How to handle large electrical cable drums

Large-format electrical cable drums require special handling to ensure that the cable is not damaged in any way during transport and handling.

Special cable drums are considered to be those with a diameter of 1,600 mm2 or more and weighing more than 3,5 tons.

PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE CORRECT HANDLING OF LARGE FORMAT CABLE DRUMS

1. LARGE FORMAT ELECTRICAL CABLE DRUMS HANDLING – WITH FORKLIFT

Large format cable drums can never be laid down, they should always be handled with a forklift avoiding contacting the blades directly with the cable.

It can only be attacked on the part of the cable if it is fully protected with Propaflex or similar material, to avoid possible contact with the cable.

2. LARGE FORMAT ELECTRICAL CABLE DRUMS HANDLING – BY CRANE

To be able to correctly handle large format drums with an overhead crane, we must be equipped with the appropriate tools.

We must have two iron bars strong enough to handle the weight they must support. Two side chains will be hung from each end of one of the bars. At the ends of the chains there will be a hook where the other iron bar will be attached to the coil through the holes in the shaft.

This operation prevents the chains or cables from pressing against the wings of the coil, thus preventing it from breaking. Should this breakage occur, the cable would be damaged and the handling operation would be jeopardised.

Due to its complexity, this operation should always be carried out by personnel trained in handling cranes or bridge cranes.

3. PROTECTION OF LARGE FORMAT ELECTRICAL CABLE DRUMS

To ensure that the cable is not damaged by impacts during transport and handling, the drum will be fitted with a film protection that is accepted and approved by major electricity companies.

This protection will be fastened with two straps around it. The ends of the cables will also be protected with heat-shrinkable caps for Medium Voltage cables or air-shrinkable caps for Low Voltage cables. These caps prevent the possible entry of humidity into the conductor.

4. LOADING AND UNLOADING A LORRY WITH LARGE FORMAT ELECTRICAL CABLE DRUMS

Due to the dimensions and weight of these drums, we must ensure that during transport the load does not suffer any improper movement. For this reason, we will place the coils up to a diameter of 2200 mm2 on especially designed pallets for cable drums and we will strap the pallet to the drum if it is considered necessary to have a better grip.

For drums with 2400 mm2 diameter or more, we will secure them with wedges or special fastening with straps or other elements.

Once the material arrives at its destination, it must be unloaded using a forklift truck or crane. We will never let the drum fall to the ground from the truck using sand, tires or any other element to absorb the impact, as the cable and the reel will surely be damaged.

5. STOWAGE FOR LARGE FORMAT ELECTRICAL CABLE DRUMS

These cable types have been designed to support the load vertically. Therefore, the stowage must be in this position. At Top Cable we never recommend stacking the drums, as they are round and unstable.

On the other hand, if the drum is knocked over, the same weight and the impact of the drum when knocked over could seriously damage the cable. In addition, the wing of the drum that would support the entire weight of the package would break, also damaging the cable.