Cable glands are devices that attach and secure the end of an electrical cable to the equipment. Cable glands seal the cable and retain it in the electrical equipment. Cable glands also perform several other functions such as acting as a strain relief, earthing, grounding, insulation and bonding. Cable glands are suitable for electrical power, control, instrumentation, data and telecommunications cables.
There are many types of cable gland on the market today. Which one to choose depends solely on the application and environment. Cable type, material type, thread size and ingress protection are all key points to consider before buying a gland.
Metal glands - suitable for use in more demanding environments. The glands are robust and can cope with the high demands of harsher environments. Metal glands include brass, stainless steel, and nickel-plated.
Plastic glands - due to their clamp and seal design, plastic glands have a wider cable entry range. They are ideal for flexible cables and provide high strain relief. Plastic glands include polyamide and nylon.
Thread size - the two main thread types on a gland are metric (M) or Panzer-Gewinde (PG). Metric sizes range from M6 to M63, whilst Panzer-Gewinde sizes range from PG7 to PG21. Cable glands are often supplied with a locknut, however locknuts are also available to purchase as a separate accessory.
Ingress protection - The IP rating can also be a key feature to consider when selecting a cable gland. IP rated glands offer extra protection to reduce the ingress of dust and moisture. Protection classes range from IP44 to IP69K. The most popular being IP67 or IP68.
If an individual cable gland is not required, we also offer a selection of kits including:
Armoured kits are used for fitting glands to cables with an extra layer of protection, such as SWA cables
Unarmoured kits are for cables with one or two mutually sealed conductors.
Flameproof kits are used with cables in petrochemical cable fittings.
Hazardous kits are for fitting onto cables in dangerous or high-risk enclosures.
RS offer an extensive range of quality products from leading brands including LAPP, Hellerman Tyton, Phoenix Contact, SIB, Hammond, Harting and RS PRO.
You can find out more in our comprehensive cable glands guide.