Electric wires and cables are the lifeline of most if not all industrial applications. If your cables fail, your entire system comes to a halt leaving you with costly downtime and loss of profit.

As a busy manager or department head in any industrial plant, you always have a lot to worry about every day. Implementing and following some basic guidelines will extend the lifespan of your cables, reduce downtime, decrease safety and non-conformance issues and increase the overall efficiency of the plant.

Here are some common practices for proper wire and cable care:

1. Choose an Effective Approach

Study the various different kinds of cables available on the market and choose the most suitable cable for your application and your industrial environment.Always prioritize safety, so choose a cable type and size that will work best for:

  • Ambient temperature
  • Mechanical strength
  • Safety
  • Carrying capacity
  • Expected performance in its environment

Always make sure to educate and train your staff on maintenance, cable limitations as well as to identify the signs to reduce your cable failure.

2. Prevent Damage

  • Avoid kinking, twisting of your wire and cable when installing
  • Kinking and twisting your cables can mechanically stress and weaken the conductors
  • Avoid tension and run-overs
  • Take note of the minimum bend radius
  • Consult your electric wire and cable provider for his recommendations for your industrial setting
  • Avoid any form of impact or crushing that can damage the jacket
  • Keep the wire and cables away from any elements the application does not have to be exposed to e.g. direct flame

3. Make Cable Reel Adjustments

  • Reverse cable ends from time to time to prevent one end from experiencing prolonged exposure to a harsh environment such as high temperatures
  • Tie your cable to avoid backspooling
  • Maintain a proper tension
  • Make sure to have accountability for voltage drop, if left unaccounted it may lead to premature machine/motor failure
  • Machine can overheat

4.Make Repairs On Time

  • Inspect your cables regularly and repair them before they are damaged beyond repair
  • Remove all cut and crushed cables before they lead to an unsafe condition
  • Maintain a stock of spare cable to replace any damaged cable in case of a temporary fix

5. Maintain Records
Make sure to maintain the following records:

  • Installation date of wire and cable
  • Cause of every single failure:
    • Highlight of areas where your biggest problems occur
    • Pinpoint failure at the root of the cause
    • Helps develop a preventative plan to catch failures before they occur
    • Removal of wire and cable for repairs
  • Analyze your wire and cable performance regularly

Proper care and regular maintenance of your wire and cable is crucial for you to keeping downtime to a minimum and keeping your system running efficiently and reliably on a continuous basis. Using the above 5 guidelines will greatly help your staff and maintenance personnel care and maintain all the electrical wires and cables in their respective departments.

Make sure to regularly check all your wiring and cable system else it can be a lot more expensive if not taken care of in time as well as creating downtime which can grind your whole system to a halt. Don’t delay and contact our team at D&F Liquidators for guiding you on how to extend your wiring and cable’s life and get your money’s worth.