Sparks Electrical News July 2019

CABLES AND CABLE ACCESSORIES

10

NEWHIGH VOLTAGE CABLES OFFERING FROM ABERDARE

• Offer innovative HV engineering and system design solutions; • Construct and deliver an HV system project; • Commission and test HV systems; • Offer condition monitoring of HV systems as well as maintenance on installed HV cable systems. We are very excited about entering this market, and look forward to ex- panding our capability as an electrical solutions provider to our stake- holders.” Aberdare Cables has three manufacturing sites in South Africa, with customer service centres in each province as well as in Maputo. The company employs 1500 people and currently holds a Level 1 BBBEE status, with a make-up of 55% Black ownership and 30% Black Women Owned.

Extruded XLPE Cables, namely; • CSA (Corrugated Seamless Aluminium), and • APL (Aluminium Polyethylene Laminated)

ABERDARE CABLES, a leading 72-year-old South African manu- facturer of low and medium voltage electric cables, has recently an- nounced its new range of HV cables. An official launch with customers is scheduled for 18th July 2019. Through its parent company Hengtong Optic Electric’s funded investment, Aberdare Cables has successfully completed its HV project, which included investment in HV plant and equipment, ac- creditation and other costs associated with start-up and the running of the HV division. The HV cables manufacturing lines are located at the company’s Port Elizabeth factory. This new industrial investment sees the expansion of Aberdare Cables’ manufacturing capability of cables from a current level of 33 kV to a new product offering of up to 132 kV. The HV manufacturing lines shall afford Aberdare Cables the opportunity to offer the High Voltage Cable market two types of

The above may be manufactured with aluminium or copper conduc- tors as required by customers; and the full range manufacturing capa- bility of cable sizes up to 2500 mm². The factory consists of hi-tech cable testing facilities and laboratory. Speaking on behalf of the Aberdare team, Mduduzi Mabaso, Gen- eral Manager for High Voltage business, said, “The mandate for our HV cable business is to establish Aberdare Cables as a competent South African high voltage cable manufacturer and turnkey solu- tions provider, offering our customers competitive, value for money, quality products and service. Through this investment and strategic partnerships, the company will be able to: • Manufacture and supply HV cables and accessories;

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 396 8000

A GUIDE TO ELECTRIC CABLES T he purpose of an electric cable is to convey electrical energy from the point where it is available, to a point where it is required. In order to do this safely and reliably, the cable needs to have certain attributes. 1. The voltage rating of the cable must be equal to, or greater than, the voltage rating of the system into which it is connected. 2. The current carrying capacity of the cable must be equal to, or greater than, the current to be carried, tak- ing into account any applicable current derating factors. 3. The short circuit and earth fault rating of the cable must be greater than the prospective short circuit and earth fault currents that the electrical system may impose on the cable. 4. The cablemust be compatiblewith,and able to survive, the environmental conditions in which it is installed. 5. Special attention must be paid to contributing fac- tors such as cable voltage drop and the nature of the supplied load. Compulsory South African electric cable specifica- tions include: • SANS 1507: Low Voltage PVC and XLPE insulated cables. Includes armoured cables. • SANS 1574: Flexible cores and cables, including panel wire, cabtyre and ripcord. • SANS 1576: Welding cable. (Voltage rating 100 V). • SANS 1418: LV Aerial Bundled Conductors. • SANS 1520: Rubber insulated cables. Parts 1 and 2 cover LV and MV respectively. • SANS97: Paper Insulated LeadCovered cables up to 33 kV. • SANS 1339: XLPE insulated cables up to 33 kV. There are many others, but the above being the most commonly used. SANS 1576 welding cable. (Voltage rating: 100 V) is not compulsory. The Association of Electric Cable Manufacturers of South Africa, AECMSA, represents the interests of manufacturers. The South African Bureau of Stand- ards, and the Regulator (the NRCS), set the local man- ufacturing standards, and carry out surveillance and compliance monitoring. The policing of standards is not always being carried out effectively, which led to the formation of the SafeHouse association to help ensure that products supplied in South Africa comply with applicable standards. This article covers only some of the low voltage electric cable products. Reputable local manufactur- ers make a full range of both Low Voltage, Medium Voltage and High Voltage cables and accessories. These products include: • Interdac 1.9/3.3 kV 3 phase 4 wire low cost cable • Airdac House service connection cable • Silicone rubber insulated cabtyre and other cables • The flamosafe range of fire performance cables • ABC (Aerial Bundled Conductors), rated from 600/1000V up to 19/33 kV. • Rubber insulated flexible cables from 300/500 V up to 19/33. • Overhead lines, including ACSR, AAC, AAAC and PHDC types. Information from The SafeHouse Guide to Electric Cables. • SANS 182: Overhead line conductors. Common South African electric cable

Enquiries: www.safehousesa.co.za

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

JULY 2019