If you’ve ever tried pulling a thick cable through a conduit system by hand, you know that you’re fighting a losing battle. Your arms get tired, the cable gets stuck, and you’re left wondering if there’s a better way. Well, there is, and it’s been revolutionising the way we install power systems for decades.
Where You’ll Actually Find Them
Data centres, for example, spring to mind. You’ve got rows of server racks that all need power cables, sometimes running through the floor or along the ceiling. You want to get the power cables installed without damaging the insulation, but that means controlled, constant pulling, exactly what these machines do best.
Industrial settings have their own set of problems. You’ve got factory floors, processing plants, warehouses, all of which involve cable installation over hundreds of metres, sometimes with height variations. It’s not exactly realistic to expect anyone to do all that by hand, not to mention the risk of damaging expensive cables that have been designed to carry particular electrical loads.
Renewable energy installations, such as wind farms, solar farms, battery farms, etc. – all of these make extensive use of cable installation machines. When you’re working with wind turbines across a hillside, or solar panel inverters across a solar farm, a cable pulling machine isn’t just desirable, it’s a necessity.
The Stuff Nobody Tells You
Most people think that a cable pulling machine simply pulls the cables. Well, that’s what they do, but it’s not the whole story. Tension, for example, is crucial. You don’t want to pull the cable so hard that you damage the internal conductors or the insulation. Modern machines have all the bells and whistles, including load cells that provide feedback, so you can adjust the tension accordingly.
Speed is also important. Different cables have different installation speeds. Some cables, for example, overheat during installation. You want to be able to adjust the speed according to the cable, not be forced to do it at a standard rate.
Then there is the issue of what happens at corners or junctions. Cable rollers, in conjunction with the pulling machine, are used to prevent damage at the bend points. Without the support of the rollers, even the smoothest of pulls can result in the destruction of the cable when it hits the corner.
Choosing What Works
First off, you should know what the specifications of the cable are, i.e., its diameter, weight per meter, and coefficient of friction for the chosen type of conduit.
Secondly, think about the work environment. For example, if you are working indoors and space is a constraint, an electric machine would be more suitable as it can be moved between floors easily.
Finally, think about the duty cycle of the machine. Some machines are built to work continuously over long distances, while some are built to work intermittently.
