The YaleGrip is a braided aramid grip from Yale Cordage that crews use to pull, stop and support electric cable, above and below ground. It slips over a conductor or cable without special tools, stays flexible, and avoids the sharp wire ends that wire mesh grips can create.
A YaleGrip is a pulling and stopping grip made by Yale Cordage. It is braided from Technora aramid fiber into four legs that extend from a reinforced eye. The eye carries an extra braid layer saturated with Maxjacket urethane for abrasion resistance.
Yale lists the grip for pulling and stopping in electrical line construction, deploying and retrieving cables, and temporary or permanent strain relief. It can also form a temporary or permanent eye at the end or midspan of a cable. A six-leg version is available for jobs that need the load spread over more of the cable surface.
YaleGrips come in 11 color-coded sizes, each with a serialized tag. Working load runs from 1,200 lb on the 7/16 in. grip to 90,000 lb on the 2-1/2 in. grip, and average break strength is five times the working load.
| Size (in.) | Color | Working load (lb) | Avg. break (lb) | Cable range (in.) | Eye (in.) | Tail (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/16 | Red | 1,200 | 6,000 | 3/16 to 1/2 | 6 | 4.5 |
| 9/16 | Blue | 2,400 | 12,000 | 1/4 to 3/4 | 6 | 5.5 |
| 11/16 | Green | 3,600 | 18,000 | 3/8 to 7/8 | 6 | 6.5 |
| 7/8 | Orange | 6,000 | 30,000 | 1/2 to 1 | 8 | 8 |
| 1 | Yellow | 9,600 | 48,000 | 5/8 to 1-1/8 | 8 | 10 |
| 1-1/4 | Black | 14,400 | 72,000 | 7/8 to 1-3/4 | 12 | 16 |
| 1-1/2 | Red | 24,000 | 120,000 | 1-1/8 to 3 | 16 | 22 |
| 1-3/4 | Blue | 36,000 | 180,000 | 1-3/8 to 3-1/2 | 18 | 28 |
| 2 | Green | 58,000 | 290,000 | 2 to 4 | 18 | 34 |
| 2-1/4 | Orange | 73,000 | 365,000 | 3-1/4 to 5 | 20 | 40 |
| 2-1/2 | Yellow | 90,000 | 450,000 | 4 to 6 | 24 | 52 |
Source: Yale Cordage YaleGrip data sheet. Metric sizes run from 11 mm to 64 mm.
Yale states that the YaleGrip is stronger than wire mesh grips and does not form the wire "fishhooks" that mesh grips can, which makes it safer to handle. It is also noncorrosive, has good dielectric properties, is compact and light, and causes less damage to mating surfaces than many other grip types.
Yale's guidance is to size the grip by the anticipated load, not by the diameter of the cable it fits. Each size covers a range of cable diameters, so more than one grip may physically fit the cable. Start with the load, then confirm the cable falls inside that size's range.
Crews who need rope, hand lines, winch lines or transformer slings for the same jobs can browse The Rope Guru at Utility Power Supply Company.
A YaleGrip is a load-bearing device, so treat it like any other piece of rigging. Yale's published product pages and data sheet do not include inspection criteria, so use the manufacturer's use-and-care guidance and your utility's own rigging rules.
Contact Yale Cordage at 207-282-3396 or yalecordage.com for splicing, care and inspection documents.
A YaleGrip is used to pull, stop and support cable and rope. Yale Cordage lists it for electrical line construction above and below ground, cable deployment and retrieval, and temporary or permanent strain relief.
It is braided from Technora aramid fiber in four legs that extend from a reinforced eye. The eye has an extra braid layer saturated with Maxjacket urethane for abrasion resistance.
Size by the anticipated load, not by the cable diameter. Choose a grip whose working load limit exceeds the load, then confirm the cable diameter falls inside that size's range.
14,400 lb, with an average break strength of 72,000 lb. It fits cable from 7/8 to 1-3/4 inches, has a 12 inch eye and a 16 foot tail before installation.
Both have the same tensile rating. The 6-leg version spreads compressive force more evenly and minimizes point loads, so Yale recommends it for umbilicals.
Yale states that the YaleGrip is stronger than wire mesh grips and does not form sharp wire fishhooks, so it is safer to handle. It is also noncorrosive and has good dielectric properties.
Yes. Tails can be lengthened for larger cables, and a marine treatment and stainless thimbles are available. These need a quote.
Utility Power Supply Company carries YaleGrips in six sizes, from 7/16 inch (1,200 lb working load) to 1-1/4 inch (14,400 lb), and in-stock inventory ships from Farmington, CT. For larger sizes, 6-leg versions, longer tails or marine treatment, request a quote.
Pick the grip by load, confirm the cable range, and choose the 4-leg or 6-leg build for the job. Utility Power Supply Company stocks YaleGrips from The Rope Guru for electric utility crews. Contact us for larger sizes, custom tails and treatments.
