Plattline Zinc Ribbon Anode Connection Practices for

•	Buried Pipelines
•	Above Ground Storage Tanks
•	AC Mitigation Systems
•	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 AC 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.

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 cad welder.
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 halt/lapped layers of plastic tape.

Figure 1. Crimp connection

1.	Remove 1-1/2"of zinc from steel wire core at ends of Plattline to be spliced.
2.	Join two ends of steel wire cores together.
3.	Insert copper compression connector into installation tool.
4.	Insert core wire ends into copper compression connector.
5.	Crimp according to instructions with installation tool.
6.	Wrap exposed steel wire core, connector and 1" of Plattline (each end) with insulated splice kit or with two half-lapped layers of rubber tape and two half-lapped layers of plastic tape.

Figure 2. Detail of Anode-to-header cable splice

1.	Remove 3" of zinc from iron core of anode ribbon.
2.	Strip 3 1/2" of insulation from insulated copper cable without breaking copper strands.
3.	Insert copper compression connector into jaws of installation tool.
4.	Slip connector over both Plattline steel core and copper cable.
5.	Crimp using recommended procedure with installation tool.
6.	Wrap entire completed connection, including 1" of Plattline (each end) with insulated splice kit or with two half-lapped layers of rubber tape and two half-lapped layers of plastic tape.