INSTITUTION: KIMATHI UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL: SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING CLASS: TELECOMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION ENGINEERING UNIT: WORKSHOP

PRACTICE II UNIT CODE: ETI 2105 TITLE: THROUGH MARRIED CABLE JOINT NAME: CHURCHILL KINYANJUI NDICHU REGISTRATION NUMBER: E020-0303/2011 LECTURER: RIITHO JOSEPH DATE: OCTOBER 4TH 2011

TITLE: THROUGH MARRIED CABLE JOINT

OBJECTIVE The main objective of the exercise was to make a through married joint joining two pieces of stranded cable of 2.5mm (7/0.357mm) 300mm long. INTRODUCTION Joints in electrical installation are characterized by strong mechanical connection and good conduction ability. The sheath/insulator is carefully removed to avoid nicking the wires. The copper is may also be thoroughly cleaned by scraping or rubbing with fine emery cloth, and the two ends are twisted together and soldered into a solid mass. The joint is then insulated by binding the stripped wire with two layers of pure rubber strip, and finally protected by a layer of prepared tape stuck on by means of rubber solution. Care should be taken that the solder thoroughly permeates the whole joint. Soldering is best performed with a soldering iron of good size, with a groove near the end of the bit in which the wires are placed during the soldering process. The joint is then laid in the groove, and resin is sprinkled upon it and the end of a strip of solder is placed upon that; the solder melts immediately and permeates the whole joint if the soldering iron is at the correct temperature. No other flux but resin should be used, as others, such as acid or "killed-spirit," cause the copper to corrode. When the joint has cooled any irregularities should be trimmed off with a file. The resulting joint is a strong one that is applied in joining of overhead electricity transmission cables.

TOOLS
1) A cable of 2.5mm (7/0.357mm) 300mm long 2) Side cutter 3) Pliers 4) Stripping knife

PROCEDURE
The 300mm cable of 2.5mm (7/0.357mm) was cut into two pieces and the end of each piece stripped at a length of 100mm. The strands of each piece were twisted about 50mm from the insulation and the remaining partition was untwisted and the strands strengthened. The strands of the two pieces were then entwined systematically ensuring they did not overlap each other. The surplus strands were cut off leaving 10mm from the insulation.

CONCLUSION
The cable joint assumed the shape above giving a strong mechanical connection and good conduction ability. A through married joint gives a stable jointing between two cables whose length is to be increased or made longer. The joint is best suited for conducting cables that experience some stress. Soldering the joint ensures a good mechanical connection between the jointed conductors while the electrical tape used to cover the joint ensures no current is leaked.
3

QUESTIONS i) Write down the procedure that would follow after the joint has been soldered to the point where the cable can be used to distribute power. The joint would be left to cool and any irregularities trimmed off using a file. It would be insulated by rubbing rubber solution over the exposed conductor surface. Pure rubber strips would be tightly wound in at least two layers over the whole length of the joint and a small amount of rubber solution applied in to the outer layer so that the protecting coat of tape can adhere to it. The tape would be wound in two layers and amalgamated further using rubber solution making the joint ready for power distribution. ii) In what situation would such a joint be necessary and why. Where a power distribution cable is not long enough hence such a joint minimizes the cost of buying a new cable and wasting materials since the cable that is not long enough is not discarded. iii) Name types of cables where such joints would be used and the necessary tools. These cables include: 1. Seven stranded cable 2. Nineteen stranded cable 3. Single stranded cable Tools involved in the exercise are: 1. Side cutter 2. Pair of pliers 3. Stripping knife

REFERENCE 1. Modern buildings, their planning, construction and equipment vol. 3 by G.A.T Middleton 2. Free Books / Architecture / Modern Buildings Vol3 / file://localhost/D:/Class%20Work/Workshop%20II/Jointing%20Cables.mht
4