Aluminum Triplex Cable
What is Aluminum Triplex Cable?
These are cables that are made of compressed, fully stranded aluminum conductors. The word “Triplex” means, the cable has three conductors. The individual conductors are then twisted together into a rope-like structure. Two of these cables are phase conductors while the third is a neutral cable. The phase conductors of the Triplex Cable are individually insulated with cross- linked polyethylene while the neutral cable is left bare.
Key Features and Properties that You Should Checkout for when Purchasing an Aluminum Triplex Cable:
The least thing to expect is purchasing a cable that will breakdown or cease to function after a few days of installation, this will not only be annoying but also expensive. Aluminum Triplex Cable is general word for these types of cables but there are many sub-products of this cable. To ensure that you are on the right tract during purchase, then these are some of the key factors you should look out for;
• Conductor; conductor material, gauge size and ampacity
• Insulation and jacketing; insulation/jacketing material, there properties and areas of installation
• Ease of handling and installation of the cable
• Endurance to temperature, chemicals and other environmental factors
Construction:
• Conductors
From the name, this cable is made of fully stranded aluminum conductors. The conductors are compressed together and then configured in a concentric manner. There are three conductors fitted in this cable. The first two are live phase conductors while the third is a neutral return path conductor. The neutral wire has a smaller gauge size when compared to the phase conductors.
This type of conductor is made from aluminum alloy 1350-H19. The allow has a better chemical structure for electrical conductivity than pure aluminum. It has a relatively higher centrical conductivity, lighter in weight, high tensile strength and good resistance to corrosion. The alloy is composed of 99% aluminum and the other 1% constitutes, copper, zinc and silicon. These additional elements improve the cables ability to resist corrosion and improves its robustness.
• Insulation
The phase conductors of the Aluminum Triplex Cable are individually insulated with cross-linked Polyethylene, XPLE while the single neutral wire is left bare.
Insulation is a key factor in cabling because it protects the conductors from physical injuries and mechanical damages that are caused by the environmental conditions. It keeps the conductors dry and thus, keeping them safe from corrosion, therefore, ensuring a longer service life. XPLE material is sturdy, robust and tough enough to achieve the physical protection for the cable. XPLE is a total insulator and therefore no risk of electrocution to the handler making it safe for use.
Color Coding:
The XPLE insulators used for the 2 phase conductors are black while the neutral cable has yellow strips across it.
The neutral cable has a different color to avoid any miss-installation. Color coding s also important because it is used to identify different types of cables.
What are the Outstanding Features of Aluminum Triplex Cable?:
Excellent resistance to weather - Aluminum Triplex Cable as exceptional resistance to weather. It can work well in both and highly humid areas effectively. The tough insulation is resistance to corrosion therefore is effective for both overhead and underground installations.
High tensile strength – the alloying process changes the chemical structure of the cable giving it better resistance to cut, tear and abrasion. There are a lot of forces and pressure that the cable has to withstand during installation and application, if the cable is weak, it may easily give way and breakdown due to the pressure.
Excellent flexibility - the good flexibility of the cable is contributing by the stranding. The rope strands make the cable supple and therefore easily folded during installation or to fit into cable trays during transportation. A highly flexible cable is long lasting since frequent folding and unfolding does not easily break it.
Applications:
Aluminum Triplex Cable has two major applications, Underground and overhead cable installations.
This cable can be used for applications requiring ampacities of up to 600 volts and temperatures not exceeding 90°C.
What lengths of Aluminum Triplex Cable are Available for Purchase?
These cables are available in bulk or can be sold in unit length (usually 10ft to 1000ft). However the size of purchase wholly depends on you as the buyer in accordance with the project at hand.
How Do I Install an Aluminum Triplex Cable?
There is no special or specific procedure for installing this type of cable. the normal step by step installation according to the National Electrical Code, NEC is applied. It is highly recommended that installation be carried out by a trained or professional electrician to avoid miss installation that can lead to complications like short circuiting.
Its in the place of the technician to choose whether to the installation is overhead or underground. This wholly depends on the kind of system to be installed.
There are a lot of factors to determine whether a cable should be used for Overhead or underground installation.
There are different types of Aluminum Triplex Cable, the broad categories include;
• Aluminum Underground Triplex Cable
• Overhead Triplex Aluminum Cable
Triplex and Quadruplex URD Wire Used for Irrigation Underground
This type of triplex and Quadruplex URD cable, is an underground residential distribution cable specially designed for irrigation systems. Besides having other applications, its primarily used to power the center and linear pivot in the system used in irrigation. Its multiple conductors make it fit for cabling the multiple system circuits.
The quadruplex offers three phase conductors and a neutral ground while on the other hand the triplex contributes two phase live conductors and a single neutral. These multiples cables ensure the underground distribution is efficient and enough to link all the circuits and junctions for an effective irrigation system.
Features:
The XPLE insulation has an outstanding resistance to water. The cable is made airtight because it is exposed to a lot of contact with water, this ensures that the conductors are kept free from contact with water that would corrode them and reduce their efficiency.
The cable is also very flexible. flexibility helps the cable to cope with the constant moving of the irrigation system from place to place.
A thermoset resin XPLE insulation contributes greatly to the physical strength of the cable. it protects the triplex and Quadruplex URD cable irrigation cable from the physical punishment like abrasion and tear that the cable undergoes due to the harsh environmental underground condition. It also protects the cable from chemicals and other solvents.