Control cable is one type of electrical cables which is normally multi-conductor and flexible. Control cables are used for signal transmission, measurement, control and regulation in automation and instrumentation application.
Application: Robotics, assembly and production lines, conveyors, electrical machines, railways infrastructure etc.
Control cable specifications:
1- Multi-conductor (Multi-core)
Note1: Normally control cables have a earth wire (green/yellow) in the outer layer of twisted cables.
2- Flexible (bendable)
Note2: When control cables are used in moving machinery, the importance of flexibility is highlighted.
3- Shielded.
- Foil shield
- Braid shield (e.g. tinned copper braid)
- Combination of foil and braid shields
4- GSWB (Galvanised Steel Wire Braid) for mechanical protection
Control cable types:
1- YY
- Unshielded
- Light mechanical stress
2- CY
- Shielded (resistant to electromagnetic interference.)
3- SY
- Shielded (resistant to electromagnetic interference.)
- Medium or high mechanical stress (GSWB)
Note3: YY, CY and SY comes from naming conventions of CENELEC as below:
First character:
- Y: Unscreened
- C: Copper braid
- S: Steel wire braid
Second character:
- Y: PVC material type
Related standards
- UL
- VDE
- BS
- CENELEC
Leave a Reply