PLATTLINE Zinc Ribbon Anodes

Technical Article No. 1 - Connection Practices

For Plattline™ Zinc Ribbon Anode Connections On:

  • Buried Pipelines
  • Above Ground Storage Tanks
  • Other Systems

Plattline™ zinc ribbon anodes are used in a variety of applications. They are used in cathodic protection on buried pipelines, sacrificial cathodic protection of secondary bottoms on above ground storage tanks, as grounding mats for alienating current mitigation and in other corrosion protection applications. During installation procedures of Plattline™ zinc ribbon anodes in the above applications, it is necessary to connect Plattline™ to itself and to other main cables for full electrical interconnection of current flow. These connection procedures are illustrated in this bulletin for easy reference. This guide should prove to be helpful to management and field personnel involved with the application and installation of Plattline™ zinc ribbon anodes. Plattline™ zinc ribbon anodes are manufactured with a steel wire core for electrical path continuity and for strength and handling of the product. This steel wire core is firmly bonded to the product.

To expose the steel wire core, melt the zinc off using a suitable torch which is capable of providing over 1000°F (Reasonable care should be exercised to insure safe operation when melting any metal). The steel wire core can be exposed using this procedure at the ends of a length of Plattline™ or in the middle of a run of Plattline™. The exposed core is readily connected to itself as shown in Figure 1 and to another cable as shown in Figure 2. Procedures for each connection are given with the each illustration. Plattline™ zinc ribbon anodes come in four sizes as shown in Table 1. Each size of Plattline™ can be connected in the same fashion.

Connection Procedure:

  1. Remove 1-1/2" of zinc from iron wire core at ends of anode ribbons to be spliced.
  2. Join two ends of iron wire cores together.
  3. Insert iron wire core ends into cadwelder.
  4. Open cover and place metal disk into mold pocket. Open cadweld charge No. CA-15, pour outweld metal and starting powder into mold.
  5. Close cover and ignite powder charge with flint gun.
  6. After weld has cooled, remove weld slag from connection.
  7. Wrap exposed iron wire core, weld connection and 1" of zinc anode ribbon (each end) with two half-lapped layers of rubber tape and two half/lapped layers of plastic tape.