A long-lasting, high-performing electrical application depends on the selection of the appropriate cable and its suitable installation. It can be difficult to choose the best cable, given the wide variety offered for industrial markets. You can keep your equipment running and minimise downtime and repeated replacement due to damage or wear by choosing high-quality, high-performance wire and cable products. So whether it is a transmission or instrumentation and control cable, you can consider these simple tips and get the most reliable cables for your business.
1. Know the Bend Radius of the cables you get
Verify that the bend radius satisfies the minimal standards depending on the cable design and application. A smaller bend radius will cause conductors to fail early and become weaker. A common formula to estimate the minimum bend radius of a cable is to multiply its outside diameter (O.D.) by 8. (i.e. cable O.D. = 0.36″. Multiply 0.36″ by 8 to get 2.9″. In this case, we would anticipate the cable carrier to have a bend radius of 2.9″ or greater to guarantee the electrical cable will have the best possible flex life.
We advise utilising the smallest cable O.D. possible if an application has a fixed radius. A lower O.D. enables tighter turns, greater spacing, better cooling, and less mechanical stress on the conductors.
2. Flex Life vs Flexibility
Flexibility is not the same as flexibility. A cable’s flexibility is determined by how easy and how much movement it can withstand. The term “flex life” refers to a cable’s capacity to endure repeated flexing action in an application without suffering harm. By repeatedly bending or twisting under stress, flex life is calculated. Although cable may be incredibly flexible, if it is not correctly built for the application, its flex life may be very short and require constant maintenance and replacing.
3. Environments
You should think about the environment it will be placed in and the kinds of abuse it will experience in addition to the application. Abuse from impact or abrasion, exposure to extremely hot or cold settings, and contact with substances that could adversely affect cable materials are all examples of this. What kind of movement is involved if the application calls for dynamic flexing of the cable — is it a torsional, twisting or linear motion, such as in a power chain or cable carrier application? Selecting a cable that will operate as expected requires knowledge of the installation’s application and environment.
Every circumstance is different, which is why electrical cable selection is so essential. When in doubt, rely on the help of a trained expert to make a cable selection. It is helpful to have certain information, such as the above ready before you speak with a cable representative. This will help your service provider better determine the best product for your application.
4. Consider Cable Movement when installing wires
Do not restrict cable movement within an application with cable ties or clamps. This constricts the inner conductors and can cause the cable to fail. If you need to group a set of wires together, make sure to group cables that experience similar movements or motions when being utilised. Wires with different motions will cause strain to the other wires as they might pull and tug on the other wire’s jacketing and protection.
5. Think about adequate shielding and jacketing
Always use a cable with a reinforced jacket in a reeling or pendant application. A cable with shielded armour or thicker jacketing (while being more pricey) offers more protection for the wire in the long run. However, not all wires require jacketing, and it is up to the business owner to assess whether the cable is exposed to the elements or more challenging and rigorous conditions that require a higher level of protection.
6. Release Cable Tension during installation
Allow the cable to hang for at least 24 hours before installation. Any strain that was held on the reel is released in this way. This might seem like a small thing, but people who install cables straight from a spool and do not cut any slack in the wires might find that the cable will be overstretched. It is one thing if the jacketing is damaged (meaning that it requires maintenance sooner), but it would be detrimental to the business if the wires within are damaged, causing technical problems or even causing safety issues like being a fire hazard or preventing key installations and machinery from working properly.
Conclusion
You will find the ideal cable solution by taking into account these suggestions as well as other aspects like extreme temperatures, abrasion, strain, impact, or chemicals. But if you are still uncertain about your choice, don’t be afraid to reach out to us at Cable Source, a cable company in Singapore that has years of industry experience that will allow us to make the right wire and cable choice for the job of your specification.
