Designing custom cables begins with a thorough application
analysis. By asking the right questions, the cablemaker can
develop a complete profile of cable properties based on the
mission and operating conditions. Let's take a look at a variety
of considerations that should be examined.
| CATEGORY |
REQUIREMENT |
CABLE PROPERTY |
| electrical characteristic |
high currents |
large conductors |
| |
high power |
high-quality conductors |
| |
|
heat-resistant primary insulation
|
| |
low current |
high-resistance insulation
|
| |
low power |
effective shielding |
| |
|
"low noise" provisions |
| |
high voltages |
high voltage withstand |
| |
|
high test voltages |
| |
|
Low corona/ corona-free |
| impedance characteristics |
high frequencies |
defined transmission line |
| |
|
low loss dielectric |
| safety requirements |
approvals |
UL, CSA, VDE, CE, etc. |
| materials |
flammability |
flame tests |
| |
|
non-combustible |
| |
|
self-extinguishing |
| |
thermal load |
non-flammable material |
| |
toxicity and corrosiveness
of combustion products |
halogen-free materials |
| service life |
flexure and torsion endurance,
abrasion resistance |
combination of design and
materials selection |
| |
environmental and climatic
aspects |
combination of design and
materials selection |
| installation |
flexibility |
finely stranded conductors,
soft plastics |
| handling characteristics
|
size |
miniaturization |
| termination |
compatibility with specialized
connectors |
specialized (hybrid) configurations |
