How to Select Cable Assemblies
Image credit: Digi-Key Corporation; Lumberg Automation; Phoenix Contact USA
Cable assemblies are collections of wires or cables banded into a single unit with connectors on at least one end. Cable assemblies are used to connect various types of equipment and instrumentation. The connectors and wire configuration are very specific depending on the application.
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Q & A on Cable Assemblies
We asked our users for their input on Cable Assemblies. Here are the results of 148 users familiar with Cable Assemblies.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying AdviceDesign TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing cable assembly design?
25 answers
I haven't done any new reading on upcoming technology to be able to effectively answer this.
~Dave S, Field Technician, Fort St John, Canada
New radar innovations that required very high power supply currents to be transferred.
~Hardware Engineer, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Copper/Fiber debate, Influence of IT on CAT 5E & CAT 6, High frequency requirements.
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~Engineering, Other, Mobile, AL
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative cable assemblies?
18 answers
I deal mostly with Times Microwave Systems and Andrews cables and haven't had the time lately to look into other product designs.
~Dave S, Field Technician, Fort St John, Canada
Tyco, Seomon, Beldon, ADC, Krone(tyco), Molex related to networking, Siemens, Corning, Leoni
~SUBRAMANYAM A, Manufacturer, BANGALORE, INDIA
None for the current company I'm working for.
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~Mark H, Electro Mechinical Tech and Reseach and Deplopement Tech, Tamarac, FL
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used cable assemblies for?
36 answers
Throttle line, brake line and control cable in the field of Auto, motorcycle, garden machine, seating, TV support, engineering control and so on
~George Chen, Project Manager, Dongguan, China
For all applications: Microwave systems, voice systems, ethernet patch cables, fiber cables, SCADA systems.
~Dave S, Field Technician, Fort St John, Canada
Printing machines, Television testing lines, automated strapping machines, and robot interface systems.
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~Mark H, Electro Mechinical Tech and Reseach and Deplopement Tech, Tamarac, FL
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that cable assemblies have been used for.
13 answers
Everything we do is non-standard. We manufacture "lightweight" airborne radar systems and we are constantly pushing the boundaries in power transfer and data rate..
~Hardware Engineer, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
All of the work we are asked to do is "non standard" as we at Ten 47 Ltd work for bespoke innovative companies within the traction and power industries.
~Don M, General Management, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Sensor for fuel injection on the truck industry assemblies.
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~Engineering, Other, Hermosillo, Mexico
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of cable assemblies?
11 answers
When customer provided us a wrong drawing with a wrong connector end as well as wrong pin-out and while the cable has done for them and found out there are totally can fit it in of the application.
~Lizon Chi, Marketing/Sales, Hsin-tien district, New Taipei City, Taiwan ROC
We specified, purchased & used Fiber Optic Cables for our Test Equipment Racks; but, THEY WERE A NIGHTMARE OF CONSTANT FAILURES.
~William J., Electronic Systems Engineer, MBA, Tustin, CA
Yes, all manufacturers and customers make mistakes but a good company never discusses these issues outside.
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~Don M, General Management, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
15 answers
Lower cost - reduced delivery timescale - and if pushed, the jacket to be manufactured in a range of bright colours for easier identification within a large cable loom.
~Don M, General Management, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Proven alternatives to cadmium. Smaller size matched impedance differential contacts. More variety in power carrying connectors.
~Hardware Engineer, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
IPX 69 i.e. waterproof when uncoupled and coupleable under water including in marine conditions.
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~Charles Tsai, Research & Development, Taichung, Taiwan
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of cable assemblies?
14 answers
Select the right product and right specs and verify the compliance and not to over size the cabling plant for the sake of redundancy. Do good installations practices.
~SUBRAMANYAM A, Manufacturer, BANGALORE, INDIA
- With a correct cable type
- with a correct connector end
- with a correct input voltage
- with a correct ambient environment
~Lizon Chi, Marketing/Sales, Hsin-tien district, New Taipei City, Taiwan ROC
For high tech cable assemblies, better design the specifications based on cable assemblies manufacturers experience.
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~Guy C, Marketing/Sales, Chandler, AZ
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using cable assemblies?
16 answers
The cheapest is not always the best option. If the buyer provides a golden sample then they will receive exactly what they want. If they are not specific in their requirements (bills of material and full specifications) they may not receive what they expect and important project time may have been lost in replacement.
~Don M, General Management, Kirkcaldy, Scotland
Yes, many of them from the overseas customers they bought the different kind of cable such as led cable, molded cable, lvds cable, usb cable and audio/video cable and so on..
~Lizon Chi, Marketing/Sales, Hsin-tien district, New Taipei City, Taiwan ROC
Please look for value for money and look for scalability but at the same time not to over invest. Strike the balance.
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~SUBRAMANYAM A, Manufacturer, BANGALORE, INDIA
