Phoenix Contact, Middleton, Pa., now offers Deutsch and Superseal connectors as pre-molded cordsets for use in mobile hydraulic applications. While the Deutsch and Superseal connectors are well established as quality discrete-wired solutions, crimp technology and on-site installation often add to hidden labor costs. The Deutsch connector is the female 2-position DT-06-2S and comes in the […]
When to use medium-voltage cables
Three ranges of voltages are available for cables today. Low-voltage designs—often those used in industrial settings—are rated to 2,000 V or lower. Medium voltage designs range from 2,000 to 35,000 V and high-voltage cables are those rated above 35,000 V. Medium-voltage cables are commonly used in mobile substation equipment, for distribution of power in industrial […]
Clever design twists on coil cords improve reliability
By Dale S. Long, Applications Engineer, & Ron Crouch, Applications Engineer, C&M Corp. Take a close look at industrial automation or military systems, and you’ll probably see a coil cord or two. You may not give them a second thought, but you should. These retractable power and signal cords can play an outsize role in […]
Cable Trays vs. Conduit
In plant retrofit and expansion projects, it’s not just a matter of saving on capital equipment and labor costs, but also getting the job done quicker so the plant can get back to full productivity. In many installations, one way to achieve these goals is to use armored, metal-clad and other permitted cable types installed […]
Ampacity correction factors for electrical wire and cable
Contributed by David Sedivy, Senior Product Manager, TPC Wire & Cable Corp. Choosing the right cable with the right capacity isn’t as simple as looking at conductor size. When reviewing cable ampacity, consider the application and the environment. Depending upon the application and/or environment, a correction factor may need to be applied to obtain the […]
Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet Cabling Differences
Contributed by Lu Li, Senior Product Development Engineer, Alpha Wire While there are three Ethernet cable choices in use—Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6—only the latter two are still considered viable choices for telecom and industrial applications. Since August 2009, when ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 (Balanced Twisted-Pair Telecommunications Cabling and Components Standard) was published, category 5 has been superseded […]
Armored Cable vs. Flexible Cable: Key Differences
When transmitting data or conducting power in harsh environments, protecting your cables is crucial to safe and reliable operation. This is where armored cables come into play. They are used primarily in industrial applications, often in cable trays and raceways. They often not used in flexing applications. While they could operate there, the connector cable […]
Smart phone, tablet apps for cable conductor and conduit sizing
General Cable, Highland Height, Ky., has just launched three new calculation apps for sizing cable conduits and conductors. The apps are free to download and easy to use. Voltage Drop app – Calculate the maximum circuit distance and minimum conductor size for your required voltage drop Conductor Ampacity app – Calculate conductor ampacities for different […]
Flexible microwave cable assemblies offer high electrical performance
Molex Inc., Lisle, Ill., will showcase its Flexible Microwave Cable Assemblies at the International Microwave Symposium, June 1 – 6, Tampa Bay, Fla., Booth 508. The assemblies replace stiff, semi-rigid assemblies with a combination of Temp-Flex coaxial cables and high-performance radio frequency (RF) connectors. They offer excellent electrical properties, and are assembled using a proprietary […]
igus announces Vector energy chain award winners
Each year, igus, East Providence, R.I., holds a competition for users of its energy chain systems, encouraging them to submit unique applications of its products. Now in its fourth year, the Vector Awards received 195 submissions from 28 countries from around the world, highlighting the use of igus’ cable carriers used in mechanical and plant […]