Service Entrance Cable Strippers

[JOHNEO99]

Hello

I am using SE cable for the first time and was wondering if there is a tool used to remove the outer jacket of the cable.

Any suggestions?

John

 

[iwire]

A sharp knife.

I use a razor knife.

 

[iwire]

As you have not worked with it I can tell you a couple of things.

It strips easier than NM

When stripped it looks like this

Notice the Neutral /Ground is wrapped around the phase conductors.

You will need to unwrap the strands than twist them up into a conductor for terminating.

 

[Natfuelbilll]

When you go at the outer sheath with your razor knife, don't go crazy with cutting all the way to the neutral wires. All you need is a very light score that will then serve to let you rip the cable off, kind of like the score on the top of a pop can. If you dig too deep the neutrals get nicked and that little nick can let the wire develop crack, and sooner or later a break.

 

[infinity]

I always use a data cable stripping knife. It has a flat plate perpendicular to the blade that slides under the outer jacket and doesn't damage the wire. When I can't find the thing I just use a razor knife, but the data knife really makes the task simple and quick.

 

[LarryFine]

Agreed. (Edit: Trevor snuck in; I was adressing Billl's post) Make a light score around the cable where you want it to strip to, and a straight slit to the end, cutting deeper for the last several inches, so you can strip easier.

With experience, you can get the tip of a sharp blade in the jacket, lay it flat, and run it the length of the strip quickly and without snagging strands.

I strip large-gauge conductors the same way, except I make the scores deeper, and then grip one edge of the length-wise cut with my Kleins and rotate them.

 

[mdshunk]

You can also use the string that is wound over the interleaving to "unzip" the jacket, sorta like the string in a band-aid wrapper.

 

[LarryFine]

You can also use the string that is wound over the interleaving to "unzip" the jacket, sorta like the string in a band-aid wrapper.

(In my best Maxwell Smart voice: ) "A-ha! The old use-the-strip-cord-as-a-strip-cord trick!"

 

[JohnE]

I use an old fashioned jack knife to strip the SE cable. I also use that jack knife to strip the conductors inside, as well as romex. Similar to the electrician's jack knife that klein and others make, but I use a swiss army as it is a much better blade.