Cables Selection Guide
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Introduction
As industry experts we offer an extensive selection of Cable for every application and environment. Products from our RS Pro range bring you high quality, professionally approved RS brand products, while our wide choice from selected market leading brands is second to none.
This means you can find all the products you need from one source, with next day delivery, competitive pricing and bulk discounts.
Sections in this Guide
Types of Cable
Discover all you need to know about the different cable types available from RS. Click on the coloured tabs then hover over the cable types to read more.
Communication
Power
Control Cable
Equipment Wire
Select a cable
Hover over a cable type to find out more or browse our range online.
Wire and single core cablesBritish Standard
PVC insulated cables to BS4808 are designed for the internal cabling of electrical and electronic equipment. Used also for wiring within instrumentation and control panels, they meet the requirements DEF STAN 61-12 Part 6 and are flame resistant to UL1581 VW-1 and IEC60332-1.
BS EN13062 compliant wire is of a tinned annealed copper construction suited for use as rewireable fuse links, shorting links etc. It is manufactured to BS4109.
DEF STAN
Cables designed to meet the requirements of DEF STAN 61-12 Part 29/1 are used typically in high demand applications found in military, avionic, aerospace, nuclear and medical environments.
Our range includes RS Pro with ETFE insulation, ideally suited to high temperature applications and resistant to oils. TE type 44® has a dual-wall insulation, is easy to install and offers consistent reliability. A key feature of our TE type 55® range is its blue core which acts as a damage indicator. TE type 99®, again with dual wall construction, meets the stringent performance demands of naval and mass transit applications and industrial control panel wiring.
Harmonised
Compliant to European Harmonised Standards H05V-K and H07V-K, harmonised cables are colour-coded PVC sheathed cables with a single stranded untinned copper core.
Harmonised cable is widely used in lighting, wiring installation work within control and distribution panels, in conduits, channels, and buried in walls and plaster. First introduced in 2004, the harmonised colour code clearly differentiates between conductors in single and three phase circuits.
MIL SPEC
Cables designed to Military Specification and compliant to MIL-W-81822/13 are single cored with either a PVC or PTFE insulation. Especially designed for harsh environments, they are used in the aerospace and similar industries where a high degree of tolerance to chemicals and radiation may be required. They can be used in high temperature and high frequency applications.
Mil Spec cable lends itself to both soldered and wire wrap work and should be used when challenging conditions demand strong durability.
UL Standard
UL Standard cables meet the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing classification. They consist of a category of wire and cable that have been independently tested to conform to the specifications for use in many applications including general purpose wiring circuits, control circuits and internal appliance wiring.
UL Standard cables have single stranded cores, are supplied in various single colours, with four sheath constructions. A wide range of cables/wires meet UL standards and it is UL's evaluation of the product that determines its area of use.
British Standard
DEF STAN
Harmonised
MIL SPEC
UL STANDARD
Select a cable
Hover over a cable type to find out more or browse our range online.
Network & Communication Cable Coaxial CableMultipair / Twisted Pair
Multipair cable offers high performance wiring for a number of applications including industrial process control, computer peripherals and medical electronics. Screening and braiding offers options to reduce interference where this is required.
All offer UL and CSA approval, are RoHS compliant and manufactured to ISO9001.
LAN
LAN cables, otherwise known as Cat or ethernet, are twisted pair cables used for carrying signals in structured computer networking systems.
Used also for telephone and video applications, the twisting of the pairs reduces crosstalk between conductors, as does the level of shielding and braiding.
Different applications are catered for by the various sheath materials, including low smoke types.
Fibre Optic
For manipulation and transfer of data at high speeds in communication protocols such as ethernet and Token Ring, RS Pro fibre optic cable is available in 3 distribution types: single mode OS1/2 and multi-mode OM1 and OM3.
All are suitable for outdoor and indoor use and are water, fire and rodent resistant. Buffered fibres have a glass yarn protection for added strength.
Coaxial
Designed for a variety of communication applications for aerial to CCTV use, coaxial cable is capable of carrying signals over distance and avoiding interference.
Twin, micro and power options are available in a range of sheath materials including zero halogen LSZF.
Multipair / Twisted Pair
LAN
Fibre Optic
Coaxial
Considerations
When buying cables, there are a few things you will need to consider. We have provided a handy guide full of the important infomation to help you with your purchase.
Euroclass - An explanation
CPR - The Construction Products Regulation
From 1st July 2017 the CPR will cover all construction cables to be used in fixed installations, sold in the E.U.
Effected products are tested, given a Euroclass rating in accordance with its 'Reaction to fire', a declaration of performance is issued (DOP) and a new CE mark is given on the packaging.
Harmonised References
HAR cables have a designation code system conforming to the norms set out in harmonisation documents HD 361 and DIN VDE 0292.
Wiring size - AWG and CSA
| AWG | CSA (mm²) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 53.5 |
| 5 | 16.76 |
| 7 | 10.55 |
| 10 | 5.26 |
| 12 | 3.31 |
| 15 | 1.65 |
| 18 | 0.82 |
| 20 | 0.52 |
| 25 | 0.16 |
The complete AWG range for wire contains over 40 sizes with respective cross sectional areas and current carrying capacities.
Conductor Types
Solid core wire consists of one single core, usually copper, forming a conductor and insulated. It has a higher resistance to flexing than stranded wire so is best suited to permanent and semi-permanent wiring. Solid core cable costs less to manufacture than stranded core and has higher electrical resistance.
Stranded core wire
For a given gauge, stranded wire withstands flexing more than its solid core equivalent. Stranded wire is best suited where frequent flexing or vibration is more likely to occur, e.g. automotive applications, signal wiring in electrical and electronic devices, flexible power cables etc. With a higher attenuation than solid core it is not best suited to long cable runs.
Electrical Screening
Cable screening is important in many wiring applications. Screening protects a conductor from external interference or EMI, prevents radiation from the cable itself and helps minimise cross-talk between conductors.
Various degrees of screening are used according to the cable type and application. From unshielded power or control cable used in areas not prone to interference, e.g. within a metal control cabinet, to foil or braid shielded cable for areas of high EMI or electrical interference.
 |
Unshielded |
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Foiled |
 |
Braided |
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Foiled and Braided |
| UTP Unshielded |  |
| FTP Foiled |  |
| STP Shielded and unfoiled |  |
| SF/TP Shielded and foiled |  |
Approvals and Standards
 BASEC The British Approvals Service for Cables is an independent testing and approvals body for cable and wire. BASEC certification ensures a product meets its claimed national and international standards. |
 UL A UL Listed cable or wire indicates that product samples have passed safety requirements set by the safety and certification company, Underwriters Laboratories. UL is an internationally recognised standard. |
 DEF STAN TA cable marked as meeting a Defence Standard (DEF STAN) will be of a high grade and high specification for use by the MoD, specifically for aircraft and military applications. |
 Mil Spec A cable or wire which complies with Mil Spec (Military Specification) means it is approved for United States military use. Mil Spec can also apply to products other than cables, such as connectors. |
 RoHS The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive specifies maximum limits of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. Cable and wire is included in this. |
 Reach REACH is an acronym of Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. As a European regulation designed o protect human health from the risks posed by chemicals, REACH is applicable to cables and wires by the production and use of chemicals in the sheath and other parts. |
Technologies we Offer
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