Cables Selection Guide

1 Cables Selection Guide View our extensive range of Cables and accessories January 2021. INTRODUCTION APPROVALS AND STANDARDS cable SHEATH TYPES. As industry experts we offer an extensive Selection of cable for every application and BASEC: The British Approvals Service for Cables A summary of commonly found sheath types in the RS range: is an independent testing and approvals body environment. Products from our RS PRO for cable and wire. BASEC certification ensures PVC Polyvinyl Chloride range bring you high quality, professionally a product meets its claimed national and Excellent insulating properties approved RS brand products, while our wide Stable, robust, very durable international standards.

2 Cost effective choice choice from selected market leading brands is second to none. UL: A UL Listed cable or wire indicates that product Rubber Ideal for outdoor and wet environments samples have passed safety requirements set by Withstands rough treatment This means you can find all the the safety and certification company, Underwriters Abrasion proof products you need from one source, Laboratories. UL is an internationally recognised standard. PTFE Polytetrafluoroethylene with next day delivery, competitive pricing and bulk discounts. ETFE Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (also known as TEFZEL).

3 DEF STAN: A cable marked as meeting a Defence Standard Used in high temperature applications (DEF STAN) will be of a high grade and high specification In this Guide you can see Cables for use by the MoD, specifically for aircraft and military Unaffected by most oils or fuels listed by type, with associated Certain types suitable for temperatures to 400 C. applications. technical attributes and information LSZH Low Smoke Zero Halogen about where they are best installed. Mil Spec: A cable or wire which complies with Mil Spec Preferred type for populated or enclosed areas (Military specification ) means it is approved for United States Used in trains, aircraft and shipping applications military use.

4 Mil Spec can also apply to products other than Suitable in areas of poor ventilation Contents Cables , such as connectors. PE Polyethylene RoHS: The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Used extensively in communication cabling EQUIPMENT WIRE Page 5 Directive specifies maximum limits of certain Excellent UV resistance hazardous substances in electrical and Available in high and low density forms (HDPE/LDPE). British Standard, Tinned Copper Wire, DEF STAN, Harmonised, electronic products. cable and wire is included UL Standard in this. XLPE Cross linked polyethylene CONTROL cable Page 9 REACH: REACH is an acronym of Registration, Evaluation, Widely used for power Cables Improved insulating properties over PVC.

5 Tri-Rated, CY, SY, YY, Unitronic LiYCY & LiYY, lflex Unscreened, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. As a European Higher current rating than PVC. lflex Screened regulation designed to protect human health from the risks posed by chemicals, REACH is applicable to Cables and wires EPR Ethylene propylene rubber POWER Page 16 by the production and use of chemicals in the sheath and Offers good weathering stability other parts. Heat resistant to 160 C. Mains Power, SWA, Conduit, Lighting & Electrical, Multicore Durable and long lasting PET Polyethylene terephthalate CONTINUOUS FLEX Page 23 Moisture resistant and tough Good chemical resistance Control Cables , Motor Cables , BUS Cables , Data Cables Excellent mechanical, electrical and thermal properties FEP Fluorinated ethylene propylene COMMUNICATION Page 27 Good weather resistance Low flammability Multipair / Twisted Pair, LAN, Coaxial Good temperature stability Discover more at 2.

6 EUROCLASS AN EXPLANATION. Cables , glands & connectors from a CPR The Construction Products Regulation leading global manufacturer Since 1st July 2017 the CPR covers all construction Cables to be used in fixed installations, sold in the 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. Note: Fire resistant Cables are excluded from CPR until the product standard for Resistance to Fire' is issued. HARMONISED REFERENCES.

7 The Harmonised reference system, commonly known as HAR, indicates products which conform to a European Harmonisation Standard as set out by CENELEC, the leading European standardisation organisation. CENELEC is technologically neutral and aims to improve standards and quality across Europe, allowing the trade of common standard product. HAR Cables have a designation code system conforming to the norms set out in harmonisation documents HD 361 and DIN VDE 0292. WIRE SIZING AWG AND CSA. AWG - American Wire Gauge. A widely accepted measure of CSA. cross sectional area of a wire denoted as a simple number.

8 AWG (mm ). CSA - The surface Cross-Sectional Area of a conductor in mm . 0 5 Both units of measure are used in determining wire thickness 7 and it is useful to remember that as AWG increases, the wire becomes thinner and the CSA decreases. 10 12 An approximate conversion between AWG and CSA is shown opposite for selected sizes. 15 18 The complete AWG range for wire contains over 40 sizes 20 with respective cross sectional areas and current carrying capacities. 25 Discover more at 3. ELECTRICAL SCREENING Twisted pair (TP) screening cable screening is important in many wiring applications.

9 Screening protects a conductor from external interference or EMI, prevents radiation from the cable itself and UTP. helps minimise cross-talk between conductors. Unshielded 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, within a metal control cabinet, to foil or braid shielded cable for areas of high EMI or electrical interference. FTP. Foiled Types of screening STP. Shielded, unfoiled Unshielded SF/TP. Shielded, foiled Foiled CONDUCTOR TYPES.

10 Solid core wire Solid core wire consists of one single core, usually copper, forming a conductor and insulated. It has a higher Braided 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 a lower 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, Foiled, braided automotive applications, signal wiring in electrical and electronic devices, flexible power Cables etc.