Question 1

01 / Why is it important to use specialty clamps to secure power cables?

Accepted Answer

Clamps are used to secure power cables to structures, walls, towers, and any other substrate where they need to be fixed. Mechanically, the cables need to be attached so that they’re held in place withstanding the forces that they’re subjected to during normal operation: the cable’s own weight, thermal expansion & contraction, as well as the electromagnetic forces generated in case there is a short circuit. Even though the cables are typically connected to protection devices, this is often not enough to guarantee that the cables will not experience fault currents. Such high currents in turn would subject the cables to excessive forces, which very likely would physically damage both the cables and any surrounding property.

Question 2

02 / Which factors should be considered when specifying and selecting cable clamps?

Accepted Answer

Cable dimensions, in particular its outer diameter.
Cable arrangement. Depending on the cable laying geometry, cables can be secured individually, in groups of 3 (trefoil, linear), 4 (linear, square), or more cables secured together.
Substrate. The material, thickness and geometry of the surface where the clamps will be attached will determine the bolt length required to fasten the clamps. Some examples are: plates, cable trays, structural elements in a lattice tower, struts, drilling onto concrete walls, etc.
Maximum forces the cable would be subjected to in the event of a short circuit, both axial and radial.

Dutchclamp can help you calculate the optimum clamp spacing for your specific application.

Question 3

03 / How can I calculate the optimum spacing between cable clamps?

Accepted Answer

Several technical and economic factors need to be considered when calculating the ideal spacing for installing the clamps:

Axial and radial loads: as a function of the cable weight, short-circuit current and consequential forces, and any other static and dynamic factors.
Cable lateral buckling, in the event of a short-circuit
Ease (and cost) of installation on the substrate

Question 4

04 / Are Dutchclamp products tested and certified?

Accepted Answer

Our products have been extensively tested by:

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. USA (UL)
SGS Belgium NV
Damstra Laboratorium - Eaton Electric (certified by KEMA)
Centrilab – Belgium

Dutchclamp products were successfully tested in accordance with the IEC 61914:2009 international standard. Certificates and test  reports are available upon request. 
Dutchclamp B.V. has also received the ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality control and management systems.

Question 5

05 / Do I need to include elastic inlay when installing the clamps?

Accepted Answer

Including a neoprene elastic inlay is generally recommended whenever the cable needs to be secured using a higher torque on the hardware, to avoid damaging the cable jacket. In applications where the cable is mounted vertically, the inlay helps absorb some of the static forces (weight) the cable is subjected to. The downside of using a neoprene inlay is that it may need to be replaced after several years of use and the clamps would need to be re-torqued. The inserts also reduce the cable diameter range that the specific clamp model can accommodate.

Question 6

06 / Are polymeric clamps subject to hydrolizing processes over time?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolizing is a chemical process in which a compound reacts with water and changes its properties. Dutchclamp products are specially formulated to prevent the polyamide from undergoing this type of reaction. Our products have been tested after more than 40 years of operation and they have demonstrated to retain their original mechanical properties.

Question 7

07 / Where can I buy Dutchclamp in the United States or Canada?

Accepted Answer

Dutchclamp North America is the distributor of Dutchclamp products in the US and Canada. We ship directly to any destination in North America.

Frequently asked questions & answers