1.0 Introduction This specification covers the installation of primary voltage, 15kV & 28kV XLPE cables ranging from 1/0 AWG aluminum/copper conductor through to 1000 kcmil aluminum conductor and 600V secondary aluminum triplex cables ranging from 1/0 AWG aluminum to 500 kcmil aluminium/copper which comply with Hydro Ottawa Engineering Specification document number GMS0005 and GMS0008. These cables shall be installed in a concrete encased duct and manhole system, or a direct buried duct system. For cable pull in duct, the cable-duct configuration shall be determined/approved by Hydro Ottawa.
3.0 Scope This specification covers how Hydro Ottawa and its contractors are to install underground cables for Hydro Ottawa as well as maximum pulling tensions and sidewall bearing pressures.
4.0 Cable Pulling Methods
Cable that cannot be pulled in manually shall be installed by means of a cable puller, an electric winch or a winch on a radial boom derrick. In each case, the machine operator shall have access to a means of determining the pulling tensions on the cable (e.g. gauges which indicate direct line pressure or gauges which indicate hydraulic pressure which can be converted to line tension via a conversion table or a dynamometer). Cable pulling with trucks, backhoes or any other method whereby the amount of pulling tension is not measurable, is unacceptable.
5.0 Preparation First, establish the direction of the pull based on safe pulling tensions, sidewall bearing pressure calculations and minimum bending radius for a Hydro Ottawa specific cable to be installed; see Appendix A Tables 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5A & 5-5B. Based on the safe pulling tension, determine if the cable pull requires a basket grip or a pulling eye attached to the conductor; see Appendix A Table 5-1. Basket grips or pulling eyes shall be attached to the pulling rope or cable by an appropriate sized swivel head.
Rod each duct with an appropriate size brush and mandrel to ensure ducts are properly fitted and they are clean and free of all dirt, stones, scale, water etc.
For installation in conduit, place cable guides wherever necessary to avoid abrasion and/or damage to the cable e.g. when guiding the cable from the reel to the duct mouth or trench, when passing through or exiting manholes, when exiting a duct run. Cable guides shall be in the form of large diameter, smooth-surfaced free turning sheaves or rollers. They shall be designed to ensure that cable will not ride off the end of the roller or be pinched into a sheave contour. Guide tubes or chutes may be used provided they have a smooth burr-free working surface, well flared entrances, largest possible bending radius and are securely fastened so that the cable passes smoothly over them. In any case, equipment shall be installed to ensure the minimum- bending radius of the cable is not exceeded; see Appendix A Tables 5-5A & 5-5B.
Using suitable reel mounting equipment, locate and position the reels such that cable tension at the feeding end is minimized.
Select pulling equipment, which can provide smooth speed control at the anticipated tensions.
Ensure the pull rope or flat line has the required tensile rating. Avoid the use of elastic materials.
6.0 Lubricant Pre-lubricate duct runs or setup lubrication points along the duct run (e.g. feed in point, manholes etc to reduce pulling tension and abrasion to the cable jacket). For long heavy pulls, pre- lubrication of conduit and pull rope is essential to prevent abrasion at the bends, particularly plastic conduit bends, which can become softened due to frictional heating. In the case of long duct lengths or excessive curvatures in the duct the cable may have to be pulled in from two directions.
The recommended amount of lubricant is depended on the size and length of the conduit system into which the cable is being pulled. Typically, a ratio of 6.4 liters of lubricant per 100 linear meters of 100 mm PVC duct would be used.
Hydro Ottawa will accept water-based Bentonite Clay lubricants. Compounds containing oils or greases are not acceptable since they can adversely affect the cable jacket. The following chart provides a list of pulling lubricants, which are acceptable to Hydro Ottawa. Lubricant not shown on this chart, shall not be used without prior approval by Hydro Ottawa.
Polywater J American Polywater Corporation Cable Glide CRC Industries
7.0 Cable Pulling
Poly rope is not to be used for any mechanical pulling (e.g. conductor/winch line, overhead or underground). Poly rope stretches when subjected to high tension and can create a hazard. Manual pulling (by hand) using poly rope is allowed.
When using a mechanical means to complete a pull, (e.g. capstan, collapsible wheel, clutch-able capstan, boom, vehicle), a Samson rope or equivalent, flat line, shall be used, as it does not stretch in the same way that poly rope does, and presents less of a hazard.
Provide two-way voice communication and adequate resources at both feeding and pulling ends of the run and at any interim location (e.g. manhole). Apply pulling lubricant liberally during the cable pull.
To minimize back reel tension accelerate slowly and smoothly from rest to a constant pulling speed of approximately 30 m/minute. Avoid stopping the pull midway through the installation; the drag due to friction is greatly increased when pulling is restarted.
Record dynamometer readings at frequent intervals during each pull.
7.1 One Way Pull In
Position the pulling equipment at the pulling manhole or transformer base. Set up equipment to maintain the minimum-bending radius of cable being pulled. See example in Figure 7-1 and Figure 7-2.
Position the cable reel so that the cable can be handfed into the manhole. When possible the cable shall be pulled off the reel by hand to reduce pulling tensions; see Figure 7-3 and Figure 7-4.
Figure 7-3 Reel End Setup for XPLE cable – Transformer Base
Figure 7-4 Reel End Setup for XLPE cable – Transformer Base
Position the cable reel near the center of your pull and pull required cable one way according to all tension guidelines and pertinent specifications; see Figure 7-5.
Figure 7-5 Initial Setup for 2-way Pull
Back reel cable length required for pull in other direction on debris free ground or a tarp in a coil formation, large enough to not exceed minimum cable bending radius; see Figure 7-6.
Figure 7-6 Back reel cable in a coil formation
Position puller at pulling end and begin pulling. Maintain slack loop of cable at feed end into duct structure; see Figure 7-7.
Seal the ends of the installed cable and the ends of unused cable remaining on the reel, pending splicing or terminating, to prevent ingress of moisture.
Observe the minimum-bending radius when training cable into final position. Secure cables to manholes, riser poles, etc., as per Hydro Ottawa Engineering Specifications.
Provide suitable mechanical protection during project construction for exposed cables.
8.0 Cable Identification
All cables shall be identified as per Hydro Ottawa specifications GCS0012, UTS0004, UTS0005, and ECS0002.
9.0 Cable Training
At transformer bases and primary pedestals, primary cables shall be trained from the bottom of the base to the elbow insert. Care should be taken in order to install elbow compression connectors with the proper turn to fit the insert, cables are not crossed or tangled with adjacent cables. Freedom of movement for energized switching operations is essential; see Hydro Ottawa Engineering Specification UTS0005.
Secondary cables shall be trained from the bottom of the transformer base to the secondary bus of the transformer with care taken to ensure cables are not crossed and do not cause a downward force on the transformer bus bars; see Hydro Ottawa Engineering Specification UTS0004.
10.0 Cable Racking Hydro Ottawa shall determine the cable racking method and location to be used. Cables in manholes and switchgear bases shall be racked along the wall of the structure using Hydro Ottawa approved tray and support system. The minimum bending radius of cables shall not be exceeded; see Appendix A Table 5-5A & 5-5B.
11.0 Secondary services
Secondary cables are to be pre-installed to lot lines staked up to a suitable support (1 m onto private property with a minimum 2 m of cable tail) and their ends sealed with Self- Amalgamating Polyethylene (SAPP) tape to prevent the ingress of moisture.
