Power Cable Updates

Recent changes in NEC requirements for non-shielded cable are moving through the UL process. To shield, or not to shield? Above 2,400V, that is no longer a question.

Rebuilding storm-damaged industrial plants involves engineering and business decisions. Southwire can help.

When natural disasters strike industrial sites, one of the key steps in restarting operations is restoring power distribution from the utility substation to the plant. Southwire can supply all the cable components for this critical network.

As refineries and factories near the Gulf Coast move into recovery, one question is, “Where is the industrial wire and cable we need going to come from?” One source is Southwire’s Starkville, Mississippi plant. Having survived Katrina’s might, Southwire’

When you need maximum protection for industrial wiring – without the cost of time-consuming conduit installations – check out Southwire’s ARMOR- X® for your most demanding 600V, medium-voltage (MV), control and instrumentation applications.

In the stricken areas, some major refineries and petrochemical plants have been shut down and 115 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico were destroyed. In addition to the destroyed platforms, 52 platforms and 183 pipelines were damaged. Southwire is

Electrical contractors in commercial construction are rapidly applying the cost-saving lessons learned with circuit sizes of MC cable to larger conductors.

If you’re putting cables in conduit on rooftops, there’s something you should know about lovely, sunny summer days: Heat from the roof can raise conductor temperatures enough to affect ampacity ratings. The NEC is now taking note of that.

Water is ubiquitous in buried conduit. Cable jackets can help protect insulation. Putting cable in buried conduit keeps the cable out of sight, and it's protected mechanically. But there is also a downside to underground conduit: water.

This useful desk manual now reflects the latest changes in the NEC and industry standards. If you specify or purchase industrial power cable, you should have Southwire's Power Cable Manual on your desk. The third edition reference book is now available.

With the price of copper hovering at all-time highs, there's a lot of speculation going around about copper supplies and price volatility.

Good installation practices control jacket shrinkage caused by extreme temperatures.

Take cable jacket damage seriously – but don’t over-react to cosmetic blemishes.

Research, product development and applications engineering: They all support wire and cable users.

Historically, tinned copper conductors were a reliability feature. Today, the cost may not be necessary.

If you design or do acceptance testing on power cable systems, you may have looked for a single source of recommended installation and testing practices for 600V and medium-voltage cables. Now you can get one – at no charge.

An integrated shielding/jacket system from the 70s still holds a niche in a market dominated by helical tape shielding.

Parallel conductors on a single cable reel can cut pulling setup time and save money. Southwire delivers parallel runs to your order.

For years, conductors in conduit have been the standard wiring method in hazardous locations. Conduit gives good protection but it’s expensive and time-consuming to install. Now, more and more cable specifiers are turning to a lower-cost alternative.

Semiconducting shields affect installability – and reliability – of EPR cables.

2005 NEC revisions impact 5kV applications of non-shielded Cables

In harsh environments, thicker is better when it comes to power cable insulation.

Southwire’s Cofer Center is known for technical support – but a lot more goes on there that also benefits power cable users.

Basic protection, mid-range or premium jackets: Which one does your application need? Here’s help.

Helically wrapped copper tape shields have been a medium-voltage standard for years. Wrapping design can improve performance. When an industry standard product gets better, it’s like no-calorie pie. What’s not to like? Helical tape shielding in medium-v

Which one should you choose? What cable jacket performance do you really need? The wealth of options can be confusing. This comparison chart of cable jacket characteristics can help you sort out the right compound for your application.

New industry standards focus on MV application categories. The changes present a rare opportunity for reviewing internal company standards. Industry standards for medium-voltage power cable typically evolve slowly – and the opportunity to do a substantia

Southwire Lightning Retardant Cable helps protect revenue and cuts maintenance costs.

Using aluminum interlocked armor? Specify Southwire for secure supply. Users of interlocked aluminum armored cable know exactly why they like it.

When flames spread through a cable shaft, heat and smoke effects cost millions.

What does “flexibility” really mean for corrugated welded armored cables, and how do you know if you’re getting it?

The 2002 NEC continues the process of adding metric units to the code,” says Dave Mercier, technical director for Southwire’s Electrical Division. “Does that mean you have to learn a lot of new numbers? Probably not.”

When you're installing medium-voltage conductors in a remote South American location, the cable needs to be tough. Installation stresses are demanding and long-term reliability is an absolute must.

For years, cable buyers have called out ICEA standards to specify power and control cables. Now ICEA is replacing those familiar standards, along with electric utility standards that have also been used for many medium voltage industrial applications.

Southwire is expanding its logistics and distribution system to provide even better delivery and availability to Florida and California.

Have you ever had problems bringing wiring from a cable tray system down to your process equipment? Check out the changes in the use of Type TC cables in the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC).

"This is a clean up year for the NEC," says Dave Mercier, technical director of Southwire's Electrical Division. "Formatting and organization were changed for usability, but the only significant change for industrial wire and cable users is . . .

When your project demands a quick turnaround on power cable, it helps to know what’s on the shelf at the Southwire Master Service Center nearest you. Our newest Power Cable In-Stock Brochure provides you with all the details.

Industry business trends and advances in compounding technology are driving cable-jacket evolution in power generation applications.

Keeping EPR insulation free of contaminants is a key to reliable performance, because contaminants in insulation compounds can cause localized concentrations of electrical stresses. Enclosed manufacturing and blending processes produce . . .

In 600V systems with high-resistance grounds, adding insulation thickness can buy you equipment uptime when you need it most.

"Some people aren't aware of what the NEC requires to parallel conductors, and some people think the NEC calls for more than it really does," says Dave Mercier, technical director for Southwire's Electrical Division.

Putting heavy forces on cable reel flanges during pay-off may be asking for problems. Anything you can do to speed up a cable pull is great, but be sure to do your homework about the stresses you put on cable reels -- especially the flanges.

This year Southwire celebrates the big 50. And in that 50 years, many Southwire innovations have become fundamental to the business of distributing electrical power.

For trouble-free Variable Frequency Drive installations, you need the right power cable.

Non- halogen SOLONON compounds can eliminate smoke and improve mechanical protection.

Where ambient temperatures force ampacity derating, higher-temperature cables can hold down total costs.

Worried about pushing more plant power through existing duct banks? A new option is on the horizon. Three Southwire plants in Carrollton, Ga., are now drawing power from the world's first working power-distribution application of superconductors.

Specifying a cable jacket may call for trade-offs between protection, installation performance and price.

If you specify wire or cable in international applications, you'll encounter performance requirements established by the IEC-the International Electrotechnical Commission.

How far can you pull a cable in a conduit? It depends on the cable, the conduit and the lubrication.

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) using pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques are becoming the standard for controlling ac motors -and they bring complications to power cable selection.

Here's a chance to influence the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC). The NEC Metrication Task Group has developed proposed guidelines for the 2002 NEC code-making panels.

Mechanical and chemical characteristics bring SOLONON jackets to industrial applications. Do you buy or specify 5kV non-shielded power cable? Are you interested in easier pulling and improved mechanical and chemical specs?