Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- All
- About Lovink Enertech
- High Temperature Cycling
- Renewable Energy
- Transition Connections
- Waterlogged Areas
Thermo-mechanical stress is the combination of thermal expansion, contraction and the resulting mechanical forces within a cable system.
Important factors include cable construction, installation environment, load profile and overall network operation.
As electrical networks become more dynamic, managing temperature variation within cable systems is increasingly important for reliable operation.
Failures can lead to downtime, delayed project handover, repair costs and reduced power generation.
Renewable energy assets can only deliver electricity when they are successfully connected to the grid and operating as intended.
Developers can reduce commissioning risks through proper planning, validated solutions and a structured approach to grid connection activities.
A PILC to XLPE transition cable splice is a medium voltage splice used to connect paper‑insulated lead‑covered (PILC) cables to modern XLPE cables within the same network. It is typically applied during phased cable replacement or network upgrades. The splice must bridge insulation systems with very different electrical and ageing behaviour, which makes correct selection and installation critical.
Incorrect identification of cable type, insulation system or construction can result in the selection of an unsuitable transition splice and increased failure risk.
That they are “just another cable connection.” In reality, they are often the most technically demanding connection points in mixed-generation MV networks.
They allow utilities to continue using healthy legacy assets while gradually integrating newer cable technologies, helping balance investment and reliability.
Absolutely. Every phased cable replacement project creates transition points that can influence long-term network reliability.
Potential indicators include:
- Increasing diagnostic activity
- Partial discharge measurements
- Insulation performance changes
- Repeating faults at the same location
Many issues, however, remain hidden until failure occurs.
Laboratory testing validates technical compliance under controlled conditions. Field performance reflects how a transition splice behaves over decades under real operating conditions.
Key considerations include:
- Long-term reliability
- Sealing performance
- Electrical stress control
- Installation consistency
- Proven field performance
No. Transition splices can also be used to connect other cable types that differ in construction, insulation technology or generation.
As utilities replace old cable sections step-by-step, transition splices become essential connection points between legacy and modern infrastructure.
When properly selected and correctly installed, transition splices can deliver a service life that aligns with the remaining life expectancy of the connected cable systems.
Long-term sealing prevents moisture from entering the splice throughout its service life. Once moisture penetrates critical interfaces, degradation may start.
Yes. Transition splices are commonly installed in buried medium-voltage networks and are designed to operate reliably after installation without direct access.
Important factors include:
- Groundwater exposure
- Soil conditions
- Flooding risk
- Temperature variations
- Accessibility after installation
Yes. Because the insulation systems differ significantly, moisture can influence the two cable types differently. The transition splice must account for these differences.
Yes. In many cases both connected cables remain fully functional while failure develops inside the transition splice itself.
Stress control manages the electric field around the connection area. Proper stress control prevents local electrical stress concentrations that can lead to insulation breakdown.
The main risks are:
- Moisture ingress
- Interface degradation
- Insufficient stress control
- Installation errors
- Long-term ageing effects
These risks are concentrated at the transition between cable technologies.
Yes. Many utilities operate mixed networks where older PILC cables remain in service alongside newer XLPE installations. Transition splices enable phased replacement without renewing the entire cable route.
PILC and XLPE cables have different electrical properties, moisture behaviour and ageing characteristics. A transition splice must safely manage these differences within one connection.
In ageing MV networks, transition cable splices are often among the most critical points, because they combine different materials and ageing mechanisms. While cables themselves can have long service lives, failures frequently originate at transition interfaces. This makes transition splices a key focus area for improving long‑term network reliability.
A straight‑through splice connects similar cable types, with the same insulation system and construction. A transition cable splice connects different cable generations or insulation systems, such as PILC and XLPE. Transition splice sare more complex because they must manage differences in electrical behaviour, ageing and moisture sensitivity within one splice.
The service life of a medium voltage transition cable splice depends on splice design, installation quality and environmental conditions. When correctly selected and installed, transition cable splices are expected to perform reliably for several decades, often matching the remaining life of the connected cables. Installation quality and long‑term sealing are decisive factors.
Transition cable splices usually fail due to interface‑related issues rather than conductor problems. Common causes include moisture ingress, insufficient stress control and installation errors at the transition between different cable types. These effects often develop over time, which is why failures can occur years after installation.
