String in SWA cables

[Stroppy]

Here's a question: What is the purpose of the length of string found in the middle of larger CSA SWA cables? Strain relief when pulling the cable, or something else?

 

[snowhead]

Filler

 

[Lighthouse Phil]

To help maintain the shape of the cable ???

 

[Plonker 3]

To help keep the round shape of the outer insulation.

 

[sjhall]

How large are you talking?

There was string in the SWA I've just done but it was only small 5 core 10mm .... I used it to strip the rather stiff sheath from the cores

 

[Stuuk1]

I've always been lead to believe its to fill the empty space to maintain the rounded shape

 

[snowhead]

The bigger the cores get the bigger the hole in the middle gets, unless the cores are triangular.

I'd guess it's more to keep the shape during production than for any benefit afterwards.

 

[Knobhead]

It's called worming. Just fills the gaps and gets in the bloody way when making off the cable. It's a hangover from the days of PILC cables.

 

[Stroppy]

The gap-filling idea seems to make sense. I saw it in a 35mm cable, I think. Thanks for the replies.

 

[markc123]

Its there to test you when you come to snip it off tight that you don't snip abit of the insulation on the cores at the same time

 

[telectrix]

all wrong. the string is the drag cord for the little tiny men to pull the conductors in with. they always pull in an extra string so they know the shortest way out from the tunnel.

 

[Guest111]

it is indeed a filler,it has only 2 purposes in life one is to help maintain the shape of the overall cable and the other is to get in the way when working with said cable. lol

 

[CSEE]

I thought it was there to allow the gypsies to hold up there trousers after losing weight nicking copper cables and stripping it for cash?
Damn !!!

 

[Engineer54]

Talking about SWA cables, ...How many of you use ''breakouts'' when terminating SWA ends in external installations, wet/humid environments, or Switchboards etc?? Not many i'll wager!! lol!!

 

[telectrix]

i just bung 1/2 tube of silicon in and around. keeps the spiders out as a bonus.:24: