XLPE medium voltage power cables show a reckless finish to the easy peel semiconductor screen with a toxic mixture of jagged edges, scoring marks and deep ringing – this could have been caused by the jointers using fully bonded screen removal tools with incorrect depth setting rather than the correct semicon stripping tool. The use of the correct cable jointing tools for each stage of cable preparation is critical to ensure safe and reliable installation and service of MV joints and terminations.
Compare images 1+2 with the perfect uniformity of MV cable preparation in image 3 achieved by WJCPC.
Critical to the long term stability and field performance of 11kV cable terminations and joints is perfect preparation of cable – care should be taken to ensure appointed MV HV Cable Jointing contractors are suitably trained and equipped with the required jointing, cutting and crimping tooling to perform medium/high voltage cable installations.
THORNE & DERRICK are national distributors of LV, MV & HV Arc Flash Clothing, Cable Installation, Jointing, Substation Duct Seals & Electrical Equipment – we service UK and global businesses involved in cable installations, cable jointing, earthing substations, overhead line and electrical construction at LV, 11kV, 33kV and EHV.
Since 1985, T&D have established an international reputation based on SERVICE | INTEGRITY | TRUST.
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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