Performance and Diagnosis of Aluminum Connectors Tested Inside MV Cable Splices

Performance of power cable connectors is usually evaluated under bare conditions as for overhead applications, such as specified in the test standards ANSI C119.4 and IEC 61238-1. Significant differences exist between the requirements of these two standards, in particular, the short-circuit current test that only becomes optional in the recent ANSI 2011 edition. Furthermore, past and recent experience with testing medium-voltage cable splices according to the standard IEEE 404 have revealed the shortcoming of the aluminum connectors tested on aluminum conductors with overheating failure. New mechanical power connectors on the market offering range-taking capability and easy installation promise better connectivity and reproducibility based on the shear-bolt technology. This paper discusses the results as obtained in an accelerated aging test on different types of cable splices with both compression and mechanical connectors. Based on the test results, a simple and effective method is also proposed to identify a degraded connector inside a cable splice.