What causes cable wire aging?
The most direct cause of cable and wire aging failure is the insulation is reduced and was broken. Lead to insulation reduction of many factors, according to the actual experience of electricians, summarized in the following cases.
Insulation Moisture
This reason is also very common, usually occurs in the direct burial or row of pipes in the cable joints.
For example: unqualified production of cable joints and supermarkets in the climate conditions do joints, will make the joints into the water or mixed with water vapor, gradually damage the insulation strength of the cable and cable aging caused by the cable fire caused by electrical disasters.
Chemical Corrosion
Cable buried directly in the acid and alkali effect of the region, often resulting in the cable armor, lead skin or corrosion of the outer protective layer, the protective layer due to long-term chemical corrosion or electrolytic corrosion, resulting in the failure of the protective layer, the insulation is reduced, will also lead to cable failure.
Long-term Overload Operation
Overloading operation, due to the thermal effect of the cable, the load cable through the cable, such as leading to conductor heating, thereby increasing the temperature of the cable line. Long-term overload operation, the high temperature will accelerate the aging of the insulation, so that the insulation is current breakdown. Especially in the hot summer, the temperature rise of the cable often leads to the first cable insulation weakness is broken, so in the summer, cable failure is also frequent.
Cable Joint Failure
Cable joints are the weakest link in the cable line, by the direct fault of the personnel (poor construction) triggered by the cable joint failures occur from time to time. Construction personnel in the production of cable joints in the process, if there is a joint crimping is not tight, heating is not sufficient and other original network, will lead to the cable head insulation is reduced.
Environment and Temperature
The cable is located in the external environment and heat sources can also cause the cable temperature is too high, penetration of insulation, and even explosion and fire.
Service Life
Ordinary cables and wires general life expectancy of 15-20 years, the general cable in the laying of 15 years or so, aging cables and wires there will be a certain safety hazard, easy to cause electrical accidents, it is recommended that the best every year after a certain number of years to replace the cable.
How to Determine Cable Aging
Signs of aging include:
- Whether the cable leakage or even short-circuit fire;
- Hardening and cracking of the insulation skin;
- The contact resistance increases and the joints get hot.
What consequences will cable aging cause?
Cable wire aging will increase power consumption. When cable and wires age, if the outer insulation sheath is broken, this will not only increase line consumption and increase power usage, but also cause circuit fires. Once found that the line aging problem, need to replace the cable in time to prevent unnecessary damage to people and property.
