Remember when you didn't need a computer science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to actively diagnose automotive issues? If something was wrong, you just tinkered with the parts.

Electric wire and cable systems are the lifeline of any industrial application. If one of your cables fail — the entire system comes to a halt, leaving you with costly downtime.

As you know, the medium voltage cable business is full of risk if not carefully handled. When working within a 5kV to 35kV medium voltage range, it’s easy to keep your schedule top of mind, but safety has to come first. Do you have a deployment strategy? How does it perform for you?

Many companies talk about how safety is their top priority and promote the extra precautions they are taking to ensure personnel safety, but all too often, we hear of recordable injuries that could have been prevented by taking a few extra steps.

Think about these five considerations when choosing how to deploy your medium voltage power cables:

In the world of medium voltage, there are specific cables and designations to be aware of. While they may appear
to be similar, there are important differences that can help you avoid potentially dangerous risks by understanding which cables to use for your precise applications.

Medium voltage applications require cables that are designed specifically to handle voltages ranging from 5kV to 35kV, sometimes called Type-MV, Type-SH, and Type MV with concentric neutrals.

Let's examine each of these three medium voltage cables more closely and go over the similarities and differences between them.

Flexible wire and cable is beneficial across various industrial applications from crane hoists to conveyors. It’s important to understand that this flexibility doesn't happen by accident. It’s achieved by maximizing best practices and using high-quality materials throughout each and every wire and cable product.

Mining is an inherently harsh environment. Applications expose cable to serious abuse, which is a common cause for failure in commodity cable. Choosing a high-performance cable, assembly or accessory is critical to maintaining safety and reducing labor, material and downtime costs. Even better, mining cable that is MSHA-approved will keep your site in good standing.

Mining is a tough job. Here's a look at the areas where your cable needs to be even tougher.

It’s no secret that the shipyard industry is full of harsh conditions that threaten the operational life of traditional electrical wire and cable.

The Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) market is positioned for growth with some reports predicting a market value greater than $20 billion by 2021. What's driving this growth? Advantages to using VFD such as tighter process control and cost savings achieved through improved efficiency, reduced energy usage, and decreased maintenance. While controllers and motors combine as the two primary components to VFD, there is one additional component that is often overlooked and yet it is key to achieving the above-outlined benefits: the cable. 

In an industrial setting, it’s imperative to be aware of the chemicals coming into contact with your cable and how they may impact the life of the cable. The cable’s jacket can swell, bloat, or harden after exposure, and even penetrate to the cable itself. Being armed with this knowledge will help you choose a proper cable that will last.

Here are some of the common chemicals to which your industrial power cables may be subjected.

WHY HAVE AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN?

If we've learned anything from recent events, having an operations plan in case of an emergency plays a very important role in keeping your facility up and running and your people safe. Your plan can provide guidance to employees during an emergency and highlight potential issues in your facility, such as hazardous conditions and a lack of resources, that you may be able to fix prior to an emergency happening.