When water enters a cable, what do you do? Water in a cable is a serious problem. So far, there's no particularly effective solution. You can either install a joint or replace the entire cable. Given the potential for water in the cable, prevention is generally the priority.
1. Hazards of Water Ingress in Cables
Generally speaking, after a cable is submerged in water, it will experience "water treeing" under the influence of electromagnetic fields. It's only a matter of time before the cable is damaged, leading to a breakdown.
2. Causes of Water Ingress in Cables
1. During cable laying and storage, the cable ends are not sealed or the sealing performance is poor, allowing water vapor to penetrate the cable.
2. During cable laying, the cable ends are not properly sealed, immersed in water, or laid through pipes, causing the cable's outer insulation to break, allowing water to penetrate the cable. After cable laying, the cable ends are not promptly installed, leaving them exposed to air or moisture for extended periods.
3. Localized cable breakdown occurs during power supply operation, allowing water to penetrate the cable. Of course, there are many other causes, so I won't list them all here.
III. Solutions for Water Ingress in Cables
1. After laying the cables, promptly prepare the cable heads and complete the wiring to eliminate potential problems before they occur.
2. If only the two ends of the cable are submerged, simply cut them off and reconnect them.
3. If there is an obvious point of water ingress, the cable must be cut near the point of ingress and a joint must be made.
4. Water will inevitably accumulate in outdoor cable wells or cable trays, so try to keep the cables high and secure them with brackets.
5. Specialized hot nitrogen is used to pressurize and dry the inside of the cable, but such specialized equipment is often unavailable.
6. Regularly perform pressure leak tests on the cables to ensure timely monitoring of their operating status.
In short, the best solution is to learn how to prevent water ingress in cables! Once water ingress occurs, the cable is essentially useless. Therefore, regular inspection, maintenance, and water prevention of cables are essential during daily use. I hope the above information is helpful.