Assuming standard installation conditions while overlooking permanent moisture exposure, poor drainage or elevated groundwater pressure.
Not always. If the cable splice remains the weakest link, the overall network reliability may still be limited.
When cable splices are installed in areas with high groundwater levels, recurring flooding, saturated soils or limited accessibility after installation.
Yes. Fewer failures result in lower repair costs, reduced excavation work, fewer outages and more predictable maintenance expenditure.
It refers to cable splices designed to resist moisture ingress and maintain reliable long-term performance under flooded or waterlogged conditions.
Because they are exposed to continuous moisture and may experience hydrostatic pressure while remaining difficult and costly to access after installation.
Installer-friendly designs reduce dependence on perfect installation conditions and help minimise the effect of small installation deviations.
Yes. Issues such as incomplete filling, contamination or insufficient sealing may not become visible until long-term moisture exposure triggers degradation.
Real-world conditions combine moisture, hydrostatic pressure, ageing, temperature variation and installation influences that are difficult to replicate fully in laboratory testing.
Temporary submersion is short-term exposure to water. Permanent moisture exposure means the cable splice remains exposed to groundwater or wet soil conditions for many years.
No. They are also important in areas with high groundwater levels, flood-prone regions, saturated soils, flooded trenches and poor drainage conditions.
Water typically migrates along interfaces rather than through solid materials. Strong adhesion helps prevent moisture from travelling along these pathways.
Air pockets can create moisture pathways and local electrical stress concentrations. This increases the risk of partial discharge and long-term insulation degradation.
Yes. Small defects can create pathways for moisture ingress. In wet environments, water can slowly migrate towards critical interfaces within the cable splice.
A pressure of 2 bar is equivalent to approximately 20 metres of water head. It represents severe underground conditions where water continuously acts on sealing interfaces.
Key considerations include long-term moisture exposure, hydrostatic pressure, interface adhesion, void-free encapsulation, installation conditions and proven field performance.
Not always. Water-resistant may refer to temporary moisture exposure, while flood-resistant implies long-term performance under continuous water exposure and hydrostatic pressure.
Common methods include partial discharge measurements, insulation resistance testing and tan delta measurements. The most suitable method depends on the network and asset-management strategy.
Moisture can migrate slowly along interfaces and gradually degrade insulation performance. A cable splice may continue operating normally while internal degradation develops over time.
Not necessarily. However, it is important to assess whether moisture has reached the sealing system, interfaces or insulation. Because moisture-related damage can be delayed, further inspection or diagnostics may be required.
That the cable itself is usually responsible. In reality, most flooding-related failures originate at splices, terminations and other accessory systems.
Yes. Rising groundwater levels, soil saturation and extreme weather events are increasingly viewed as structural operating conditions rather than exceptional events.
Reliable sealing combined with consistent installation quality. The strongest design can still fail if execution is inconsistent.
In many underground installations, splices become difficult or expensive to access after commissioning. Reliability therefore needs to be built in from the start.
Consider:
- Groundwater levels
- Flooding frequency
- Installation environment
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Accessibility after installation
- Long-term sealing performance
Yes. Moisture-driven degradation may spread to adjacent cable sections, potentially shortening the effective lifetime of surrounding assets.
Because splices are buried underground, repairs are costly and disruptive. Reducing splice failures lowers maintenance costs and improves long-term asset performance.
The main benefits are:
- Fewer outages
- Lower repair costs
- Reduced excavation work
- Longer asset life
- More predictable operational expenditure
By preventing water ingress and maintaining sealing integrity, they reduce the likelihood of both immediate and delayed failures.
The degradation process often occurs internally and remains hidden until insulation performance has deteriorated enough to cause an outage.
Continuous moisture exposure accelerates degradation processes, increasing the likelihood of insulation breakdown and reducing long-term reliability if sealing integrity is compromised.
Failure analyses consistently show that splices are the most critical weak point during flooding events. Improving joint reliability often provides a greater resilience benefit than replacing the cable itself.
Differences are often caused by variation in installation methods, site conditions, contractor experience and project execution rather than the splicing technology itself.
An installer-forgiving design reduces dependency on perfect installation conditions and helps lower the risk of failure caused by small installation deviations.
