Underground cable installation is an integral component of modern infrastructure development, requiring special tools and equipment to laying cables safely and efficiently. Here, we explore different kinds of equipment for underground cable installation as well as their uses and advantages when applied across a range of applications – using these tools can significantly decrease the time and effort spent installing underground cables while guaranteeing the highest level of safety and accuracy.
Trenching Equipment for Underground Cable Laying
A trenching machine is one of the key tools needed for laying cables, used to dig a trench where cables will be laid. There are various kinds of trenching machines on the market – each offering different advantages and drawbacks.
Ride-On Trenchers
Ride-on trenchers are large machines designed to quickly dig a deep trench on undeveloped lands. More efficient than manual digging methods, ride-on trenchers allow installation teams to complete projects more rapidly; however, due to their size they aren’t suitable for urban settings where space may be at a premium.
Skid Steer Loaders with Trenching Attachments
Skid steer loaders equipped with trenching attachments are another popular method for digging trenches, providing users with flexibility. These multifunctional machines can be fitted with different attachments – including trenching tools – to complete different tasks efficiently and quickly. Skid steers offer smaller footprints ideal for urban environments or confined spaces.
Plowing Tools
These machines cut trenches through soil by plowing, providing the path necessary for underground cables to be laid. Two main forms of plowing tools used during underground cable laying projects: static plows and vibratory plows.
Static Plows
Static plows, with fixed blades that don’t move during operation, are ideal for open spaces with little vegetation cover or tight spaces. With fewer moving parts requiring maintenance than vibratory plows, static ones may not perform as effectively when faced with challenging ground conditions or tighter spaces.
Vibratory Plows
Vibratory plowing machines have quickly become the go-to plows for underground electrical wiring installation. Equipped with vibrating blades that assist in cutting through the ground more effectively, they offer greater control during plowing operations and help avoid damaging wires during setup.
Boring Tools for Laying Underground Cables
Boring tools are essential when laying underground cables in areas where direct work on the ground cannot take place, such as under railway crossings or buildings. By drilling holes through the soil surface and creating pathways through it for cables to pass freely without disrupting any surface activities or disrupting surface features, these tools allow cable installations without disrupting their way to be completed with minimum disruption on surface levels.
Directional Boring Tools
Directional boring tools (DBT) are small or mini-drilling rigs designed for installing cables in shallow arcs to minimize disruption in their surrounding environments and install cables under roads and obstacles as quickly as possible without causing too much impact. They’re an effective means for installing wires beneath roads or obstacles and provide quick solutions with minimal environmental disruptions.
Horizontal Directional Drilling Tools
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) tools are large drilling rigs used for installing long lengths of cable deep underground. Capable of drilling in various soil conditions and depths.
Cable-Pulling Equipment
Cable-pulling equipment is essential to underground electrical wiring installation, helping installers move cables through conduits, ducts or trenches with minimum effort and risk of damage. There are various forms of cable-pulling gear available such as pulling grips, support grips and strain-relief devices that help installers safely pull cables through.
Pulling Grips
Pulling grips are utilized by contractors during cable installation and removal to minimize the risk of snags during cable management processes, helping pull cables through tight spaces or around bends more smoothly for an uninterrupted installation experience.
Support Grips
Support grips are single-use tools designed to distribute cable weight evenly along vertical or sloping runs and help prevent potential cable damage by evenly disbursing its load along its entire length. They serve a vital function in cable protection by evenly disbursing weight across its entirety, helping avoid damages associated with vertical runs or slopes.
Strain-Relief Devices
Strain-relief devices are used to pre-bend cables at turns before installation and remove damaged or over-flexed electrical cables, helping maintain integrity while installing cables as well as prevent costly repairs or replacements from taking place during this process. These devices assist installers and help protect cables during the laying processes from becoming damaged during their process of work, helping avoid expensive repairs or replacement costs later on down the line.
Cable Drum Handling Equipment
Cable drum handling equipment is crucial to ensure safe and efficient underground cable installation projects. This equipment ensures cable drums are handled carefully during each phase of their installation process.
Cable Jacks
Cable jacks are hydraulic or screw-type devices used to lift cable drums during installation. Available with various lifting capacities, cable jacks ensure safe handling for cable drums of various sizes and weights.
Cable Drum Trailers
Cable drum trailers provide the safe and secure transport of cable drums between job sites. Their construction allows them to hold onto cable drums without damaging or denting them during transportation – guaranteeing maximum protection of cables during their travels.
Cable Pulling Winches
Cable pulling winches are indispensable tools for underground cable laying, providing the necessary pulling force that ensures accurate placement.
Power Cable Winches
Power cable winches are specifically designed to install LV, MV and HV power cables where high pulling tensions are necessary. They’re powered by heavy-duty diesel engines equipped with hydraulic transmissions for smooth controllable pulling action.
Telecommunications Cable Winches
Telecommunications cable winches are specifically tailored for installing delicate fiber cables and heavier copper cables safely without damage to them. They meet all the specific demands of this industry to guarantee proper installation without disruptions in service delivery.
Cable Socks
Cable socks are indispensable tools in underground cable laying projects, providing secure cable gripping capabilities while pulling through a PVC conduit, a rigid metal conduit, and a trench. Their tight weave creates efficient cable pulling at every step.
Galvanized Steel Cable Socks
Galvanized steel cable socks are durable and resistant to corrosion, making them the ideal solution for use in harsh environments. Available in multiple sizes to meet different cable diameters and break loads.
Stainless Steel and Kevlar Cable Socks
Stainless steel and Kevlar cable socks provide added strength and durability when pulling more demanding cables, handling higher break loads with greater protection for cables during installation.
Cable Rollers and Guides
Cable rollers and guides are essential tools in cable laying projects to safely guide underground wiring through a PVC conduit, a metal conduit or a trench without damage or inaccuracy in their placement. By doing this, damage-prevention measures such as cable rollers can ensure cables are laid precisely without interruption to ensure optimal results for every installation project.
Straight Line Cable Rollers
Straight-line cable rollers are used to guide cables through straight sections of conduits or trenches while helping maintain proper cable alignment and reduce friction during installation.
Corner Cable Rollers
Corner cable rollers are used to safely route cables around bends and turns through a conduit or a trench. By maintaining an ideal bend radius during installation, they help safeguard cable protection.
Training and Certification
Operating equipment requires extensive training and certifications from equipment manufacturers like Vermeer and Ditch Witch, with Vermeer offering comprehensive programs in this regard as well. Their programs teach users safe handling techniques for underground cable laying tools as well as equip them with the knowledge needed to select appropriate tools based on job needs.
Conclusion
Investment in efficient tools and equipment is critical to ensure efficient and safe cable-laying projects. By understanding all available types of equipment and their uses, installation teams can make educated choices regarding which tools best suit their projects – no matter urban or rural. High-quality underground cable installation tools contribute significantly to success by minimizing disruptions while guaranteeing the longevity of installed cables.
