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Overview
Main Insulation Piercing Connectors
Product Features
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Insulating Connector Product Availability: AMERICAS, ANZPAC, ASIA, China, EMEA
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Insulating Connector Technology: Piercing
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Insulating Connector Voltage Class(kV): ≤ 1
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Conductor Insulation: XLPE
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Overhead: Yes
Overview
Our P3X/P4X’s Main Insulation Piercing Connectors are designed for insulated overhead lines. They are made from aluminium and/or copper stranded conductors. The tin-plated copper blades (P3/P4) are embedded in the connector body and surrounded with a sealing compound ensuring weatherproof electrical contact in low voltage overhead distribution networks.
The body of the main service insulation piercing connectors is made of plastic with fiberglass presenting high UV resistance, and good mechanical properties.
A single torque control nut draws the two halves of the connector together and shears off when the teeth have pierced the insulation and made contact with the conductor strands. The bolt is fully insulated and allows installation live line but offload.
Key Features
- Expanded wire range
- Accept copper conductor
- Waterproof
- End caps for taps and splices
- Single bolt application with ring washers for residual pressure
- Torque control nut for precise pressure on conductor and insulation
- Operating temperature -55°C to +55°C
- Installation temperature -20°C
Insulation Piercing Connectors
All our insulation piercing connectors are designed and tested to fit the majority types of cables made in accordance with the European Standard HD 626, regardless if cables are insulated with XLPE, PE or PVC. The products are tested according to national specifications such as NFC 33 020, ANSI C119.5 and European standard EN 50483-4.
These standards include tests to verify reliable operation even in the harshest environments:
- Designed for Installation from –20 °C up to +50 °C
- Operation experience with temperatures ranging from –60 °C up to +60 °C
- No limitation of mechanical loads for main and branch conductors
- Shear head forces are adapted to the required contact forces for each application (main, service, lightning)
- Voltage withstand to 6 kV in a 30 cm water bath
- No change in contact resistance and temperature after overloads and load cycling
- Voltage withstand to 6 kV in metallic balls after heavy weathering exposure (UV-light, humidity and temperature cycling)
- Proven corrosion resistance of metal parts in salt fog chamber and wet SO2 gas chamber
Installation Process
Engineered for Long-Term Reliability
Main Insulation Piercing Connectors
Improving Grid Connectivity
Our Range of Insulation Piercing Connectors
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: When should I use TE's IPC-P3X-P4X Main Insulation Piercing Connectors?
Answer: Our Main Insulation Piercing Connectors are specifically designed for main to main connection in low voltage aerial bundled connector lines. They can also be used with 1500 V, DC considering that the maximum carrying capacity of the P3X and P4X will be respectively 350A RMS and 550A RMS.
Question: Do the Main Insulation Piercing Connectors require cable stripping prior to the installation?
Answer: No, these connectors are easy and fast to install. They have tin-plated copper blades that will pierce the insulation of the cable with no insulation cutback needed.
Question: What is the installation process of the Main Insulation Piercing Connectors?
Answer: A single torque control nut draws the two halves of the connector together and shears off when the teeth have pierced the insulation and made contact with the conductor strands.
Question: Is it possible to re-use a Main Insulation Piercing Connectors that has already been installed?
Answer: No, our Main Insulation Piercing Connectors are not designed to be re-used after dismantling.
Features
Please review product documents or contact us for the latest agency approval information.
Product Type Features
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Insulating Connector Technology Piercing
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Piercing (Main & Tap) Yes
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Piercing Blade Base Material Tinned Copper
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Piercing & Stripping (Opposite Sides) No
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Stripping (Main & Tap) No
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Product Family Insulation Piercing Connector
Configuration Features
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Number of Bolts 1, 2
Electrical Characteristics
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Insulating Connector Voltage Class (kV) ≤ 1
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Conductor Insulation XLPE
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Connection Under Load (90A Max) No
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Current Rating (A) 350, 550
Body Features
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Product Weight (g) 158, 332, 342
Mechanical Attachment
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Shear Head Breaking Torque (Nm) 18
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Shear Head System Yes
Dimensions
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Conductor Range (Main) (mm²) 25 – 120, 25 – 95, 50 – 150, 50 – 150
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Conductor Range (Tap) (mm²) 25 – 120, 25 – 95, 50 – 150, 50 – 150
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Wire Insulation Thickness (Max) 2 mm [ .079 in ]
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Shear Head Size (Across Flats) (mm) 13
Usage Conditions
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Installation Temperature Range -20 – 55 °C [ -4 – 131 °F ]
Operation/Application
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Overhead Yes
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Application Type Main-to-Main Lines
Industry Standards
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Standard Reference EN 50483-4 / NFC 33 020
Product Availability
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Insulating Connector Product Availability AMERICAS, ANZPAC, ASIA, China, EMEA
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Minimum Order Quantity 25, 50
Packaging Features
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Minimum Packaging Unit 25, 50
Reference Number
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TE Internal Number CAT-IPC-P3X-P4X
