My email will bounce (used for Google Groups as I login all over the
place).

There isn't a problem with water -in- the box, its where it drains down
the outside and then goes under the box and seemingly makes its way into
the bit between the bottom of the box and the top of the sealing of the
gland cover...


I'm puzzled by that.

Cause #1 - Water fills the shroud around the gland, seeps under
threads over time.

Conventional glands are IP66 with a nylon/fibre sealing washer to the
box, Deluge glands are IP68 and basically have a seal on the armour-
retention nut to specifically stop this water ingress problem under
severe water spray. I doubt this is the cause for you unless you have
the nasty "tap taper thread glands" that are a coarse taper thread and
will jump thread as soon as you the SWA cone begins to clamp the
armour. Screwfix glands seem well ok for the money (fine precise
thread).

Cause #2 - Water ingress running down cores - hole in bottom does not
help.

This can be due to lack of nylon/fibre sealing washer, or water
penetrating outer sheath gland.

Cause #3 - Water ingress due to heat/cool cycles.

As the box is subject to heat/cool cycles any standing water on the
lid interface (or non washer-sealed glands) will be drawn in, the cold
bridge of the SWA metal gland overnight will attract condensation
which builds up in the gland body.
Conventional glands (CW) do not have an inner seal on the bedding like
E1W which are aimed at stopping this problem, but are an expensive
solution - better to use a higher grade box.

Pratley Klik-Lok look an interesting IP68 box - 5-entry (so double
from below which is handy), earthing ring or you can use TLC Piranha
Nuts, good IP68 rating. Probably more resilient to distortion with SWA
than most placcy boxes at about £14 a go - you use conventional M20
glands & nylon/fibre sealing washers. Ordered one for my own use so
may report back. Some IP68 boxes require glands to be screwed in, then
SWA offered up, this could get a bit fiddly up a pole :-)

Generally when SWA has armour rotted it is from moisture "down the
core/bedding hole" because it has unimpeded access to the armour and
will simply sit there and eat the armour down through the cable given
time. It can track through threads if they are nasty. No idea if using
say the Bicon (pitch) on the threads would be permitted (as in seal
but also allow future removal for inspection & testing). Silicone
grease solves over time, silicone sealant of the non-acetic time would
prevent inspection & testing entirely.

You could just try "potting" the core/bedding into the top of the
gland with Bicon/Prysmian/Pirelli/Bicc non-setting compound, that
would eliminate that as a cause. I doubt Magic Gel will weep around
the armour sufficiently to seal it re air pocket. E1W glands are about
£8-14 per pk of 2 depending on how many you buy re inner-bedding seal
& outer-bedding seal - if you have a lot that gets expensive fast.

Any corrosion to the jn-box terminals? If no evidence there it does
look like gland cone-nut penetration - slot the shroud?

Any corrosion to the jn-box terminals? If no evidence there it does
look like gland cone-nut penetration - slot the shroud?

This looks like Option One to me.

I reckon the best bet is to fill up the shroud with silicone grease and
inspect that a few times a year, not a problem all is easily
accessible


And no water inside at all:...
--
Tony Sayer

js.b1 wrote:

Cause #1 - Water fills the shroud around the gland, seeps under
threads over time.

Conventional glands are IP66 with a nylon/fibre sealing washer to the
box, Deluge glands are IP68 and basically have a seal on the armour-
retention nut to specifically stop this water ingress problem under
severe water spray. I doubt this is the cause for you unless you have
the nasty "tap taper thread glands" that are a coarse taper thread and
will jump thread as soon as you the SWA cone begins to clamp the
armour. Screwfix glands seem well ok for the money (fine precise
thread).

another option would be someone used the so called 2 part glands
designed for indoor use that lack the final sealing nut....



--
Cheers,

John.

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