Transmission Cable Preparation Tools
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Transmission cables for power and data services require adequate preparation to ensure safe and effective use. To set up data and power transmission cables, there are a variety of tools used at each stage. For electric utility installations, tools used to prepare transmission cables include strippers, shaving tools, shield removers, clamps and penciling tools. These are used to prepare transmission cables used for electrical as well as data utilities before and during installation. - Cable strippers are used to remove the outer covering of transmission cables. Cable strippers include adjustable cable stripper, transmission cable end stripper as well as adjustable end stripper combining a jacket stripper and a semi-con shaver. They comprise of a replaceable blade that is used to remove insulation material on transmission cables. While an adjustable cable stripper operates by a self-feeding mechanism to remove end insulation material on power cables, a cable end stripper is usually used for solid dielectric transmission cables. End strippers are useful on high density dielectric transmission cables. Choice of a transmission cable stripper is usually determined by the size of conductor used and the thickness of insulation material being stripped.
- Shaving tools used to prepare transmission cables include semi-con shavers. Semi-con shaving tools are used to shave bonded semi-con from transmission voltage cables. Transmission semi-con shaving tools produce a spiral or helical pattern on a radius or taper of semi-con shield. Shavers are used to smooth transmission voltage cables.
- Shield removers are used in preparing dielectric transmission cables by removing protective shields. They include cable semi-con shield removers and adjustable cable semi-con shield removers. Unlike fixed shield removers, adjustable cable shield removers have a flexible clamp which locks over a transmission cable with a set of removable jaws in removing insulation. Shield removal in transmission cables may also be undertaken using motorized tools such as a semi-con URD shield remover.
- Cable cutters used in preparing transmission cables include ratchet cable cutters, ACSR cable cutter and combined ACSR ratchet cable cutter. Cable cutters are useful in preparing aluminum and copper transmission cables used for power installations. Other utility cutters used in preparing transmission cables include lineman's pliers, diagonal cutter and long nose pliers.
- Clamps are used to hold transmission cables firmly during preparation practices such as stripping. Transmission cable clamps comprise of adjustable jaws for holding either sides of cable ends firmly. Transmission cable clamps utilized for dielectric transmission are usually made from cast aluminum.
