In this interconnected world of various electronic devices the cable rules and that has been the case even since its invention. Cables come in all kinds of variations today as they are used not only to provide access to a power source but also for the transfer of information.
The former are known as power cables while the latter are known as control cables. Control cables are much more advanced but dependent on the operation of power cables in order to make a certain function work. Control cables may not be as many as power cables they are however equally as important as today's sharing of information wouldn't get across the world at such speeds.
Types of Control Cables
Copper Tape Screened
One of the most common if not the most commonly used control cables are copper tape screened cables which are usually coupled with a sheath of PVC. The solid or stranded copper conductors usually come rated anywhere from 450V to 750V. These popular crane cables have an optimal working temperature of 70°C and they can have XLPE insulation too.
Copper Braid Screened
A copper braid-screened control cable is a more flexible solution than a copper tape-screened cable which comes with a stranded copper or tinned copper conductor. The operational temperature rating of a copper braid screened cable ranges from as low as 0°C 70°C. The screen comes made either out of plain copper wire or a tinned copper wire braid. The rated voltage of this control cable is either 300V or 500V.
1000V Armoured
As you'd expect, 1000V armoured control crane cables are rated for 1000V as well as 600V. The maximum temperature they can take without experiencing any issues is 900°C. This control cable has shaped stranded copper conductors which come insulated with cross-link polyethylene compound and are PVC bedded too. The armoured part is made of galvanised steel tape as well as with a flame-retardant PVC sheath.
Instrument Armoured
Similar to a 1000V armoured cable, an instrument armoured cable comes with either annealed or tinned copper conductors which are twisted together to make a uniform shape. The binder tape of this armoured cable is a transparent PETP tape and it makes the cable as a whole compliant with IEC 60502, BS 5308 and GB 9330 standards.
Types of Power Cables
UTP
An unshielded twisted pair or UTP power cable is made up of two conductors which are twisted together. This twisting of conductors helps reduce interference from other cables and equipment. The most common use of UTP cables is for network applications such as Ethernet cables which are used both for telephones and desktop computers. Reasonably priced and easy to implement UTP cables have one downside and that is their shorter range.
STP
A shielded twisted pair or STP cable is made with a metallic shield around its conductors which means it has far better interference protection than a UTP cable. This way both EMI and RFI are prevented from making the cable act up, especially in an environment where there's a lot of equipment and devices that emit EMI and RFI like an office space or an industrial plant.
Coaxial
Made up of both a dielectric insulator and a metallic shield as a form of protection for the conductors, a coaxial cable is used for TV connections as well as high-speed internet connections. If you want to get better signal quality than what you get with UTP cables then coaxial power cables are the ones to go for as they also work over long distances without signal issues, especially from nearby interference.
Fibre Optic
The most advanced power cables you'll come across are fibre optic cables which are essentially tiny fibres made of glass. They help transfer power and information too with the help of light which passes through those fibres. Optically transferred data is much faster than any other form of data transfer but the cables are quite delicate and proper handling and installation is a must.
Halogen-Free
LSZH or low smoke zero halogen cables, also known as halogen-free, are the safest solution in a fire as they produce very little smoke and corrosive gasses during one. You'll find LSZH cables used in public distribution networks, emergency circuits as well as mobile services.
XLPE
The cross-linked polyethylene mentioned above is actually XLPE and cables insulated with this type of material can withstand high temperatures up to 90°C without any added protection in the form of metal. XLPE cables are commonly used in industrial applications as well as for underground power distribution.
PVC
The most commonly used insulation on cables is PVC or polyvinyl chloride which is a thermoplastic that's extremely flexible and can survive through all sorts of external factors. While it may not be as strong as XLPE, a PVC-insulated power cable is able to survive UV light, moisture and chemicals far better without limiting the route the cable can take.
