How to Select Cable Ties

Image Credit: Digi-Key | Grainger

Cable ties hold groups of cables together for support and ease of maintenance. Cable ties often come in a variety of colors and sizes for different applications.  

Cable Tie Configuration

Cable ties come configured as either a cable tie or a cable wrap. 

• Cable ties are used to bundles wires, cables, and tubing together. 

• Cable wraps are used to bundle wires, cables, and tubing firmly, but allows flexibility. 

Product Specifications

Important specifications to consider when searching for cable ties include strain relief, maximum diameter, and temperature range. 

• Strain reliefs protect the lifeline of your electric products by absorbing the forces of push and pull that may be exerted on the flexible wires, cables, or tubing. 

• The maximum diameter refers to the maximum diameter of the bundle of wires and cables that the cable ties can support. 

• The temperature range specifies the full-required range of ambient operating temperature.  

Standard Regulations

Common approvals for cable ties include CSA Mark (US, C and US, NRTL/C), UL Listing Mark, and UL Recognized Component Mark (US and Canadian). 

• The CSA Mark may appear alone or with indicators. If it appears alone, it means that the product is certified for the Canadian market, to the applicable Canadian standards. If this Mark appears with the indicator "C and US" or "NRTL/C" it means that the product is certified for both the U.S. and Canadian markets, to the applicable U.S. and Canadian standards. 
• The UL Listing Markdenotes that Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) has found that samples of the cable ties met UL's safety requirements. These requirements are primarily based on UL's published Standards for Safety.  UL Recognized Component Marks used only on component parts that are part of a larger product or system. These components may have restrictions on their performance or may be incomplete in construction. Products intended for Canada carry the Recognized Component Mark "C."

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