Getting started
Power and industrial cables come in a variety of different materials. The conductors are usually made of copper. The sheathing on these cables is often a synthetic polymer. Domestic cables are not as robust as the industrial cables and they do not have to be since they carry less voltage.
- Actuator/Sensor Cable: An actuator cable, or sensor cable as many refer to it, is a special type of electrical cable that supplies power and has the ability to send or receive sensor signals from the actuator. The electric actuator cables can supply either the power or the control signals to the actuator. Mechanical actuator cables, which are a subset of these cables, will transfer the manual operator input to the mechanisms that utilize the actuators. The cables will usually have between three and four heavy core cables that make up the single actuator cable. They supply the power to the aforementioned actuator. The three-core power supply cables are often in use with single-phase power supplies, while the four-core cables are best for three-phase supplies.
- Armored Cable: Armored cable is a type of power cable that has a protective metal sheath that covers it. The wires will have a plastic insulation layer that goes over them, and then the metal sheath goes over them, adding that extra layer of protection or armor. The armor serves to keep the interior wires safe from physical damage and wear. The metal that surrounds the cable actually winds around the cable, so it looks somewhat similar to a tightly wound spring. Several styles of armored cable are available, including BX, which has been around since WWII. True armored cable is another type, and it features thicker internal insulation. The metal covering of this type of cable also adds waterproofing. Finally, there is MC or metal clad cable. This type of wiring is coming in commercial and industrial structures today.
- Coiled Cable: Coiled cable is a type of cable used in a host of different types of industries today, including telecommunications, the medical industry, and even aerospace. The most noticeable and important feature of coiled cable is the fact that it has the ability to extend. Generally, they can extend between three and five times the retracted length. Of course, this differs based on the cable and the purpose of the cable. It allows the cable to connect to devices where one of the devices moves. They can expand, which helps to give them more range. They look similar to springs, and they can actually work in much the same way. The enclosures for the coiled cables are typically made from flexible materials.
- Conduit and Trunking Cable: A conduit is a container that contains the insulated conductors. They could be a pipe or a tube. Conduits can replace the normal outer sheath of the cable, and one of the advantages of this is that it makes changes and rewiring faster and easier. They are quite popular in industrial and commercial settings. Some of the various types of conduits available include steel, stainless steel, flexible, and PVC.
- CY Cable: CY cable is a type of control cable, similar to YY and SY cable. The cables all have different purposes. Other terms for these sorts of cables include motor cables, control flex, and robotic cables. CY cables are useful for those who need to have interference free transmission. They feature tinned copper wire braids and a PETP separator, which help to keep the cable safe from a variety of issues, including mechanical stress and outside electromagnetic interference. CY cable comes in a grey sheath, which is actually similar to that of the YY cables. The multicore cable is very flexible and features copper conductors and a voltage rating of 300/500V.
- Lighting and Electrical Cable: Cable lighting systems and typical electrical lighting found in homes are generally low voltage, and they can serve a variety of different purposes in the home. In most residential buildings, the cable gauge is generally 14, 12, or 10. The 14-gauge is actually the most common for lighting cable as well as plug circuits. The higher the number, the smaller the gauge. For the larger appliances in the home, the cable gauge that connects them will be larger, generally gauge 6 to 8.
- Mains Power Cable: A mains power cable, or power cord, is the cable that connects an appliance to a mains electricity supply. Typically, this will go into a wall socket, or it could plug into an extension cord, which then plugs into a mains supply. The mains power cable can be fixed to the appliance, as might be the case with many kitchen appliances. However, it could also be detachable. When they are detachable, the part that plugs into the appliance will have a female connector. The cables have coatings on them to keep the wires safe from damage, and to prevent accidents.
- Multicore Industrial Cable: A multicore industrial cable is an electrical cable that features more than one core made from copper wires. People generally only use the term when it comes to cables that have more cores than encountered normally. These sorts of cables are popular in a number of different types of industries, including construction, as well as audio and video. Most of the time the multicore cables will have a protective sheath around them that gathers up all of the different cables. However, in some cases, they may choose to forego the protective sheath in an effort to keep the weight of the cable down.
