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 articles are basic technical articles and FAQs on cable selection and design. See 2016’s most read articles from Wire & Cable Tips below.

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1. When should I use twisted pair versus coaxial cables?

Most everyone knows what coaxial cables are, as they are used in almost every home for cable television connections.

However, coax cables can be difficult to install, so sometimes twisted pair cabling may be called for, in which two conductors are twisted together. This twisting helps to eliminate EMI and crosstalk, especially in the more common unshielded, twisted pair designs. The biggest advantage to twisted pair cabling is in installation, as it is often thinner than coax. However, because they are thinner, they can not support very long runs like coax cables.

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