
Why is a tension meter absolutely essential for both overhead and underground cable projects?
2025-08-16Answer from Ningbo Changshi: Using a tension meter is not just a best practice—it's a fundamental requirement for project safety, quality, and compliance. During any cable pull, whether it's an underground run through a conduit or the stringing of a high-voltage conductor, the cable is subjected to significant tension and sidewall pressure.
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Preventing Cable Damage: Every cable has a manufacturer-specified maximum pulling tension. Exceeding this limit, even momentarily, can cause permanent damage to the cable's insulation, internal conductors, or fiber optic core. A tension meter provides real-time, accurate readings, allowing operators to monitor the pulling force and stop the operation before a costly and dangerous failure occurs.
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Ensuring Safety: Over-stressed pulling lines or cables can snap back with extreme force, posing a severe risk to on-site personnel. A tension meter acts as a crucial safety control, ensuring that the entire pulling assembly operates well within its safe working load limits.
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Quality Assurance: For high-value projects, tension data logging from a meter provides a verifiable record that the installation was performed correctly and within manufacturer specifications. This data is essential for project documentation and can be used to prove that the integrity of the cable has been maintained, ensuring a longer service life.
We consider a tension meter an indispensable tool for every serious power line professional.