Cable Installation Manual for
Power and Control Cable
Add: 88 Hengtong Avenue, Qidu Town, Wujiang City, Jiangsu Province, China
Tel: 86-512-63805219 Fax: 86-512-63816719
Installation Manual for Power and Control Cables
1. Introduction
This manual provides installation methods commonly encountered in industrial, commercial
and electric power utility applications and should be used in conjunction with the engineer’s
installation specifications and all applicable codes. These methods are recommended for all types
of power and control cables.
2. Pre-installation Checklist
To ensure safety during cable installation and reliability once the cable is installed, you should
confirm the following prior to installation.
Code Review
——Review all applicable local, state, provincial, and national codes relating to cable installation
——Consult local inspection authority
Cable Inspection
——Check for shipping damage before accepting shipment. Record any damage on the way bill
——Confirm that the cable specified was received
——Verify that the cable end seals are intact
Cable Handling
——Remove nails and staples from reel flanges
——Calculate and comply with recommended bending radius
——Use swivels, and avoid overruns when unreeling by utilizing a reel brake or back tension
Cable Storage
——Provide firm support for reels
——Protect cable from mechanical damage and from liquid spills
——Check cable end seals periodically
——Advise all splicers, installers and handlers of all special instructions
3. Installation
A high percentage of cable failures are due to mechanical damage, which typically occurs
during transportation, handling and installation.
In fact, most cables are subjected to more mechanical stress during installation than they ever
experience in actual operation. Needless to say, handling and installing the cable according to the
manufacturer’s recommendations is extremely important.
When cables are installed in a raceway, underground electrical duct or cable tray, the following
factors must be considered.
• Conductor configuration
• Raceway or cable tray fill
• Physical limitations of cables
• Installation equipment
• Ambient temperature and conditions
Similarly, when cable is installed as exposed wiring or as messenger-supported wiring, all of the
above factors except raceway or cable tray fill must be considered as well as the requirements for
securing and supporting the cables.
3.1 INSTALLATION TEMPERATURE
Low temperatures are a cause for concern when installing cable. Cable should not be installed
when temperatures are less than the cold bend temperature rating of the cable product plus 15°C
(i.e., minimum installation temperature = cold bend temperature rating + 15°C). For example, when
installing a cable with a cold bend temperature rating of -25°C, the minimum recommended
installation temperature is -10°C(General recommend install temperature: above 0°C).
The cold bend temperature ratings are indicated on the Spec sheets.
Prior to performing a low temperature (less than 10°F or -12°C) cable installation, cable should
be stored for a minimum of 24 hours at a temperature of 55°F (13°C) or higher.
Cable should be pulled more slowly and trained in place the same day it is removed from
storage. Do not impact, drop, kink or bend cable sharply in low temperatures.
For installations at lower temperatures, the cable should be warmed for a minimum of 48 hours
at room temperature (above 59°F or 15°C) prior to handling.
3.2 Min. bending radius
The minimum safe bending radius for installation of cables is shown in Table B1. In the case of
cable constructions with a number of the given features, the largest radius for those features shall be
used.
Recommended minimum internal bending radius
Cable construction
During installation Final installed position
1 Cable with diameter
(a) ≤25mm 6D 4D
(b) ＞25mm 9D 6D
2 Lead alloy sheathed cables 18D 12D
3 Armored cables 18D 12D
4 Screened cables 18D 12D
5 Polyamide jacketed cables 30Dn 20Dn
D is the cable overall diameter
Dn is the diameter over the polyamide layer.
3.3 Requirements for fastening cable:
a. Fix cable every 2 meters when laying cable vertically. For horizontal layout cable, fixing it at
the beginning and end, two sides of corner and joint.
b. For AC one-core cable, fixing it with special clamp not to form closed magnetic loop and
arraying it in form of pure triangle. Banding tightly every 1 meter.
c. AC multi-core power cable should be not beyond 2 layers, and control cable no more than 3
layers.
d. Arraying order of cable: Place high and lower voltage power cable, intensive and faint
control cable in layer and in sequence. Add partition between high and lower voltage power cable.