The most secure way to connect ACSS Cables

Expand Collapse

Aluminum Conductor Steel Supported (ACSS) cables are designed to be primarily supported by a steel core. This means it sags less at higher operating temperatures and has lower line losses versus other conductor types.

Why Choose DMC for ACSS?

Superior Design

In order to carry the higher currents and exceed standards, our ACSS 2-Stage connectors are larger and contain more aluminum than the competition. This difference is especially prominent versus some manufacturers that lump their ACSR & ACSS products together to reduce cost and inventory.  DMC Power ACSS connectors are specially designed to operate at peak performance for the specific application for as long as possible, not a "one-size-fits-all" cost cutting measure.

Exceeds Conductor Requirements

Automatic splices are not recommended for use with ACSS conductors. DMC Power 2-Stage Compression meets all manufacturer requirements and ensures proper gripping of the steel core.

Fastest, Safest Installation Method

Birdcaging? Forget about it! Our 2-Stage connectors have been designed to meet all requirements of ACSS cables.

The First Stage of installation begins with our internal steel gripping core/eye loop being Swaged compressed directly onto the conductor’s steel core.

The Second Stage has the aluminum sleeve placed over the conductor and gripping core/eye loop. Starting from the top near the Eye Loop, the outer sleeve is Swaged down the barrel towards the open end

 

Top Quality Materials

DMC Power Competitor
Aluminum Alloy 1100 1100
Conductivity (IACS %) 57% 57%
Manufacture Drawn or Machined Drilled Drawn

Tested and Certified

RUNS COOLER, LONGER

During ANSI C119.4 type testing, DMC Power ACSS Deadends and Splices showed superior resistance stability on all samples through 500 thermal cycles at 250°C-285°C above room temperature. Additional extreme temperature cycling to 325°C was performed for 280 more cycles with all samples averaging 50% cooler than the control and the post-aging tensile load yielding 104% RBS.

THERMAL MECHANICAL ACSS TESTING

Our ACSS line of high temperature Deadends and Splices have been independently tested to the rigorous international standards of CIGRE TB 426. Accordingly, samples were subjected to 500 current cycles at 250°C with 25% RBS constant tension including 5 separate sustained holds at 70% RBS for 24 hours. All DMC Power connectors passed easily with the post-aging tensioned conductor breaking at a remarkable 103% RBS.

Swage Tooling

6 Dies Only!

As with our substation productions, DMC Power Swage Tools for Full Tension applications are lightweight, easy to operate and produce consistent, repeatable connections.

And unlike other installation methods, there are only 6 different dies that are possible! All ACSS 2-Stage connections can be made with as little as two Head assemblies (one for the inner core and one out sleeve).  Each Head Assembly is easy to change - in fact, the only thing easier than changing Head Assemblies is installing the connector!

  • ACSS Connector Internal Collet Swaged
  • ACSS Connector Outer Barrel Swage
  • ACSS Connector Outer Barrel Swage
  • ACSS Line Hung

ACSR Connector Features

  • Type testing was successfully performed on DMC Power ACSS Swage connectors of various sized conductors by Kinectrics. All test connectors, as tested, met the acceptance criteria of their specific governing standard as follows:
    • Sheave and Pullout Test sequence – ACSS Drake conductor
    • Class AA, Current Cycle Test (500 cycles) as per ANSI C119.4 – ACSS Falcon conductor
    • Thermo-Mechanical Cycle Test – ACSS Drake conductor
  • DMC ACSS Dead Ends and Splices were subjected to 285⁰c for 500 thermal cycles during ANSI C119.4 Type testing. With superior resistance stability of all samples at 500 cycles the test line was subjected to a temperature extreme of 325⁰c for an additional 280 cycles. Samples ran 50% cooler then the control and post aging mechanical test yielded 104% RBS.