Common issues include:
- Installing in uncontrolled wet conditions
- Incomplete encapsulation
- Poor site preparation
- Using solutions not suited for groundwater exposure
- Inconsistent installation practices
Even the best splicing solution can fail if installation conditions are poorly controlled or critical installation steps are not followed correctly.
Studies show that a significant share of failures is linked to installation issues, moisture ingress and mechanical damage rather than the cable splice design alone.
Lab-proof products meet standard test requirements. Field-proof solutions continue to perform under real-world conditions such as groundwater exposure, mechanical stress and installation variability.
Not always. Laboratory testing cannot fully replicate real-world conditions such as soil movement, fluctuating groundwater levels, contamination and long-term ageing.
By focusing on cable splice reliability, selecting solutions designed for long-term moisture exposure, and validating performance under realistic field conditions.
Typical applications include:
- High groundwater areas
- Flood-prone regions
- Water-saturated soil
- Flooded cable trenches
- Water-filled manholes
Strong adhesion between the splice materials and cable surfaces prevents moisture from travelling along interfaces, which is one of the most common routes for water ingress.
Even small air pockets can become pathways for moisture migration and increase the risk of partial discharge. Complete, void-free filling reduces long-term failure risk.
A water pressure of 2 bar is comparable to approximately 20 metres of water head. It represents severe underground conditions where sealing performance becomes critical.
A splice can be designed to resist long-term water ingress, but performance depends on the complete sealing system, installation quality and long-term ageing behaviour.
Hydrostatic pressure is the continuous force exerted by groundwater or standing water. It pushes moisture into the smallest gaps and weak points in a cable splice over long periods.
Water typically migrates through material interfaces, micro-voids, imperfect seals or installation defects. Once inside, it can gradually reduce insulation performance.
Not always. Moisture-related degradation can develop over months or even years before an outage occurs, making failures difficult to trace back to the original flooding event.
The most common causes are water ingress, insulation degradation, partial discharge, poor sealing, installation defects and long-term ageing under wet conditions.
In many cases, yes. Modern MV cables can tolerate prolonged moisture exposure. Outages during flooding events are typically linked to splices, terminations and other accessories rather than the cable itself.
Medium-voltage cables are designed as continuous insulation systems. Cable splices contain multiple materials, interfaces and sealing points, creating potential pathways for moisture ingress. In flooded conditions, failures therefore occur more often in splices than in cables.
Yes, via Lovink Academy: practical training, video instructions and certification.
Lovink Enertech is a Dutch manufacturer and specialist in cable fittings for medium-voltage networks. The company was founded in 1911 and has more than 100 years of experience in developing, manufacturing and supplying innovative and reliable cable connections.
A liquid silicone insulation that provides a homogeneous electric field, excellent moisture protection and a lifespan of at least 40 years.
Yes, provided that the screen wires are correctly connected and shielded according to the installation instructions.
Yes, our solutions are widely used in wind and solar farms and are resistant to common influences and challenges in this market.
Yes, our technologies are waterproof and can withstand water pressure up to 2 bar (20 meters) – ideal for wet soil and underground applications.
No, LoviX® R is designed for installation without special tools. Only standard cable tools are required.
Yes, thanks to LoviSil® and Protolin® resins, our splices are resistant to chemicals.
Our sleeves are compatible with plastic cables: XLPE, EPR, HPTE and paper insulated cables (GPLK) up to 36kV.
Our cable splices can be used up to 36kV.
On average, the installation of a LoviSil® cable splice takes 45 to 60 minutes, depending on cable type and conditions. Thanks to liquid silicone insulation, no shrinkage or heating process is required.
This depends on the type of splice – each splice comes with a pre-measured amount of LoviSil® liquid and Protolin resin.
An innovative cable sleeve with cold-shrink inner sleeve and ABS outer shell, combined with resin for mechanical strength and waterproofing.
Our mission is to develop cable connections that go further: reliable, easy to install and designed to last for generations. The vision is to strengthen energy networks worldwide with solutions that are ready for heavier loads, climate change and the energy transition.
Lovink Enertech serves energy companies, industry and renewable energy projects. The largest customers in this are network operators, project developers and contractors.
We offer a wide range of cable splices and accessories for medium voltage (up to 36kV), including: connection splices, transition sleeves, cross-bonding sleeves, branch splices, repair sleeves and end sleeves.
