Life Assessment for Power Cable

Excess loss of current, overheating....why would you want to replace this wire?

Gophers, maybe?

I would look at Megohmeters. I've used them for underground cable testing in wet and dry locations, but nothing close to the magnitude you're dealing with so please follow up with more research!

With loads disconnected (the way I was taught)you can simply connect a hot and a ground or to another cable in the bundle. Flip the switch to read resistance and determine if there are hairline or other invisible damages to the cable/insulation. Don't touch as the cable is now energized with high voltage so that any leakage to ground or between cables can be identified. More advanced units that are available for rent will tell you the exact distance to areas of cable damage should hidden damage be one of your concerns.

\I'm with SolarE on this one. Why?

Calling the manufacturer and talk to their engineering department. Of course, their main interest may be selling you another cable.

Take steps to do proper research on determining life expectancy of electrical cables.

Determining Remaining Useful Life of Aging Cables in ...

Life Expectancy of Cables - BASEC - British Approvals ...

Service-Aged Cables - EC&M

Thanks,lyn.

The first step is to decide why this replacement is even needed for reasons other than "it might fail", then decide if it's really worth approximately 500,000USD just for the cable, not including installation (plus zeroUSD for engineering).

Again, why are you suggesting that it be done?

I think he's the guy selling the cable... It's the only thing that makes sense..

Would you buy cable from an anonymous poster?

Don't ask the manufacturer, after 15 years, if he will guarantee the cable is still good, instead refer to his 15-year-ago warranty terms.

Don't ask any merchants whether they suggest you replace the cable, as their answers will be "YES".

If you're going to replace it anyway, don't use any product of INFINITY ELECTRIC CABLE or there will be tears before bedtime:

http://www.news.com.au/finance/money/cable-girl-scandal-could-cost-80-million/news-story/6f8af4d1590fd580b234c98f1b1ada5c

He's looking for reasons to replace a cable and searching for any way to make the cable owner beleve his assessment.. Im kind of joking.. But not really.

About 20 years back I diverted a cable that had been installed in the early 50's. Initially it tested a bit low on IR but once more load was placed on it the readings were well above acceptable readings.
65 years old and it's still in use today, pity the same can't be said of me.

15 years is nothing in the life of a cable which makes me think there's more to this than meets the eye. The weak spots are usually the joints, they can be chopped out and new sections spliced in. A damn site cheaper than replacement of the whole length.

Purchase and download a copy of the IEEE 400 series of test methods. They will explain everything you need to know to about cable testing and assessment methods. That said, your cable should be have metallic barrier tape to keep out moisture, so a 15 year old cable is very young and shouldn't need any assessment much less replacement. If you have underground splices, there are testing companies that can test those off-line to make sure they don't have excessive partial discharge

1. Is it essential that this cable not fail?
2. Is there a redundant cable to provide the essential service if this cable fails?

If the answer to #1 is Yes (as it appears to be by definition) and the answer to #2 is No, than you need to lay a redundant cable ASAP.

Once you have the redundancy, you can check each cable in turn, monitoring it for current loss and voltage drop. If a cable starts losing more current or dropping more voltage that the spec sheet allows for the installation, then it's time to replace.

This is why you have the redundant cable, so that while one cable is being replaced, the other is supplying the essential service power.

You already knew this was an embarrassing question, or you wouldn't have posted as an anon, so think through your basic troubleshooting before coming here to ask us to do your work for you. Say goodnight, Gracie.

There is no way a company will install a redundant cable these days with all the cable joints required plus additional trenching or/and ducting. 630mm2 XLPE 132kV Cu cable? Reality check here gents.

BoM: Min requirements

2 terminations

18 cable joints

18 ferrules

10km of trenching, possibly with a PVC duct to install.

18 joint pits

+10km of Copper earth conductor, 120mm2 (min)

Back fill Sand or CBS

Spoil disposal.

Etc, etc

Plus labour plus permission to excavate land, if it crosses any public land. If it is on company land the cost is negligible.

Now what company is going to invest in this daft idea of replacing one single feeder for redundancy? Three yes, but one? Very questionable. If they did anything they would go over head with all the phases and save a fortune and simply upgrade their entire feeder and keep the UG cables, soaked, but not loaded, as the back up feeder.

45 Years for UG system and approx 80 yrs for OHL and UG costing about 6-10 times more in costs.

Do the mathematics and apply logic here. Hint: concrete monopole or 'H" frame wood pole line. XLPE, CU screened, XLPE, 630mm2Cu is approx 17kg per meter and I would guess in the USA around $100.00+ per meter, just for the cable and nothing else.

If doing a project, before doing anything get the facts, get all current costs, complete all risks and then consider the questions carefully, "What are our options?" What is the cost? And 'How important is this really?

Perhaps we have different definitions of 'essential.'

I take it to mean 'this is a service that cannot be interrupted for even a fraction of a second or people will DIE.' Things such as Hospitals.

The OP did not identify the 'essential service' this cable was feeding, so I had to assume the 'worst case scenario' for 'essential,' the 'cannot tolerate any interruption' scenario.

No idiot bean counter is going to waste thousands on installing a cable for the sake of redundancy, after the fact, 15 years after the fact. The Poster provided no real answers, no facts worth bothering over. And is pulling everyone's leg.

If this was for real, the project would possibly have gone to tender, to mitigate risk, keep costs low and all due dilligence would have been completed by a consultant team.