Maintenance/Operation of ACSS Conductors

[bhyde]

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience using "hot-stickable" connectors for ACSS conductor? Generally you are required to use compression connectors for ACSS, but that significantly limits your ability to operate and maintain a line.

For example, you have a tap structure off of a ACSS line with a air switch on either side. If you want to perform maintenance on either switch, you must take the tap (and subsequent substation) down. Is there any connector out there for ACSS that is removable with a hot-stick so you could remove jumpers on one side of the tap structure to keep the sub operating?

Thanks

 

[davidbeach]

Put in line switches?

 

[stevenal]

Providing a switch so you can maintain another can sometimes be an unending cycle, as you continue to add maintenance items. No compression stirrups for ACSS?

 

[bhyde]

Stevenal,
I'm not 100% sure what you mean by stirrups, but I Googled it and couldn't find anything for ACSS. How do you use stirrups for non-ACSS conductors?

 

[stevenal]

A stirrup provides a place to land a hot tap. Any mechanical or arcing damage from installing or removing the mechanical tap takes place at the stirrup instead of the main conductor. A quick look at at

http://www.te.com/us/en/industries/energy/pdf/Connectors.pdf

suggested they consider their system suitable for all types of aluminum conductor including ACSS. Stirrups are on page 14. Perhaps you can find suitable compression stirrups as well, but you might want to check with the manufacturers regarding your use.