A/ What is ADSS Cable?
![ADSS Aerial Cable Installation Guide [KCO FIBER]](/images/load_icon.gif)
B/ ADSS Cable Common Applications
C/ Key ADSS Installation Accessories
D/ ADSS Cable Installation Step:
An ADSS (All-Dielectric Self-Supporting) cable is a type of fiber optic cable engineered to be strong enough to support its own weight between utility poles or transmission towers without needing a separate metal messenger wire.
- Electric Utilities: Shared right-of-ways along high-voltage transmission and distribution towers for grid communications.
- Telecommunications & FTTx: Town-to-town and pole-to-building broadband rollouts.
- Campus & Municipal Networks: Connecting buildings where running underground conduits or using grounded metallic cables is impractical.
Dead-End / Tension Clamps (Strain Clamps / Guy Grips) Components: Pre-twisted helical reinforcing rods, pull rings, and U-shaped/clevis pins. Main Function: Anchors the ADSS cable at terminal poles, corner turns, or high-tension/long-span transition points; distributes gripping stress evenly to achieve over 95% of the cable's ultimate tensile strength without crushing the jacket.
Suspension Clamps Components: Aluminum alloy or anti-UV polymer body with elastomeric inserts and support brackets. Main Function: Supports straight-line intermediate spans (typically 100m to 1200m) while allowing the cable to pivot or swing slightly under wind load, preventing sharp bends or localized mechanical fatigue.
Structural Reinforcing Rods (Preformed Armor Rods) Components: Pre-formed helical wire/rod sets matched to the cable's outer diameter. Main Function: Wraps directly around the cable jacket at suspension or tension points to distribute clamp pressure, add stiffness, and extend the cable's fatigue life 3 to 5 times under dynamic wind vibration.
Spiral Vibration Dampers (AVD) Components: Pre-formed rigid, non-metallic/UV-resistant plastic helix rods. Main Function: Absorbs and dissipates Aeolian (wind-induced) high-frequency vibrations to prevent strand breakage or fiber strain over time.
Downlead Clamps (Flat/Round Tangent Downlead Clamps) Components: Stainless steel brackets or UV-stable elastomer/plastic blocks. Main Function: Guides the ADSS cable vertically down the face of a utility pole or tower from the aerial span to splice closures or ground equipment while maintaining proper bend radius.
Pole Attachment Hardware (Brackets, Hooks, & Clevises) Components: Hot-dip galvanized steel pole bands, extension brackets, and J-hooks. Main Function: Interfaces between the tension/suspension clamps and the physical structure (wood, concrete, or steel pole), ensuring mechanical stability and proper standoff clearance.
Fiber Storage Units (Snow Shoes / Storage Brackets) Components: UV-stabilized thermoplastic or composite spools. Main Function: Coils and stores slack lengths of ADSS cable safely on the pole without violating the minimum bend radius required for optical fibers.
1. Planning and Design
- Review route layout and perform ride out of entire route to identify critical areas such as heavy line angle changes and road crossings.
- If the line voltage is 115kV or greater, request an Application Engineer to complete a complementary E-Stress analysis.
- Adhere to local, state, federal and industry codes and regulations.
2. Cable Acceptance and Storage
- Visually inspect all reels for any damage and check reel tag(s)/label(s) to verify correct cable(s).
- Perform a continuity check on all fibers using an OTDR upon arrival.
- Be sure to chock reels when not moving them.
- ADSS cable should be stored in temperatures between -50°C and 70°C.
- Never drop reels from any height.
- Do not lay reels on their side or stack them.
- Cable that is going to be stored for 4 months or longer needs to be shipped on steel reels.
3. Pre-Installation and Make Ready Work
- It is critical to ensure all hardware and equipment is for use on ADSS cable and of the correct diameter or range. Such as but not limited to pulling grips/socks, temporary grips, bull wheels, and sheaves.
- Install appropriately sized sheaves that are free of burrs and gouges and in good working order. Our recommendation is to use a minimum of a 12” root diameter sheave. ADSS trunnion can be used in place of a sheave if the maximum line angle is not greater than 15 degrees and the number of structures does not exceed 30.
- The tail of the cable secured to the outside of the reel should be loosened prior to pulling the cable in to allow for it to grow during installation.
