As compared to house wires such as Polycab that are used for household or commercial purposes, industrial cables and wires are different, in that these carry heavy loads and have thicker conductors. Industrial cables cost more and require more maintenance to avoid replacement or collateral damage. Made of aluminium, industrial electrical cables can be armoured or unarmoured single core or multi-core, and single insulated or double insulated.
In order to protect these electrical wires against damage such as that from fire, you must take some preventive steps.
Here are the best industrial cable and wire maintenance tips that help increase their performance to their full potential:
- Take preventive measures before installation
The first step should be to take safe measures such as protecting cable covering from losing its durability by preventing any kind of crushing. Don’t bend the cable more than the recommended radius of bend. Avoid tension and twisting when installing the cable.
- Carefully select the wire
Choosing the right cable is important, which is why you must consult an expert before making a purchase. Cables used in industries come with unique requirements. So you must learn about different types of wire and select the one that meets the size in your industry.
- Look for any potential damage
Cables for industrial use must be protected from any kind of damage. Therefore, make sure the cables do not catch fire or touch any element that may cause its failure. In case it still gets damaged, you can look for the visible harms, remove and replace the damaged cables with spare ones.
- Adjust the cable wherever necessary
Make sure that one end of the cable is not constantly being exposed to rough environments. Reverse the cable ends, if required. Check for any voltage drop, which can impact operating machines.
- Examine the cable from time to time
It is essential to check from time to time if a cable is damaged or broken. Using an infrared thermometer at fixed intervals, you can assess whether an overhead cable is heating up beyond atmospheric temperature. In case it is heating up beyond 60 degree celsius, you need to look at load and cables. Also, you may need to replace the overheating cable with a thicker cable.
Industrial cables must be protected with paint or sheath as their exposure to sunlight may lead to UV degradation. Besides, cables should be checked for any rat cuts, which may put employees‘ life at risk. There should be no signs of sparks or blackening.
- Maintain detailed records
Maintaining proper records such as date of purchase of the cable and its installation, type of cable used, and reason for a cable’s failure, is important. You must know about load carrying capacity of different lines to identify the type of wire used for a particular load point.
Conclusion
Regular maintenance of industrial cables and wires is vital to keeping them undamaged and saving on steep outages. The aforementioned tips will help you take the necessary actions and prevent your wires and cables from possible failure.
Author Bio:
Jeson Pitt works with the marketing department of D & F Liquidators in Hayward, CA and regularly writes to share his knowledge while enlightening people about electrical products and solving their electrical dilemmas. He’s got the industry insights that you can count on along with years of experience in the field. Jeson lives in Hayward, CA and loves to explore different cuisines that the food trucks in the Bay area have to offer.