While most financial insurances are quite expensive, it’s not the case with a cable lubricant. These lubricants offer the least-expensive insurance policy for cabling installer companies. They provide great protection for the important parts of cable installations. These include the cable, conduit as well as the installation cost. It is because the lubricants help reduce the stress and friction when pulling cables through conduit. In this way, they also minimise the danger of melting the plastic and prevent a pull redo. So, spending a hundred on a cable lubricant can save thousands of dollars on cable installation operations.
While the lubricants are a great insurance for cable installers, using them takes some responsibility of ensuring that they contain no dangerous chemicals. They should also be not flammable and odourless for optimal performance. But how exactly a cable lubricant does its job of lubricating? It’s through the principle of lubricity or the coefficient of friction. The lower it is, the easier it is to pull the cable as there’s also less resistance. So, essentially, opt for a low lubricity. Moreover, lubricants come either thin or thick and are available as gels or pastes. Determining the viscosity of a lubricant depends on the characteristics of the pull.
Choosing the right viscosity is very important and it can be affected by adherence or the way it clings to the cable. Same goes for how it will coat the conduit during a cable pull. And lastly, stability of the cable lubricant is also important. It refers to its tendency to deteriorate over a period of time. This property also means lubrication residue. For instance, a lubricant based on wax or soap can dry, forming a hard mass which can make another cable entry hard with the settling lubricant. Also, if there is no lubricant residue, cable removal can also be hard. So, overall, it takes careful consideration when specifying the right lubricant to protect your cable installation.