- At all times the cable should travel down the center of the sheave groove. At angle structures it may be required to have the sheave supported in order for this to occur.
4. Installation Method – Back-pull (Stationary Reel)
- This is the most common method of installation for ADSS cable. It is utilized in both transmission and distribution applications and allows for the fastest deployment of cable.
- The cable reel is placed on a reel stand or trailer at a stationary location in line with the first two structures and with a 3:1 lead-to-height ratio.
- The braking device on the reel stand or trailer should be engaged to apply minimal braking tension to prevent overrun during the pull.
- A low elongation pulling line of similar diameter and weight as the ADSS should be ran through the sheaves and trunnions, if pulling through them, and attached to the ADSS with a swivel and wire mesh grip.
- The ADSS is then pulled through the entire section with the puller and tensioner while keeping it under constant minimal tension. Maximum stringing tension at the tensioner is 20% of the ADSS’s rated breaking strength (RBS).
- The puller and tensioner should also be in line with the last two structures and with a 3:1 lead-to-height ratio.
- Multiple pulling stages may be required to place the ADSS throughout the entire system.
5. Installation Method – Drive-off (Moving Reel)
- While an accepted method, the drive-off installation method is infrequently used as it requires a clear right-of-way with no obstacles and the ADSS is going to be the lowest on the structure. These conditions are most often met on new line construction.
- The cable reel is loaded on a reel trailer or line truck equipped with a reel carrier and braking device. The braking device should be engaged to apply minimal braking tension to prevent overrun during the installation.
- At the first structure the cable is deadended then the reel of cable is transported along the right-of-way and the cable is payed out.
- As the moving reel passes a support structure it is stopped and the cable is placed into the sheave or trunnion if pulling through them.
- Then the reel proceeds to the next support structure. This process continues until a deadend is reached or the cable is completely deployed.
6. Sagging & Tensioning Sections
- The cable should be sagged and tensioned in deadend to deadend sections avoiding doing this around line angles greater than 30 degrees.
- The sag should be based on the worse case, longest, span of deadend section.
- Never over tension the cable. Application Engineers can provide sag and tension charts for all ADSS cable. These charts take into account each cables maximum rated cable load (MRCL) to ensure it is never exceeded under any weather conditions.
- Do not use a screwdriver or other hard sharp tool to install rods for hardware as the chance of damaging the outer jacket is increased. Instead use FIT tool.
7. Record Keeping
- It is good practice to complete a detailed As-Built drawing and update as necessary after maintenance or repairs.
- Detailed recordkeeping and documentation often is beneficial for future reference.
- AFL’s Application Engineers can be a resource for providing information regarding previously purchased cable.
KCO FIBER supply the high quality of ADSS (All-Dielectric Self-Supporting) outdoor cable for aerial with span 50m, 80m, 100m, 120m, 150m, 200m, 300m, 500m, 800m and even 1000m.
KCO FIBER is a professional supplier dedicated to delivering a full range of high-quality ADSS (All-Dielectric Self-Supporting) optical fiber cables tailored for diverse overhead power communication scenarios.
We strictly select top-tier raw materials for every product: high-strength aramid yarn ensures excellent tensile performance for large-span deployment, premium PE outer sheaths deliver outstanding resistance to tracking, UV aging and harsh weather, while high-grade G.652D single-mode fibers guarantee ultra-low attenuation and stable long-distance transmission.
Supported by standardized automated production lines and a well-managed supply chain, we ensure remarkably short lead times for both standard and customized specifications, helping clients complete their power network construction and renovation projects efficiently without unnecessary delays.
We strictly select top-tier raw materials for every product: high-strength aramid yarn ensures excellent tensile performance for large-span deployment, premium PE outer sheaths deliver outstanding resistance to tracking, UV aging and harsh weather, while high-grade G.652D single-mode fibers guarantee ultra-low attenuation and stable long-distance transmission.
Supported by standardized automated production lines and a well-managed supply chain, we ensure remarkably short lead times for both standard and customized specifications, helping clients complete their power network construction and renovation projects efficiently without unnecessary delays.
All our ADSS cables comply with relevant industry standards, and can stably serve in high-voltage, lightning-prone and extreme temperature environments for decades.