35kV Three-Core Heat Shrink Straight-Through Joint

Receiving a 35kV three-core heat shrink joint kit is not quite the same as receiving a single insulating component. The package must support three conductor connections and the restoration of the corresponding cable insulation and protective systems. Missing or incorrectly specified components may only become apparent after the jointing work has started.

RIKI lists its three-core heat shrink straight joint under the 35kV cable accessory range for 21/35kV and 26/35kV XLPE-insulated power cables. Unlike the lower-voltage heat shrink joint ranges, this family has three published conductor-size selections: 50–120, 150–240 and 300–500 mm².

Reading the Kit Photograph Correctly

The product image displays three long black tubes on one side, three additional long black tubes, three shorter assemblies with red ends, and a collection of smaller sleeves and jointing accessories.

This visual arrangement is useful for identifying the three-core product family, but it is not a substitute for a component drawing or packing list. The precise role of every tube, the required quantity of each component and the installation sequence must be established from the supplied technical instructions.

In particular, the image should not be used to assume that every conductor connector, screen bonding component or armour-restoration accessory is included as standard.

One Voltage Class Does Not Mean Identical Cable Dimensions

The 35kV catalog family includes two XLPE cable voltage designations. The actual insulation construction may differ between cables specified as 21/35kV and 26/35kV, even where the conductor cross-section is the same.

These distinctions are important for a straight-through joint because both cable ends must match the joint’s approved dimensional and electrical requirements. Insulation outside diameter, conductive screen preparation and connector dimensions should be checked independently of the nominal conductor-size bracket.

The catalog does not establish that a joint can directly connect a 21/35kV cable to a 26/35kV cable. Such a transition would require a specific engineering and product-compatibility review rather than selection by the common 35kV label.

Define the Cable Pair Before Selecting the Kit

A complete joint enquiry should identify the two cable ends being connected. Where both cables share the same construction, one cable specification may be sufficient for preliminary review. Where they differ, the original and replacement cable datasheets should be supplied separately.

Useful information includes the cable voltage designation, conductor material and cross-section, XLPE insulation outside diameter, metallic-screen construction and any armour or sheath details affecting the joint assembly.

The corresponding connector arrangement should also be defined. A conductor connector must be suitable for its electrical application while physically accommodating the surrounding insulation and jointing components.

Check the Delivery Against the Approved Configuration

Before releasing material for installation, the project team should compare the selected product code, package contents and technical documents with the approved material schedule. The intended splice configuration should be traceable to the supplied installation instructions and any project-specific acceptance documents.

RIKI publishes electrical test references for its 35kV heat shrink accessory series. Those figures help identify the catalog’s technical scope but should not be treated as separate third-party certificates for each straight-joint ordering code.

The final protective arrangement must also be appropriate for the installation environment. A heat shrink joint cannot be assumed suitable for direct burial, permanent immersion or a specific ingress-protection classification simply because it is intended for medium-voltage power cable splicing.

For procurement: approve the product as a complete three-core jointing configuration, not simply as a 35kV tube set. The cable pair, conductor-size selection, accessory list and required documentation should agree before bulk ordering.