A cable assembly is a group of cables joined into one single unit, usually overmolded and combined with some type of connector on at least one end. They may also feature a sleeve as part of their construction. They are used to connect a machine to a power, data or networking signal. They reduce environmental […]
Basics
What is cable corkscrewing?
Cable corkscrewing is exactly what it sounds like—damage to a cable that causes it to look just like a corkscrew, with small tight twists rather than a circular, smooth design. It occurs most often in motion applications, where constant flexing and repetitive motions can cause stress and deform the cable, often destroying the core. As […]
Should you lubricate steel cable carriers?
Often used in highly corrosive environments, steel cable carriers provide a high strength-to-weight ratio and maximum unsupported spans. They usually feature a special coating to resist corrosion from chemicals and other abrasive materials. Generally, lubrication isn’t required. Should it be required, certain applications have more abrasive environments where a dry lubrication is required, but in […]
What types of cables are used in industrial settings?
A variety of cables is used in industrial settings for networking, power transmission, and communication. Coaxial, data, and instrumentation cables are some of the most common designs you will find. These low-voltage cables are usually rated for 2,000 V or less to distribute power, but medium-voltage designs reaching up to 35,000 V can be used […]
Top 8 wire and cable stories of the year
Cable types abound, available with different types of conductors for different purposes. Is fiber optic the best route or will copper conductors suit your task? Is your application requiring data, networking or power transmission? How will EMI effect my application? All these questions make cable selection tricky. So it’s no surprise that our most viewed […]
Why is filler material used in Ethernet cables?
In some industrial Ethernet cable constructions, you may find filler material. Fillers are used to give a cable a more rounded and smooth construction and to give the inside of the cable a cleaner appearance. Additionally, it strengthens a cable, so that when a cable is moved or flexed, you can control the conductors moving […]
What type of foil shielding is used on data cables?
Foil shielding is critical in reducing EMI and other crosstalk in any cable design. In twisted data cables, two types of tin foil may be used inside —aluminum foil or copper foil. Three methods are commonly used in a cable’s foil construction — longitudinal, diagonal and wrapped. Longitudinal — The easiest and cheapest foil method […]
What are triaxial cables?
Triaxial, or triax cable for short, is used in similar applications to coaxial cables. Because they are designed with three conductors versus two in coax and feature an extra layer of shielding and insulation, they are generally more costly. This extra shielding provides ground and is more resistant to EMI than coax designs because it […]
What are cable glands?
Cable glands are devices that are critical when terminating cables in hazardous or harsh environments, where ingress protection, sealing and grounding is necessary to safely pass a cable, wire or tube through an enclosure. They provide strain relief and are also designed to contain electrical sparks or flames that may occur in hazardous environments. Additionally, […]
What is wire ampacity?
When selecting a cable, one must know its wire ampacity rating. This rating has been determined by the NEC (National Electrical Code), which lists ampacity ratings for real-life installation examples. Most cable manufacturers provide ampacity tables on their websites. Other organizations that supply ampacity tables include IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), which offers […]
