You reap what you know – Part 2: AML 1 kV in the electrician's hands

YOU REAP WHAT YOU KNOW. Part 2.

In part 1, Jimmy Lundström explained why Skellefteå Kraft chose Nexans AML. Lower reported climate impact carried plenty of weight. But how did the cable weigh up in the hands? And what does the person who actually got it into place have to say? We caught up with distribution electrician Oskar Eklund. Spoiler: 240 is still 240.

Two distribution electricians laid the cable in the pilot project. Oskar was there every day throughout the almost two-week project. So he had plenty of time to get acquainted with Nexans AML – although it felt like a familiar face from the start.

Meet Oskar Eklund

Name: Oskar Eklund

Role:Distribution Electrician

Company:Skellefteå Kraft Energiservice

Years in the industry: Four years at SKE. Previously six years as an Operations Technician.

Education: Electrical and Energy Programme (upper secondary school) Hydropower Technician (higher vocational education) Certified Distribution Electrician (through Skellefteå Kraft)

New cable. Did you notice?

No, my first impression was that I couldn’t feel any difference. If nobody had told me it was a different cable, I wouldn’t have noticed. A 240 mm² cable is heavy either way, and handling it felt familiar.

Jimmy said flexible and easy to handle. Do you agree?

Yes. I was a little worried it would be very stiff, but found the opposite. It was flexible and easy to handle during pulling and laying, and didn’t fight back the way cables sometimes can. I thought it was a little easier to lay. The sheath felt just like usual.

And when space got tight?

We pulled both cables into a transformer substation and connected them to separate terminal strips, so we had quite a lot of room. That means I can’t say how it performs in really confined spaces. My impression, though, was that the flexibility could make things easier in a distribution cabinet too.

All smooth sailing, or is there another layer to strip back?

I found the conductor insulation slightly tougher and a little harder to strip than on the cable we normally use. At the same time, this was a pilot project getting plenty of attention, so we were looking closely at every detail. I don’t know whether I would have noticed otherwise. Nothing else stood out when making the connections.

New cable. New way of working?

No, not at all. We used the same approach and handled it as usual.

What does a cable need to do to get your approval?

I probably don’t think about it that much when I get my hands on it. I get on with the job. But it needs to be manageable and go where it’s supposed to.

What would you tell the colleague getting the next AML drum?

There’s no reason to worry about handling it. It feels like the cable we’re used to.

Three words about the cable. No marketing fluff.

Same as N1XE.

And a lower carbon footprint into the bargain?

That feels good. There’s always some cable left over from projects, so the opportunity to recycle materials and use them again is a positive thing.

Anything else that made the working day better?

The hybrid excavator. It was both enjoyable and a relief to have such a quiet machine on site. We could talk to each other without having to switch it off.

Last word. Anything you’d like to tell Nexans? Good or bad.

The people who came here were bloody lovely!

We’ll take that. Thanks Oskar!

Jimmy chose the cable. Oskar got it into place. Their initial experiences point in the same direction: familiar handling, with flexibility that was appreciated during installation. We’ll let our friends up north get back to work and return the compliment: bloody lovely people!