Many of you have seen the different cable jacket types but have you ever wondered what the difference is and why you would want to use one type over another?
This week I want to explore the most common types and where you would expect to use them. Before we start I am not going to be talking about insulation resistance, capacitance or dielectric loss values I am simply going to talk about the outer jacket types.
Here are the most common types you will find:
PVC:
General use and the most common of all cable jacket types. To give it it’s proper name Polyvinyl chloride it is low cost easy to manufacture and the most wildly adopted of all cable jackets. PVC is very useful in as much as that you find it everywhere most general electronic and electrical cables contain PVC however, it does have some limitations such as a limited lifespan, it’s derogation in direct sunlight making it become brittle over time. It also does not hold up to content movement so is not great when being constantly flexed.
LSZH:
Low Smoke Zero Halogen cable reduces the amount of toxic and corrosive gas emitted during combustion. This type of material is typically used in poorly ventilated areas such as aircraft, rail cars or ships. It is also used extensively in the railroad industry, wherever high voltage or track signal wires must be run into and through underground tunnel systems. This reduces the chance of toxic gasses accumulating in these areas should the wires be damaged by fire or a short circuit fault. In many new buildings it is a legal requirement to provide fixed wires in LSZH.
In simple terms when LSZH Cable burst it does not give off the thick black smoke typical with burring oil based products.
PUR:
PUR Polyurethane are designed for working in harsh environments. The PUR sheath offers increased mechanical and chemical resistance. Ideally suited for applications such as industrial and where robust strong outer jackets are required. Specially PUR is resistant to cutting and hydraulic oils. There is one downside to PUR with regards to installation – it is harder to strip and takes longer to manipulate making it a more expensive option so this is not a low cost cable type.
PTFE:
PTFE is a remarkable material. It is unaffected by most oils, fuels and fluids. The high temperature range makes it resistant to damage from heat sources such as soldering irons or components. These cables operate up to +200°C or +250°C short term with silver plated copper conductors. Nickel plated conductor versions to work up to +260°C are available to special order. Perfect for High Temperature environments.
The only major drawback of these cables is their high cost and lack of flexibility making them only suitable for fixed wires that is designed not to move.
Silicone:
This is a popular high temperature cable jacket as it is Ideally suited to high or low temperature applications, these cables will work between -50°C and +180°C. When exposed to fire they produce minimal smoke or fumes and can be used to wire public buildings.
Although Silicone does not operate as high temperatures as PTFE The reason you would want use it is its flexibility and low temperature range making it more useful in both Hot & Cold environments.
Rubber:
Rubber sheathed cables are ideal for use in both outdoor and wet conditions. Typically used for power specifically high power outside use The H05RR-F are ideal for lightweight hand and workshop tools whilst the H07RN-F are more suitable for increasingly higher levels of stress and heavy duty equipment.
Most high power 3 core mains cables will be typically made from Rubber especially those being used outdoors.
I hope you find this simple guide useful and if ever in doubt as to which cable is best for your specific uses it is always best to consult the experts that will be able to guide you through the various options available.
A Blog on Common Cable Jacket Types
Many of you have seen the different cable jacket types but have you ever wondered what the difference is and why you would want to use one type over another?
This week I want to explore the most common types and where you would expect to use them. Before we start I am not going to be talking about insulation resistance, capacitance or dielectric loss values I am simply going to talk about the outer jacket types.
Here are the most common types you will find:
PVC:
General use and the most common of all cable jacket types. To give it it’s proper name Polyvinyl chloride it is low cost easy to manufacture and the most wildly adopted of all cable jackets. PVC is very useful in as much as that you find it everywhere most general electronic and electrical cables contain PVC however, it does have some limitations such as a limited lifespan, it’s derogation in direct sunlight making it become brittle over time. It also does not hold up to content movement so is not great when being constantly flexed.
LSZH:
Low Smoke Zero Halogen cable reduces the amount of toxic and corrosive gas emitted during combustion. This type of material is typically used in poorly ventilated areas such as aircraft, rail cars or ships. It is also used extensively in the railroad industry, wherever high voltage or track signal wires must be run into and through underground tunnel systems. This reduces the chance of toxic gasses accumulating in these areas should the wires be damaged by fire or a short circuit fault. In many new buildings it is a legal requirement to provide fixed wires in LSZH.
In simple terms when LSZH Cable burst it does not give off the thick black smoke typical with burring oil based products.
PUR:
PUR Polyurethane are designed for working in harsh environments. The PUR sheath offers increased mechanical and chemical resistance. Ideally suited for applications such as industrial and where robust strong outer jackets are required. Specially PUR is resistant to cutting and hydraulic oils. There is one downside to PUR with regards to installation – it is harder to strip and takes longer to manipulate making it a more expensive option so this is not a low cost cable type.
PTFE:
PTFE is a remarkable material. It is unaffected by most oils, fuels and fluids. The high temperature range makes it resistant to damage from heat sources such as soldering irons or components. These cables operate up to +200°C or +250°C short term with silver plated copper conductors. Nickel plated conductor versions to work up to +260°C are available to special order. Perfect for High Temperature environments.
The only major drawback of these cables is their high cost and lack of flexibility making them only suitable for fixed wires that is designed not to move.
Silicone:
This is a popular high temperature cable jacket as it is Ideally suited to high or low temperature applications, these cables will work between -50°C and +180°C. When exposed to fire they produce minimal smoke or fumes and can be used to wire public buildings.
Although Silicone does not operate as high temperatures as PTFE The reason you would want use it is its flexibility and low temperature range making it more useful in both Hot & Cold environments.
Rubber:
Rubber sheathed cables are ideal for use in both outdoor and wet conditions. Typically used for power specifically high power outside use The H05RR-F are ideal for lightweight hand and workshop tools whilst the H07RN-F are more suitable for increasingly higher levels of stress and heavy duty equipment.
Most high power 3 core mains cables will be typically made from Rubber especially those being used outdoors.
I hope you find this simple guide useful and if ever in doubt as to which cable is best for your specific uses it is always best to consult the experts that will be able to guide you through the various options available.
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