Renewables – Bigger Cables Need Bigger Tools

The trend in growth for renewable power being added to electric grids around the world is clear:

According to the U.S. Solar Market Insight, “The U.S. solar industry added a record-shattering 32.4 gigawatts (GW) of new electric generating capacity in 2023, a 37% increase from the previous record set in 2021 and a 51% increase from 2022. The Guardian says “Great Britain is on track to generate record levels of solar power this summer”, and Forbes finds that “Solar and wind power drove global renewable electricity generation to a record-breaking 4,748 TWh, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. This growth accounted for 74% of all net additional electricity generated worldwide.”

Not just solar, but land-based and offshore wind power is growing too, with the US Department of Energy projecting total capacity of 224 GW across the country by 2030.

All of this new energy has generated a growth in overall diameter for the cables transmitting power to the grid, and these larger cables require specialized tools to prevent fatigue and injury to the electricians installing them.

Ripley has developed a MAX range of tools aimed squarely at this issue, both bushing-based and adjustable

Most recently, the US16 jacket stripping tool’s big brother, the US16 MAX, launched to tackle cables up to 1000 MCM AWG at 35kV. On the other side of the inverter, the PV stripping kit has continually added bushing sizes for installers needing to tackle 2kV aluminum wire with ease, up to 1000 MCM.

Ripley’s range of adjustable tools has grown too – starting with the outer jacket. Our innovative US15 cable slitter was followed by the heavier duty US15 PRO and finally by the US15 PRO MAX to accommodate cables up to 3.15″ / 80mm in outer diameter. The US15 Series growth called for an update in our well-known SCS (semi-con scorer) tool, so naturally we’ve added the SCS MAX to score peelable semi-con up to 2.96″ / 75mm in outer diameter.

European HV jointers and anyone working with bonded semi-con knows the US02 is the best tool on the market for shaving semi-con, so Ripley expanded that range as well, rolling out the US02 MAX for cables up to 3.15″ / 80mm.

Best of all, many of these adjustable tools have been pulled together into focused kits like the MV Underground Kit – ask your Ripley or Hubbell contact today how you can customize one to your needs.

So for whatever size of cable you see, Ripley’s got renewables covered!

Products mentioned in the article

US16 MAX Jacket Removal Tool