PAL Series Insulation Piercing Connector
Insulation piercing connector for tapping aerial bundled cable without stripping
Product Overview
The PAL series taps a main conductor on an insulated overhead line without cutting the insulation back. Serrated teeth penetrate to the conductor, the body closes around the puncture, and the shear head bolt sets the contact force and then breaks off so the installer knows the joint is finished. The main line keeps a continuous insulation system everywhere except inside the sealed connector body.
Key Benefits
- Taps the main without stripping it so the insulation system stays continuous
- Sealed body keeps moisture out of the puncture point
- Shear head bolt sets a repeatable contact force with no torque wrench at the pole top
- Range covers a spread of main and tap conductor combinations
Problems It Solves
- Stripped taps becoming water ingress and corrosion points
- High resistance tap joints heating under load
- Taps that cannot be made without taking the feeder out of service
Application Scenarios
- Service drops from an aerial bundled cable main to customer premises
- Street lighting taps along an existing insulated distribution main
- Temporary construction site supplies taken from a bundled main
- Adding load to an existing insulated overhead network
Who It Is For
- Distribution utilities operating aerial bundled cable networks
- Service connection crews making house and shop drops
- Street lighting contractors
- Maintenance teams adding taps to existing feeders
Technical Features
- Serrated piercing teeth make contact through the insulation
- Shear head bolt sets clamping force and separates at the correct value
- Sealed body enclosing the contact area
- Ranged by main and tap conductor cross section
Specifications
| Product Family | Piercing Clamp |
|---|---|
| Series | PAL |
| Connection Type | Insulation piercing, no conductor stripping |
| Bolt Type | Shear head |
| Conductor Range | Selected against main and tap cross sections at quotation |
Materials
- Insulating body housing the contact
- Metal piercing contacts
- Shear head clamping bolt
Manufacturing Process
- Moulding of the connector body
- Forming of the piercing contacts
- Assembly with the shear head bolt
- Packing for export
Customisation Options
- Series and size selected from your main and tap conductor cross sections
- Project quantities quoted against a service connection schedule
- Supplied with the cable and bundled main hardware on one order
Compared With Other Options
| Stripped and taped tap | A stripped tap leaves exposed conductor under a cover, which is where water and corrosion start. A piercing connector leaves the main insulation intact. |
|---|---|
| PA series | The series differ by the main and tap conductor sizes they clamp. Send both cross sections and the correct series is confirmed. |
| Brass clamp | A brass clamp is a bolted body for conventional connections. The PAL connector is specifically for tapping insulated conductor without stripping it. |
Use Guide
- Check the main and tap conductor sizes are inside the connector range before fitting
- Seat both conductors fully in their channels
- Tighten the shear head bolt until the head separates - that is the completion signal
- Support the tap conductor so its weight does not load the connector body
- Do not reuse a connector whose bolt has already sheared
Related Products
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TTD Series Insulation Piercing Connector
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Brass Clamp
Brass clamp body for overhead line connection and tap positions
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PAL Series Insulation Piercing Connector Questions
How do I choose between PAL and the other series
By the cross sections of the main and the tap. Send both numbers with the enquiry and the series and size are confirmed against them.
What happens if the bolt head does not shear
The connection is not finished. The shear point is how the correct contact force is verified without a torque wrench at the top of a pole.
Can the connector be reused
No. Once the teeth have penetrated and the bolt has sheared, the contact geometry cannot be restored by refitting it.
Get a Price on PAL Series Insulation Piercing Connector
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