There’s no escaping the cable installation for an industrial project. But choosing the right cable gland size for this is crucial if you wish to avoid any mishaps. Now, you might wonder – “Why do I need to bother about choosing the right size?” Well, you certainly wouldn’t love the inevitable frustration of discovering you ordered the wrong cables in the last stretch of your project.
You might be surprised to know that industrial exerts project the cable gland market to hit $2841.9 million by the year 2025, proving that this tiny equipment has more influence than some celebrities. The surge in demand for this handy tool owes much to the increased construction in developing countries and volatile raw material prices.
However, before you dive into the nitty-gritty of choosing the right cable gland size, let’s go over everything you need to know about this tiny equipment.
What Is A Cable Gland?
A cable gland is a ‘sealing gland’ or a ‘mechanical cable entry device’ that you can attach to the end of an electric cable and secure to any equipment. It provides strain relief and facilitates barrier penetration while offering sealing protection. These glands are usually 1mm to 75 mm in diameter and connect to a cable’s aluminium sheath.
What Are The Uses Of Cable Gland?
Cable glands have a multitude of functions, similar to an essay help service. You can use them for:
- Earthing
- Grounding
- Insulation
- Strain Relief
- Bonding
Simply put, their primary function is to act as a sealing device that protects the enclosures on electrical equipment by:
- Ensuring that only the correct amount of resistance is applied
- Preventing dust and water from reaching the enclosed section
- Provides additional sealing where there is a need for high ingress protection
What Are The Types Of Cable Glands?
Now that you’re aware of the uses, let’s dive into the different types of cables glands you can expect to find in any store. Of course, your selection depends on the kind of project you’re working on. For example, if you need to use flexible cables that require high strain relief, you’d have to choose the nylon cable glands.
Other types include:
- Metal cable gland – Very durable, used for chemical and mechanical stability
- Plastic cable gland–Makes the device resistant to saltwater, weaker acids and grease
- Brass cable gland – Corrosion-resistant, has an excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
How Do You Choose The Right Size Of Cable Gland For Projects?
Choosing the right cable gland size might seem easier than hiring an network assignment help service online, but you’ll be surprised by the difference that 1mm makes. Now, you should always complete this step in the initial planning phase of your project to avoid confusion right when the work is in full swing. So, here are the things you need to keep in mind when selecting your cable gland:
- The type of cable you need for your project
- Check the cable’s size, construction and manufacturing materials
- The environment where you will install the cable gland
- Whether the equipment will be for indoor or outdoor use
- Whether you’ll have to install it in a hazardous environment
- Whether there are any corrosive materials close by
- The dampness and dustiness of the location
Your next step is to figure out whether your project needs any armoured cables. If it does, then you’d need to consider the following steps:
- Check the type of armour cable that you’ll be using
- Go over the manufacturing materials of the cable
- Check the cable’s short circuit fault current rating
- Also, consider the lead covering, the diameter of the inner bedding, and the entire cable thoroughly
- Finally, decide whether your project requires a cable gland with a protective plating or more corrosion protective
These considerations are crucial to selecting the right cable gland and ensuring that your project turns out successfully in any environment. Additionally, you should also find out the materials of the electrical enclosures as you’d have to face severe consequences if you don’t use a compatible material in your cable gland.
The next step is to check the entry hole of the cable. Here, you need to focus on the cable’s size and type along with the equipment to where you’ll be attaching it to. Moreover, additional factors that you’d need to take note of are:
- The entry head seal
- The earth tags
- The shrouds
- Whether there are any washers and lock nuts
- Whether you need reducer plugs or stoppers
Going over all these steps before you begin your project saves time and energy in figuring out the correct cable gland size that would be perfect for your project. You won’t need to throw a dart in the dark and hope it falls on the right option. Instead, it’s always best to conduct thorough research and make an informed decision well before working on your project.
The Consequences Of Selecting The Wrong Cable Gland Size
While a few millimetres might not seem too much for you, selecting the wrong cable gland size can have severe consequences for your project. It can cause damage to the cables, fail to offer ingress protection against dust and water, and increase the risk for explosions and electric shocks.
Summing it up,
A cable gland is an essential tool in many industrial projects. Despite looking small, it has many functions, such as providing earth continuity, preventing external contamination from dust, water and dirt, preventing the cable from becoming twisted within the cable gland’s remit, and many more. Such a wide variety in uses makes it a vital element in industrial. With the help of this article, you can prevent choosing the wrong cable gland that is incompatible with the cables you’re working with and avoid any untoward incidents from taking place.
Author bio:
Hendry Jones is an engineer and a professional essay help consultant at a reputable university in the UK. He has spent his childhood around the beautiful city of London and plans to start his career as a professor in the States soon. In addition, Jones loves to take his two daughters out camping on weekends and has a passion for basketball.
