If you thought there were a lot of iPhones to choose from these days, that sort of choice is a single drop in the ocean when compared to the world of electrical wires and cables. “You’re going to need some wire for that” is not just a simple request, but an overwhelming puzzle for everyone except the true experts.
Luckily, plenty of those experts are out there and they can help every business, operation and organization across the industry spectrum get exactly the wiring and cables they need for their specific application – whether it’s for power, data, communication, structural or control usage, or something else entirely.
So while a cable is quite simply a structure of multiple wires, choosing exactly the right one for your operation is anything but quite simple – which is why we’re here to help. Not sure where to start?
Start right here by considering the following:
Table of Contents
1. What’s The Cable For?
A true wiring expert could bore you all day and all night with industry jargon like abrasion resistance, bond strength, cold flow, impulse strength and power rating – and hundreds and hundreds of others. Similarly, there are at least 100 different cable connectors designed specifically for hundreds more different applications – but your cable selection journey starts with a much humbler question: “What do I need it for?” With that information, you’re on the right track to the right combinations, gauges, characteristics, capabilities and materials you require.
2. What Environment Will It Work In?
The next most important factor to consider is the environment in which the wiring/cabling will be doing its important work. For maximum effectiveness, your organization’s cabling solution – and specifically the wire’s metal composition – must be suitable for its environment, whether it’s hot, cold, moist or in higher or lower air pressure. Prolonged outdoor use, for instance, will call for tinned copper to fend off oxidation and corrosion, while silver-plated copper is a wise choice for particularly hot surroundings. The precise characteristics of the non-metal protective ‘jacketing’ then needs to be right, with extreme conditions calling for something like polypropylene, which is high in both tensile strength and heat resistance.
3. How Flexible Does It Need To Be?
Next up, consider that a lot of movement in your wiring and cabling solution will expose it to a greater risk of wear and breakages, which is why a cabling expert will choose between normal, flexible and robotic-flexible options. There are then different wire jacketing options that are better or worse for flexibility, and the wire itself is composed of either fairly inflexible solid strand wires or more flexible ones that are made up of multiple thinner strands.
4. What’s Your Budget?
Finally, while getting the right cabling solution is obviously your headline consideration, your particular budget must also be factored in – particularly as electrical cable prices can vary quite considerably. Luckily, though, the wiring and cabling market is competitive enough that so long as your budget is reasonable for your particular industry, scale and application, there will be something out there that can get exactly the job done with the precise specifications and full compliance and safety.
Remember, the absolutely most important thing you need to consider when dabbling with wiring is safety, because if you get that right, your next application will be up and running with smiles all round – but get it wrong, and accidents can and do occur. Therefore, take care of every detail, don’t cut corners solely to cut your electrical cable prices, remain compliant at all times, and accept our very best wishes for your next project.
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