y little
additional expense.

Practically all electric light and power cables are either single or
double conductors, and the jointing of these is comparatively a simple
matter, although requiring considerable care. The lead is cut back from
each end about four or five inches, and the conductors bared of
insulation for two or three inches. The bare conductors should be
thoroughly tinned by dipping in the metal pot or pouring the melted
solder over them. A sperm candle is better than resin or acid for any
part of the operations where solder is used. A lead sleeve is here
slipped back over the cable, out of the way, and the ends of the
conductors brought together in a copper sleeve which is then sweated to
a firm joint. This part must be as good a piece of work mechanically as
electrically. The bare splice is then wrapped tightly with cotton or
silk tape to a thickness slightly greater than that of the insulation of
the cable, and is thoroughly saturated with the insulating compound
until all moisture previously absorbed by the tape is driven off.

The lead sleeve is then brought over the splice and wiped to the cable.
The joint is then filled with the insulating compound poured through
holes in the top of the sleeve; these holes are then closed and the
joint is complete, and there is no reason why, in light and power
cables, that joint should not be as perfect as any other part of the
cable. When the cable ends are prepared for jointing they should be hung
up in such a position that they are in the same plane, both horizontal
and vertically, and firmly secured there, so that when the lead sleeve
is wiped on the conductor may be in its exact center, and great care
must be taken not to move the cables again until the sleeve is filled
and the insulation sufficiently cooled to hold the conductor in
position.

It is also very important to see that there are no sharp points on the
conductors themselves, on the copper sleeve, on the edges of the lead
covering or on the lead sleeve. All these should be made perfectly
smooth, for points facilitate disruptive discharges. Branch joints had
better be made as T-joints rather than as Y-joints, for they are better
electrically and mechanically, although they occupy more room in the
manholes. They are of course made in the same way as straight joints, a
lead T-sleeve being used, however. For multiple arc circuits copper
T-sleeves and for series circuits copper L-sleeves are used.