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Cable glands – what you need to know

l Nylon compression glands (Fig. 3)
Overview:
l Glands for hazardous areas
The SABS 1213 South African Standard for cable glands, defines a cable gland
l Flameproof glands
as: “a device that provides entry for a cable into and mechanically attaches the
l High voltage glands
cable to the enclosure for an electrical apparatus at the point of entry of the cable
conductors into the enclosure and that, when so designed, seals the opening of Selection criteria
the enclosure.”
l Environmental conditions (e.g.
Glands are manufactured from nickel plated brass. The electroplated nickel helps indoor/outdoor application,
to increase the hardness of the gland and to improve wear resistance. The popular hazardous areas).
steel wire armour cable gland consists of four parts: the outer nut, the inner, the l Cable type and voltage rating
cable gland bush (with rotary cone) and the locknut as shown below : (armoured or un-armoured, and no.
of cores).
l Actual cable diameter overall, and
under armour.
l Size and type of armour.

l Accessories required (shroud/earth

tag etc.).
Fig. 1: The glands are also available with a loose cone. Applications
Options l Rotary loose and fixed cone glands:
l BWR - Rotary cone glands for indoor use with steel/aluminium
(Sizes 0 - 7) wire armour cable.
l Compression glands: for indoor/
l BWL – Loose cone glands
(Sizes 0 - 7) outdoor use with un-armoured
cable.
l BWF – Fixed cone glands
Fig. 2: The compression gland has an l Corrosion resistant glands: for use
(Sizes 0 - 2)
additional rubber seal to prevent any in highly corrosive or wet areas with
l A2 compression glands (sizes 0-7)
moisture etc. entering the gland steel wire armour cable.
and/or the enclosure. l Corrosion resistant glands
l Nylon compression glands: for
indoor/outdoor use with un-
Cable
Recommended gland size for cable size/number of cores armoured flexible cable.
size Number of cores l Glands for hazardous areas: for
(mm2)
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 15 19 20 21 24 27 30 37 indoor/outdoor use with armoured
1,5 0 0 0 0/1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 or un-armoured cable. Check the
2,5 0 0 0/1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 hazardous area classification.
4 0/1 1 1 1/2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4/5 5 l Flameproof glands: for indoor/

6 1 1 1/2 2 2 2 outdoor use with steel wire armour

10 1/2 2 2 cable. Check the hazardous
Table 1: Cable gland selection chart. area classification and explosion
16 2 2 3
25 2/3 2/3 3
protection rating.
35 2/3 3 3/4 l High voltage glands: for PILC cable

50 3 3/4 4 type armoured cable.

70 3/4 4 4/5 Accessories
95 4 4/5 5
120 4 5 5
The accessories available include PVC
150 4/5 5 5/6 Fig. 3: Nylon cmpression gland. Fig. 5: Earth tag. or rubber shrouds and slip-on earth
185 5 5/6 6
tags. Also available are 4-way utility
240 6 6 6/7
junction boxes (Size 1 and 2, IP65) that
300 6 6 7 are able to accommodate size 1 or size
2 glands.
Contact Taryn Laas,
HellermannTyton,
Tel 011 879-6674,
Fig. 4: Rubber shroud. Fig.6: Utility junction box. [email protected] D

February 2010 - Vector - Page 52