- Security and Alarm Cable: Security and alarm cables can come in a variety of types and serve a number of different purposes. Some systems use sensor cables embedded into the tops of walls or in the ground to detect intrusion. They have a low rate of false alarms. Fiber optic cables are also useful for security and alarm cables, as they have the ability to measure differences in the amount of light that travel through the core of the cable, which can be useful for detecting intruders.
- Solar Cable: A solar cable is an interconnection cable that works with solar power systems that generate photovoltaic power. This cable is what connects the solar panels to one another, and it connects all of the other components that make up the photovoltaic system. The cables are hardy and durable because they are for outdoor use. They are UV and weather resistant, and they can work well in a wide range of different temperatures. The insulation in these wires helps them to stand up to the mechanical loads, as well as the thermal loads they have to endure. The most common type of cable is the three-core AC cable to connect to the grid, as long as they are using a single-phase converter. When there is a three-phase feed in, they need to make use of a five-core cable instead.
- SY Cable: SY, like the CY and YY cables, is a type of control cable that is highly flexible and that connects control equipment and the signal. They are common for automation processes, as well as in the building and construction industry. Another term for the SY cable is shielded flex cable. Out of all of the other control cables in the group, the SY cables are the most durable. They are reliable and can provide the protection that many applications need thanks to the galvanized steel wire braid. Like the other control cables, they have a voltage rating of 300/500 V.
- Trace heating Cable: Trace heating cables are cables that run along the length of a pipe and feature a heating element inside of them. The pipe and cable will have thermal insulation to make sure that they do not lose any heat. When the cable heats up, it heats the temperature of the pipe and offers a number of benefits. It can ensure a constant temperature in hot water systems, and it can keep pipes from freezing in the winter months. They do have some other uses today too, including under the floor heating, soil warming, and demisting on windows.
- Twisted and Multipair Industrial Cable: Twisted pair cabling, or multipair cabling, is when two different conductors in a single circuit are twisted together. Doing so can cancel electromagnetic interference from outside sources. This type of cabling offers some other benefits as well, including the ability to add more wires into the same duct, and the prevention of electrical noise.
- YY Cable: YY cables are another type of control cable similar to the CY and SY cables mentioned earlier. As with the other cables, they are often used in the building industry, as well as in transport and automation. Another term for this type of cable is an unshielded control cable or an unscreened control cable. The YY cable is a good choice for many types of environments and whenever dealing with light mechanical stress. As long as they have some protection from the elements, they can even be used in outdoor scenarios. Again, they have a 300/500 V rating, and they come in a grey sheath, just as the CY cables do. They do not have the galvanized metal braid as the other cables do though.
What Are Industrial Automation Cable Assemblies?
These cable assemblies are for the use of the modern industrial world, as they contain the automated features and elements necessary for many fields, such as automotives. The cable assemblies available for industrial automation vary greatly in the amount of voltage they can carry, as well as their purpose. Some high voltage assemblies can work well for lighting platforms, while others might support ventilation in a vehicle.
What Are Power Cable Assemblies?
The power cable assembly is the entire group of cables used for transmitting energy. The cables are available in many different types and configurations to provide solutions for a variety of applications and industries. The assemblies, even though they may contain a number of cores and wires, generally remain at least somewhat flexible, which makes them useful in a greater variety of situations, such as for machine tools and robotics.
Product spotlights
Motion Sensor
An electronic device capable of converting the movements it senses into electrical signals.
Rocker Switch
One of the most common method of using a rocker switch is on a light switch, but they are in quite a few other devices and applications as well including surge protectors and appliances.
Strain Gauge
Stretching a strip of conductive metal will not only make it longer and thinner, it will result in an increase in electrical resistance from one end of the strip to another.
Screw Extractors
Screws have significant advantages over nails in certain applications.
