12kv T-Body splices shield not grounded

[MGE]

I was in a manhole today (unenergized) and I noticed that there were some existing 12kv 600a Deadbreak T-Body splices (Elastimold) 500mcm and the outer shield on the EPR Cables did not have a ground strap coming off at the bottom of the T-Body. Wouldn't you need to tie that in to the ground wire that is pulled in with the feed? If you had more than 1 splice in a run you would have an isolated section of cabling in the middle that would be ungrounded. What am I missing?
Thanks
MGE

 

[jghrist]

I was in a manhole today (unenergized) and I noticed that there were some existing 12kv 600a Deadbreak T-Body splices (Elastimold) 500mcm and the outer shield on the EPR Cables did not have a ground strap coming off at the bottom of the T-Body. Wouldn't you need to tie that in to the ground wire that is pulled in with the feed? If you had more than 1 splice in a run you would have an isolated section of cabling in the middle that would be ungrounded. What am I missing?
Thanks
MGE

There would be a high resistance section (the semicon on the splice bodies) between adjacent shields. Circulating current in the shields will have to flow through the semicon and may cause high voltages, but the high resistance will also reduce circulating currents. Under normal conditions, the cable may operate without problems, but it's not a good situation. If an ungrounded section of cable has a cable fault, the overcurrent protection may not operate properly and there may be dangerously high voltages oon the shield.

 

[MGE]

Your absolutly correct another problem that could occur would be if there was another splice w/no shield bonding to ground and a fault would occur there would be no path for it to go to ground. I will suggest to the customer that over the xmas shutdown when we do their PM's we could de-energize that feeder and we should install some spring clips and 1/2' braid with a mastic seal and wrap it all with 33+ to seal andkearny onto the bare ground wire pulled in with the feed. Normally there is a ground shield adadpter that is installed before the T-Body is put on to get a good waterproof seal. Thanks for your reply
MGE