It is impossible to think of any industrial or commercial setup to do without electricity for its operations. It makes the proper selection and maintenance of cable and wires a matter of top priority. The wrong choice can lead to not only inefficiency but also fire and short-circuit hazards. Some essential maintenance tips for extending the operational life of electrical cables and wires:
Pre-Installation Preventive Measures
It is a no-brainer that it is invariably far better to ensure that problems don’t crop up than fight an emergency caused by a cable failure. Before installing cables, you must check that there are no scratches on the insulation that can hurt its longevity.
Also, you should take care not to bend the cable beyond its recommended radius and ensure that it is free from any stress or tension. Taking care to ensure that the cable is not twisted or kinked during installation is a must. You must also ensure it does not come into contact with anything likely to damage it. According to CNN, laying cables underground can protect them better from the elements, but maintenance can be costlier.
Select the Cable Appropriate to the Use
Cables and wires come in a large variety, and you need to understand the requirement as well as the capabilities of different kinds of cables. You must choose the cable or wire that is appropriate for the use you have in mind according to factors like compliance with safety regulations, mechanical strength, rated capacity, ambient temperature, drop in the voltage, and more. It is also vital to educate and train the maintenance staff on the identification of potential failure and the correct techniques of maintenance.
Prevent Damage during Installation
It is important to keep a very close watch on the installation of the cable because it is common for mistakes to be made, resulting in it getting damaged. The cable should be laid as straight as possible without any kind of twisting or kinking. If the cable has to bend, ensure that it is within the recommended bend radius.
Take care not to let any installation implement or tool puncture, crush, or impact the insulation or wire jacket. Keep the wires away from heated surfaces or open flames. Visit the new Digi-Bridge to get more information about fault location test instruments.
Ensure Timely Repairs
Carry out periodic inspections of the cable to prevent premature cable failure. If you spot a problem, do not ignore it but take steps to repair it at the earliest. It is imperative to remove damaged wires before they fail and cause a problem. Chalk out a replacement schedule for cables and ensure they are replaced even if they seem to be in a good condition.
Conclusion
Among the most important aspects of maintenance of cables and wires is proper record keeping. By keeping accurate records of the installation and maintenance, you will have a better idea of the failure rate of cables in different installations so that the repair and replacement can be undertaken before a failure. Also, by keeping track of the location of the areas where breakdowns occur frequently you can reduce the failure rate.
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