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1.0 Product Description
The 3M™ 3838 PST/Gel Buried Service Wire Splice (BSW) Kit is designed to be a protection device to
guard splices on filled or unfilled PIC buried service wires. No encapsulant is needed. The PST/Gel is
designed to maintain the integrity of the closure body against any water or moisture entering the closure
and maintain the high insulation resistance between all wire pairs. The closure is resistant to saltwater
(3.5% sodium chloride), acid (3% sulfuric acid), base (0.2N sodium hydroxide), and cable filling
compounds. It is compatible with encapsulant possibly found in the field condition.
The 3M™ 3838 PST/Gel BSW splice kit will accommodate up to six pair buried service wire with a
maximum diameter of 0.45 in. (11.4 mm) in either an in-line or butt splice configuration. Maximum
diameter of a cable up to 0.65 in. (16.5 mm) can be used with the kit if a 3M™ Scothclok™ 4460D shield
bond connector is used. A 3M™ Scothclok™ 4463 Service Wire Shield Connector and strain relief
clamp are included for easy shield bonding, splice protection and strain relief to the buried service wires.
The parts included in each kit and their dimensions are illustrated in the diagrams shown on the next
page.
2.0 Test Program Overview
To assess the long term performance reliability of the 3M™ 3838 PST/Gel BSW splice kit, the kits were
subjected to a number of tests which exposed them to conditions more severe than anticipated in actual
field use.
The following sections describe the specific tests performed on this product and report the results
obtained. All tests except the fungus test were performed by 3M Telecom Systems Division's Network
Apparatus Test Laboratory in Austin, TX. The fungus test was performed by an independent lab. The
tests were done using the Bellcore's TR-NWT-000251, "Generic Requirements For Service Wire Splice
For Buried Service Wire," Issue 2, May 1991; U S West PGF#N600M07 "U S West Communications
Requirements for Buried Service Wire Splice Closures," Issue 1, May 1992; and other appropriate
specifications commonly used in the telecommunications industry as a guideline.
The report also points out if a deviation in testing condition from the Bellcore specification was used in
the test. In most situations, the deviation means a more severe environmental testing condition than the
Bellcore specification was adopted in the test, (i.e., such as more rapid transition and higher number of
thermal shocks between the two extreme temperatures, higher water pressure, using aged samples instead
of new samples for the test, etc.).
