Navigating a tight fit

CONTROL CABINETS, plant switchgear and building services, including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, all require access for cabling. Electrical installers or building services engineers are tasked with commissioning, installing and securing such access - ideally as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. But in many cases, access to such industrial enclosures is restricted, and space is often at a premium, making traditional solutions awkward to install, while the harsh environment they are situated in demands that such access must be weatherproof and not allow ingress of water, dust or dirt.

Traditional dome top cable glands are ideal for creating simple, secure entry points for bulkheads and enclosures. Secured from the inside using a locking nut, they form an IP68 seal through which a cable can be easily routed. However, when access to the enclosure is restricted or space is tight, installation time can be greatly increased and it can even be necessary to adopt specialist tooling - or, if the panel is large, two installers may be required to assemble the glands into position. 

Alternatives to dome top glands

Rapid assembly cable glands can offer a potential alternative to traditional dome top glands. But plant and mechanical engineers often don’t put much faith in such rapid assembly products - and their reluctance is hardly surprising, since they typically require a special tool for assembly, are often unwieldy to install and form an unreliable seal. 

Specialist manufacturer and supplier of electrical and electromechanical components, Hylec-APL’s Kwik-Fix cable glands represent the first real advancement of rapid assembly cable gland design in many years - and don’t require a special assembly tool either. 

Designed for use in applications where access to the interior of a bulkhead or enclosure is restricted, the patented Kwik-Fix cable gland is installed from one side of a panel, without any special tools, doesn’t require a rear-mounted locknut and can still achieve IP68 sealing of a cable transit. The Kwik-Fix can also reduce installation time, increasing productivity and profitability, and is especially suitable for use with large switch cabinets, as well as cooling and heating systems. 

The Kwik-Fix cable gland is installed by placing the mounting foot of the gland through the entry hole. The mounting foot features a lip that can be pulled tight against the inner wall; an external hexagonal locking nut is then turned anti-clockwise to hold the gland in place and form an IP68 seal. Once locked in place you can install the corresponding cable in the traditional manner, tightening the top dome nut in a clockwise direction. 

Simplifying installation and maintenance

This means that the gland can be easily mounted or dismounted from one side, making installation and maintenance far simpler. In addition, the gland takes up less internal space, leaving more room for internal wiring within the enclosure. The gland can be fitted onto entries where wall thickness is between 1mm and 4mm and the waterproof solution can operate safely in temperatures between -20°C and 100°C. 

Previously, when faced with restricted interior or rear access, installers have been forced to use products that do not guarantee the seal. Also, they often required special tools. Kwik-Fix cable glands are easily installed and removed from one side only, making installation and maintenance far simpler and reducing costs. 

Michael Crowther is sales and marketing director at Hylec-APL

For more information:     

www.hylec-apl.com

Tel: 01933 234400