How to Select Cold Shrink Cable Accessories--From Cable Conductor Material

How to Select Cold Shrink Cable Accessories--From Cable Conductor Material

Cold shrink cable accessories, including terminations and joints, are uesd in electrical infrastructure. The accessories provide the functions of sealing, insulating, and stress-controlling at the points where a cable is connected to equipment (termination) or to another cable segment (joint). Unlike heat shrink accessories that need to have open flame or hot air tools, cold shrink technology uses pre-expanded material which fixed on a removable core. When the core is pulled out,the assembly shrinks quickly to create a tight, seamless cable seal. This difference makes installation faster, safer, and more consistent.

The conductor is the core of the cable and has the function of transmitting current.The conductor material is one of the main factors affecting the selection of cable accessories that interface with it.

Copper Conductors: Copper has high tensile strength and resistance to creep (the ability to gradually deform under constant mechanical stress). The connectors in cold shrink terminal accessories are usually terminal blocks, specifically designed for copper.The high clamping force of the connector is designed to match the mechanical properties of copper, ensuring an airtight, low-resistance connection that will not loosen over time.

Aluminum Conductors: Aluminum is lighter and less expensive than copper, is softer, and has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion (i.e., it expands and contracts more with temperature changes), but it is more susceptible to oxidation.Using connectors designed for copper on aluminum conductors can result in poor connections.Over time, aluminum can creep from stress points and oxidize (forming a high-resistance layer), increasing contact resistance and leading to dangerous overheating.Therefore, fittings for aluminum conductors are often made of harder aluminum alloys and may have a roughened surface or serrated structure to allow penetration of the oxide layer during installation.Some connectors are also filled with an anti-oxidation compound to prevent oxidation.

Selection application: It is important to always match the internal connector of an accessory to the conductor material.Using the wrong type can result in an unreliable connection and create a dangerous situation.When selecting an accessory, pay attention to the accessory packaging or data sheet, which will specify which conductor material it is suitable for.