A method for forming a protected disconnectable joint
assembly includes providing a disconnectable joint
assembly. The disconnectable joint
assembly includes: an electrical transmission
power cable including a conductor and a cable
insulation layer covering the conductor, the conductor having a terminal end; an
electrically conductive cable connector affixed to the terminal end of the
power cable and having a connector
coupling portion; a
busbar including an
electrically conductive busbar body, a
busbar coupling portion extending from the busbar body, and a busbar
insulation layer covering the busbar body; and a disconnectable
coupling mechanism mechanically securing the cable coupling portion to the busbar coupling portion to provide a joint between the cable and the busbar. The disconnectable coupling mechanism is selectively operable to disconnect the cable connector from the busbar without severing the cable. The method further includes: providing a joint cover assembly including a tubular, elastomeric cold-shrinkable sleeve body; maintaining the joint cover assembly in an expanded state using a removable holdout device mounted within the sleeve body; mounting the joint cover assembly on the holdout over the joint between the cable and the busbar; and thereafter removing the holdout device from the joint cover assembly to release the sleeve body to contract onto the disconnectable joint assembly such that the sleeve body circumferentially surrounds the joint between the cable and the busbar, overlaps portions of the cable
insulation layer and the busbar insulation layer adjacent the joint, and applies a persistent radially
compressive load on the cable insulation layer and the busbar insulation layer.